"Should my ideas of a building to commemorate the military achievements of Waterloo be viewed with complacency by yourself and others, I shall feel a satisfaction, as President of the Royal Academy, to have done my duty; and should His Royal Highness the Prince Regent be pleased to signify his approbation, I shall be gratified and honoured. With the sincerity of profound respect, "I am, "My dear Sir George, "Your obliged and obedient Servant, "BENJAMIN WEST." * * * * * Suffolk Lane, 28th Jan, "MY DEAR SIR, "Sir Philip Francis's critique on the _Transfiguration_ appears very ingenious, so far as it explains the painter's design in representing the Demoniac Boy as the connecting link between the action _on the Mount_ and the groupe at the foot of it; but I cannot agree with Sir Philip in supposing the picture to represent the _Ascension_ and as you request me to state my reasons for this dissent, I shall briefly endeavour to specify them. "I have _not_ seen the original picture; but in the copy of it by Harlow, which was much admired in Rome, and which one would think must be accurate, at least in regard to so important a point, since it was exhibited beside the original--I say in Harlow's copy the raiment of our Saviour is _white,_ not _blue_. The white has, indeed, in the shaded part, a bluish tinge, but the colour is decidedly a _white_, and, therefore, Sir Philip's assumption that it is _blue_ appears contrary to the fact. "The _Transfiguration_ was witnessed by _only three_ of the Apostles, Peter, James, and John, (see St. Matthew, chap. xvii, v. 1, 2, and 3.) exactly as represented In the picture, 'and (see v. 9.) as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, "Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of Man be risen again from the dead."' "It maybe as well, to prevent the trouble of an reference, to quote at once from the Evangelist, the description of the subject which it appears to me the painter meant to represent. Chap. xvii. as before. 1. And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, 2. And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. 3. And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. 6. And when the disciples heard, they fell on their faces, and were sore afraid. 14. And when they were come to the multitudes there came to him a man, kneeling down to him, and saying, 15. Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatic and sore vexed: and oft-times he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. 16. And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him, &c.