I also send a Gown, Hood, and Band, by which to finish the Drapery. This, I doubt not, you will be able to execute, before Capt. Smith returns to New York; at which Time You will return the Gown etc. together with the Picture: and, if a Couple of Guineas will purchase the little Piece which I so much admired, the Nun with the Candle before her, You may send that also, which I will deposit in our College Library, as a Beginning to a public Collection. If the Picture does not please You, and I should visit Boston again, the next Year, I will take Care that it shall be there before me; that, when I come, it may receive your finishing Hand. I am, Sir yr. most obedt and very hble Sert.

MYLES COOPER.

Please to convey the Letter to Mr. Troutbeck.1

Copley to [Myles Cooper]2

[1768.]

I received Your favour by C[apt.] Smith with the robe in good order. I am sorry it is not in my power to comply with Your reques[t] in sending it back as soon as You expected, but having been ingaged to sett out opon a tour of a week the next Morning, but will return it when Cap Smith makes his next trip. I likewise received seven Guineas the price of Your portrait. As to the Candle light In consideration of the use You propose to make of it I will part with it for two Guineas, as it is my desire to see some publick collection begun in America. University Quarterly, 1. 347. The other is either a replica by Copley or a copy by another artist. Mr. Edward R. Smith has discussed the history and relationship of the paintings in ibid., XII. 299-301.

1 John Troutbeck was assistant rector of King's Chapel, 1755-1775.

* An extremely rough draft of Copley's reply to the preceding letter, without address, signature or date.

I shall therefore send it with Your por[trait]. One box will contain the two but I [am] extreemly loath to send Yours till You sett again, for after it has been seen by everey body the finnish comes too late to answer the purposes desired.

DEAR SIR,

Benjamin West to Copley

LONDON, Sepr. 20th, 1768.

By your Friend Mr. Rogers I send you these few lines on the subject of your last letter to me. My long Silence on this head must have made you think by this that I had forgot you. But the more I reflected on your Situation, and those Points you have been Pleasd to Communicate to me, the More I found myself under the Necessity of a longer Deliberation and not to be too precipitate in writeing you my Opinion till I had Exactly assertaind that of Publick. I have with the greatest care Endavoured at their real Sentiments in regard to the Merrits of those Specimens you have been pleast to favour us with of your Painting at our Exhibition, And find by their Candid approbation you have nothing to Hazard in Comeing to this Place. The Plan I then offer for your Consideration is as follows: The length to which you have advanced in the Art of Painting shews the High light you hold that noble art in, and the venaration you must have for those great Productions with which Italy abounds, Tho perhaps amongs the liveing Masters of that Country you may not meet with a rival. But from the works of those dead to a Man of Powers they are a Source of Knowledge ever to be prized and Saught after. I would therefor, Mr. Copley, advise your makeing this viset while young and befor you determin to Settle. I dont apprehend it needs be more than one Year, as you wont go in pursut of that which

you are not Advanced in, but as a Satisfaction to yourself hearafter in knowing to what a length the art has been Carried to. by this you will find yourself in Possesions of Powers you will then feel that Cannot be Communicated by words and is onely to be felt by those which Nature has Blessd with Powers.

As your Setling in England will be attended with a little famely, if your viset to Italy could be first accomplished I should think it would be better. But this yourself, Mr. Rogers, or your other Friends will be the best judges of. This seems to me the Plan that most affectually establishes you, and what is to be Accomplisdd without great Expance. this is what Occurs to me on this head, and candidly send it you as one that is your Friend. My Friendship I freely give, and if ever you should Come hear, I begg you'll make my house your home. am, Dear Mr. Copley, Your Friend and Most obediant Humble Servent

I

B: WEST.

SIR,

Myles Cooper to Copley

KING'S COLLEGE, NEW YORK, 24 Octr., 1768.

I was so unfortunate as not to see Capt. Smith during his Stay here the last Voyage, otherwise, a Line should have waited on You at his Return. I am obliged to You for what you say concerning the Candle-Light, which You will please to send by Capt. Smith (who, I fancy, will be almost ready to sail, by the Time You receive this), and the Money [shall be re-]mitted to you by the first Opportunity. But, by the Same Conveyance, I must also beg of you to send my Portrait, finish'd in the best Manner You can; for, as to my Coming again to Boston,

(considering what a Situation You are in, and I am afraid Things are not likely to change for the better) the Matter is quite uncertain: and, if ever I do see the Place again, it will hardly be before both You and I have seen Europe.

I have seen several People who have told me the Picture is exceeding like me; and if the Finishing is not so high, as You might have made it, on another Sitting; I will take all Care that the Circumstances shall be known to those who have either Discernment enough to taste its Excellencies, or Penetration sufficient to observe its Defects. I am, Sir with my best wishes for your Welfare, yr. most obedt. and very hble Servt.

MYLES COOPER.

SIR,

Myles Cooper to Copley

KING'S COLLEGE, NEW YORK, 9th Jany, 1769.

I was much surprized that you neither thought proper to send my Picture, as you were desir'd to do, by Capt. Smith; nor to give me any Reason for the Omission. Perhaps he might have slipt away as he has done from me, without your Knowledge of his sailing: but still you might have let me know that such was the Case. As for the portrait itself, the want of it cannot be attended with any great Inconvenience; but the Gown I think you are unpardonable for keeping in your Hands so long: And the other Picture, if I had been in possession of it, would, ere this, have been the Occasion of procuring some more, to my certain Knowledge, for our Library. I beg, Sir, you would send at least, my Gown by the first Opportunity, and remain, yr. most obedt. Servt.

MYLES COOPER.

SIR,

Edward Holyoke1 to Copley

CAMBRIDGE, Jany. 31, 1767.2.

This comes to desire you to delivr. Mr. Hollis's Picture to the Persons I shall send (as soon as may be) with an Order for it. It seems you say the Goven'r told you, you might take it to yor self, having 16 Guineas only for the new Picture, which I wonder at, for that his Excy. must needs know he had no more power to Dispose of it than the smallest man in the Governmt. But however, We shall not be sure part with the Picture, and if you must have more for the new Picture, let it be so, and as for yor letting us have it Cheaper, being for the College, I think you are in the Right rather to give what you shall see meet to allow in Gift to the College, in some other Way, I am Yor humble Servt.

E. HOLYOKE.

SIR,

Myles Cooper to Copley

KING'S COLLEGE, NEW YORK, 21, Augt., 1769.

I am extremely sorry, that, for a voyage or two before this, Capt. Smith should have made so much Haste, as to have prevented my Sending by Him the two Guineas which I am indebted to you for the portrait. The piece has been much admired; as well as the picture of myself. I should be very glad if You could persuade yourself to exercise your Art for a few

1 Edward Holyoke was president of Harvard College, 1737-1769. He died June 1, 1769.

• The date was at first read 1769; but a closer examination, too late for transferring the letters to their proper places, proved 1767 to be correct.