Pleasure from their Performances. This convinces me that young Artists should receive great Pleasure from what they do, as it is that alone can compensate for the great Fatigue which must arise from the prodigeous Length of Time necessary to make a painter, let him have ever so great a Share of Genius. I mention this that he may early in Life be acquainted with the Making of Pictures, and qualify himself for a Painter, and not a Drawing Master. You have a strong Instance on your Side of the Water (in Mr. Copley) to what a Length a Man may carry the Art by his own Assiduity. He is better qualified for coming to Europe now than he was seven Years ago. If it is not convenient for your Son to come to England, let him advance himself as Mr. Copley has done, and he will find himself equal to the first in Europe. I should think from what I have heard of Mr. Copley he would have a pleasure in communicating to him the Knowledge of Colours. I write my Opinion on this Matter with greater Warmth than I should have done, had I not been once in your Son's Situation, which I have found since my Arrival in Europe was the most fortunate Circumstance that could have happen'd to me: My having no other Assistance but what I drew from Nature (the Early Part of my Life being quite obscured from Art) this grounded me in the Knowledge of Nature, while had I come to Europe sooner in Life, I should have known nothing but the Receipts of Masters.

If at any Time I can be of Use to your Son, by communicatg. my Thoughts to him, either in America or England, I shall with the greatest Pleasure do it. I am, Sir, your most obedient humble Servant,

LONDON, 18th June, 1771.

BENJA. WEST.

PS. You will excuse Incorrectness as Illness prevented me writing the above Letter.

DEAR HARRY,

Copley to Henry Pelham

NEW YORK, June 20, 1771.

I must not omit so good an oppertunity as the present to let you know we are well, and that painting much engages the attention of people in this City and takes up all my time. I have begun three portraits already, and shall as soon as time permits fill my Room which is a very large one. We have experienced great sivility from several people, as well from those to whom we were recommend[ed] as others into whose knowledge we have fallen here. The Gentleman1 who is the bearer of this is desireous of seeing my Room in Boston. You'l therefore weit on him, and be kind anough to go to Mr. Clarkes and let the family know we are well, and shall write to them by Mr. Loring who goes from this place on Monday next. We desire our most Affectionate Duty to our Mamma, to Mr. Clarke, Love to your self and all our Brothers and Sisters. We are very impatient to hear from you and Mr. Clarke's family. Do write us by the first oppertunity. As it grows late, I must conclude with subscribeing my self your Affectionate Brother, JOHN SINGLETON COPLEY.

PS our compts. to Miss Peggy McElvain and all friends.

Henry Pelham to Copley

MY DEAR BROTHER,

BOSTON, June 23, 1771.

By your favour of the 16, we had the pleasure, the inexpressable Pleasure, of hearing of your and my dear Sisters being

1 Mr. Harmonside.

commodiously fixed at New York, after the agreable and safe Journey, which you say, has contributed so much to your looks. We are greatly Rejoyced to find that you are so well. hope the change of Air and Exercise will confirm your and my Sisters health. It is with pleasure that I can inform you that our Hond. Mamma (whose kind Love and best Wishes she desires may be presented to your self and Lady) has been in very tolerable Health for her, since you left us.

I saw a few days ago, my Cousin Betzey, at Roxbury, she is as hearty and well, as when you saw her. she is I think the finest Child of her Age of any in New England. Now I am speaking of Children, I must not omitt informing you, of an Occurrance, which has afforded us a great deal of Entertainment as well as Satisfaction. on Saterday afternoon the 15 (as if inspired) took a Horse and Chaise, called and saw my little Friend, as above, and thence proceeded to Newton, to spend the Sunday. I had a pleasant and agreable time 'till Sunday Eveng. 10 O'Clock, when my Sister Pelham was taken very ill, and after sending 15 Miles for a Doctr. was safely delivered the next Morning, of a fine Son, whom they call Peter. Since which my Brother informs me by Letter, that "she is as Cleaver as can be expected for one in her case." He farther says, "When you write to Mr Copley please present our kind Love and Regards to him and Lady, and you will naturally inform him of the late interesting event in my Family, of which we may say, you was almost an Eye Witness." Mr Clarke and Family are all very well. I communicated your Letter to them, they were exceedingly pleased to hear of your safe arrival, desire their kind Love to you and my Sister. I spoke to Mr. Joy relative to the Mare, he says it is not reasonable that he should give the five dollers he offered for the Bargain, 'tho he

still stands ready to take her at the price you gave, provided she returns safe and sound, of this you will inform me more particularly the next post. About a Week ago Mr Otis1 called upon me. told me that you had left some Money with me, for him, and would be glad if I could let him have it. I told him you had left sundry Debts to collect, that I had not yet got them in, but that I hoped it would soon be in my Power to wait upon him. I shall wait your express Orders with regard to this Affair. I have not been able to find, but that he is as well, as he used to be. And I hope, will be capable of defending your case. You will consider weither (as his purse from his long Confinement may be low) he may not if he dont soon receive his Fee, get affronted and soured, and neglect if not abandon your case. He told me, that it was determined, that there should be no adjournment of the Court. So that the tryal must be in the begining of September, if it is to come on this Fall. you will do well likewise to consider, weither if you have Mr. Otis and Coll. Putnam2 it would not be best to have the Case tryed at the next term. Mr. Otis told me that the bill for the removal of the Powder House, has had three readings, and past the House, so that it seems now to be in a very fair Way; in my next, I hope to be able to inform you that it is enacted. The Repairs go on very briskly, the upper House will be in motion to Morrow. It is I think the unanimouse Opinion of all your Friends, that the Expence is not at all adequate to the looks, of a hiped Roof upon the upper House. The plan they

3

1 James Otis (1725-1783), then suffering from the effects of an assault made upon him by Robinson, a Commissioner of the Customs.

* James Putnam, of Worcester, in whose office John Adams studied law. He left Massachusetts a loyalist, and settled in Fredericton, New Brunswick.

• Copley's house on Mount Vernon, the land owned by Copley extending from Joy Street to low water mark.

think is in every other respect perfectly compleat, but the want of that, they look upon, as a very great Omission. Aided by their Advice, I have ventured to give orders for its being done in that manner; as the time would not admitt of consulting you. Mr Lechmere1 was a few days ago, at your place, he told the workmen, that he thought it one of the finest Situations in the Province, and that had he have known of it, he would have bought it at all events; will this please you? Smith sails perhaps in a fortnight, perhaps a Month, is quite uncertain which. I have twenty things to ask, twenty to say, but have only Room to subscribe myself with my most Affectionate Regards to my Sister, Your Loving Brother,

HENRY PELHAM.

PS. Write often and send no blank Paper.

Henry Pelham to Copley

MY DEAR BROTHER,

BOSTON, July 7, 1771.

I have to acknowledge the Receipt of your's (per Mr Harmonside) of the 20 of June, which gave us the pleasure of knowing that you and my Sister were well at that time. Mr Loring ar[r]ived here last Fryday Eveng. but as we have not yet received your Letter we can only know that you was well when he left york, that you had began severall pictures, and had received an Invitation from Philadelphia but had refused to go. he further informd us that you had not received your trunk from Providence which surprised me as your not mention[in]g it in your Letters made me suppose you had duly

1 Richard Lechmere, of Boston, who died in England in 1818, having left Massachusetts with other loyalists.