DEAR PROF. CHURCH,--I write to acknowledge your letter of the 6th, the information in which (Jaune de Naples) is to me of very great importance indeed. I believe Hills to be really anxious to help us in the matter of medium. I should be peculiarly glad if we could send forth a thoroughly trustworthy, hard-drying, supple, and not yellowing vehicle. Let us consider it. I find myself using a mixture, roughly, of equal parts of amber varnish (Roberson's) and oil of spike; and, say, a sixth of the whole of poppy oil (Roberson's): that is, 3/7 amber, 3/7 spike, 1/7 poppy; but I vary according to the work; and again I don't know what Roberson's amber varnish is, it does not seem _very_ drying. Of course one would want a good middle drying power, to which, _mixing the ingredients_, one might add any one at will. I think that "Siccatif de Haarlem" has about that middle quality, if I remember it rightly. It is, I think, copal, poppy oil, and turps.; but it seemed to me to yellow a little, why, I don't know; poppy should not darken. Chromophile is delightful up to a certain point, and then the work sinks extraordinarily blind and tallowy; and as you want something in the way of varnish at the end, it seems desirable to carry that or _some_ varnish in a moderate degree right through. Chromoph. becomes a little _milky_ in a bottle with spir. of turp., and turns bright green when left in a dipper. Your proposal to _report_ to us annually is very valuable, and could be worked to the _general_ advantage. * * * * * I am delighted to find that you are in co-operation with my friend Mr. Hills, who has a warm and genuine desire to serve Art and his friends the artists. I find his poppy oil _clarified with charcoal_ very delightful stuff. Am I wrong in thinking the action of the charcoal on it has been to render it more _drying_? I think that a vehicle made with that oil, amber varnish, and oil of spike will be a very satisfactory vehicle indeed; particularly if you can, between you, _bleach_ the oil yet more. Chromophile is quite colourless. The mastic varnish _that won't bloom_ will be a great triumph. _Pace_ our detractors, it shall, I hope, be seen in time that the R.A. is not unmindful of the needs of artists even in the matter of material appliances. * * * * *