Theed studied with Gibson in Rome. He developed a close friendship with Gibson and acted as a contact between Gibson and some of his patrons in England [DNB.]
Theed assures Gibson that his group had arrived safely at
Lord Yarborough's. He had only recently heard that Gibson had almost been lost returning to Rome the previous year, and he counsels him against travelling by sea. Theed gives news of
[William] Boxall and others, including
Lady Eastlake, who had got Davies removed into a lunatic asylum. He goes on to describe the flourishing state of his own practice, including work for
Prince Albert. Theed tells Gibson that he had obtained a commission for one of the statues for the Mansion House, and had chosen a subject from
Gray's 'Bard'. He asks Gibson's opinion on the subject, and wishes he could have Gibson's advice on his sketch. He adds a note for
[Benjamin Evans] Spence at the end of the letter.