"How happy should we think ourselves, sir, if, not only suffering your name to be joined in our lists to those of Mengs, Lelio, Meilens, De Marcii, Wille Schmid, Preissler, etc., you would, like those artists, assist us with your pen, and give us a sketch of the present improved state of the imitative arts in Great Britain! What can be conceived more conducive to form and refine our taste, elevate our ideas, and kindle our emulation, than to be informed by yourself, with your manner of operating in those unparalleled originals, whose striking beauties and glowing expressions we closely study in the printed copies; and to be favoured at least with some hints of those pieces we still expect from your warm and masterly pencil? "But I have too much reason to apprehend that, for a first letter, this will appear tedious; a favourable answer I shall look upon as a permission to explain myself more at large. In hopes of receiving it, I remain, with the highest esteem and regard, Sir, etc. etc. etc. "I. F. REIFFSTEN. "CASSEL, _March 25th, 1757_. "My address is, Governor of the Payes." _Mr. Hogarth's Answer._ "SIR,--On the receipt of your polite letter, dated Cassel, March 25th, I was most agreeably surprised, nor could I help being much elated, at finding the very handsome invitation therein given to me to become a member of so worthy and respectable a corporation as the Imperial Society of Augsburg; on which account let me request it as a favour that you will be so good as to pay my proper compliments to the gentlemen belonging to it, and at the same time assure them that I with eagerness accept the honour they are pleased to confer upon me, and that they may depend upon my best endeavours to merit their good opinion, by strictly obeying to the utmost of my power such commands as they may think fit to honour me with, tending to the advancement of the laudable design they wisely began, and have since so successfully carried on. "With respect to the kind opinion you are pleased to entertain of me and my performances, I sincerely return you thanks. And believe me, Sir, the above valuable mark of distinction, which must always tend greatly to my reputation, is still the more grateful to me, as it may occasionally be the means of my corresponding with you,--a happiness much to be coveted by, Sir, etc. etc., "WM. HOGARTH. "LONDON, _April 18, 1757_. "A Monsieur Reiffsten."