He sends thanks for the news from home; he speaks of the illnesses of
Mr. Angerstein and
Mr. West, the latter should give up painting and his family persuade him not to retouch older paintings; he is also sad to hear of
Owen, although is glad he is painting still; he wishes
Turner was here, and expands on the theme of Turner,
Claude,
Gaspar Poussin and Rome, he mentions that
Callcott has to yield to Turner in such matters; he also wishes that Farington, West and
Mrs. Wolff were with him; mentions that "taste and quickness of perception" in a woman can take the place of "labor and of study"; he has completely succeeded in his portraits of the
Pope and the
Cardinal and is popular in Rome, he is particularly pleased about this as the public are familiar with
David and
Camuccini, indulges in a critique of Camuccini; analyses the process of painting the Pope, jokingly compares the situation to one experienced by
Titian; he describes a service and celebration at the Vatican; describes a visit with the
Duchess of Devonshire to a Palace owned by the
Prince of the Peace; he mentions that Mrs. Wolff and
Miss Croft have saved his London home by arranging for repairs; discusses the character of
Robert Smirke; further describes his life in Rome and his work on theportrait of Consalvi; he is sad that
Metternich has now left and describes his time with the Prince and his family, continues with a lengthy tribute to Metternich.