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 96 farther off than London. But I hope that France and England will henceforth be as one country and their arts one, and that you will ere long be erecting monuments in Paris—emblems of peace.

My wife joins with me in love to you and Mrs. Flaxman.—I remain, yours sincerely,

.

I have just seen Weller. All your friends in the south are willing to await your leisure for works of marble, but Weller says it would soothe and comfort the good sister and the upright Mr. D. to see a little sketch from your hand. Adio.

22.

To Thomas Butts.

10th January 1802.

,—Your very kind and affectionate letter, and the many kind things you have said in it, called upon me for an immediate answer; but it found my wife and myself so ill, and my wife so very ill, that till now I have not been able to do this duty. The ague and rheumatism have been almost constant enemies, which she has combated in vain almost ever since we have been here; and her sickness is always my sorrow, of course. But