I am about now to take up a large decorative painting for the Exchange, a work which cannot be done on the spot on account, _inter alia_, of the darkness of the place, and will, therefore, be carried out here at the studio on _canvas_, and then "marouflé" on the wall. Macbeth (A.R.A.), who is also doing one, is using _Parris's_ "Marble medium," in which, a thousand years ago, I painted two figures for mosaic at South Kensington; great brilliancy is obtainable, but I rather fear a certain tendency to look waxy and almost shiny. I myself incline to use Gambier _Parry's_ material, which I have used on the _wall_ at South Kensington and greatly like. But now the question arises, ought the canvas to be _prepared_? and on this I shall be grateful for your opinion, as the matter is very important. G. Parry told me that canvas either _could_ or _should_ be prepared for his medium, I don't remember which. Roberson's man tells me that Madox Brown and Fredk. Shields (I think) both had canvases prepared for a similar purpose. I shall postpone ordering mine till I have your instructions; till when, and always, I am, in much haste. * * * * * _April 23, 1894._ Many thanks for your letter. I shall, of course, obey your instructions punctually, and substitute paraffin wax for the ordinary Brecknell and Turner beeswax, as prescribed by Parry himself. I will see Roberson immediately, for I should not think it right, as he ground the colours and prepared the medium throughout for my two large frescoes at South Kensington, to abandon him in favour of Laurie, or anybody else. You suggest that I should make a little experiment on a small canvas. Do you think that would be necessary? I presume that the material will work exactly as it did before, and that the surface will be--bar the granulation--very much the same as on a wall. I ask this question, because I ought to get to work immediately, and I gather from a reference to your work that it will take several weeks before the process of preparation is complete. I wish I could throw light for you on the verb "maroufler," and should like to know what subterranean connection there is, or can be, between it and the word "maroufle" which is, as you say, being interpreted, a "rascal." At all events, when the moment comes for the operation, I must endeavour to obtain information from France, where the process is in very frequent use. * * * * * _February 27, 1895._ A contretemps has occurred of which I think I ought to inform you, as it relates to the very interesting subject of grounds and pigments.