He said, "_Comme aquarelle_ je vous promets qu'il n'y en a pas beaucoup qui font comme cela;"--about water colour being _infra. dig._, showing myself competent in _two_ materials can only raise me. Poor Scheffer was unwell and could not come. You see, dear Mammy, you need not be so uneasy. I fully appreciate your and Papa's anxiety about my pictures; but it has too great a hold on you when it makes you think that I am entirely reckless and foolish, and that rather than give in I should tell a lie and say it was too late to withdraw a picture when it might still be done. Many thanks for the extract about Sutherland which, however, I had already seen, Henry Grev. having sent it me a week ago. My "Niggers" arrived in time by great luck. Buckner godfathers them. In haste with very best love, your affectionate boy, FRED. 19 QUEEN STREET, 1859. I have got, through the kindness of Elmore (R.A.), a sort of studio at the other end of the world; I believe I told you this in my last note; I suppose my things will come over in a week or less. I am in great doubt about being able to paint in that studio, and about its having been any use to come over to London without the possibility of a really good _locale_: however, here I am. I shall brush up my acquaintances and see a good deal of my friends. Don't reckon on my _selling_ anything--_I_ don't at all. My picture is hung so that it is virtually _impossible_ to see it. I went to look at my "Niggers" in Suffolk Street, and am confirmed in the idea (that also of my friends) that it is my best work. I have as yet nothing worth writing about, so good-bye, dearest Mamma, best love to all. 2 ORME SQUARE, _Sunday, 1859_. Having got on Monday last into my studio and been very busy ever since, this is absolutely the first moment I have found to sit down and write to you.