System Number: 11190
Date: 22 January [1875][1]
Author: JW
Place: Liverpool
Recipient: Auguste Delâtre[2]
Place: [Paris]
Repository: Library of Congress
Call Number: Manuscript Division, Pennell-Whistler Collection, PWC 8/498, 500-503
Document Type: MsLc
Le 22 Janvier:
Speke Hall - near Liverpool -
Mon cher Delâtre -
Les Eaux fortes sont arrivées en parfaite santé - et ont été bien admirées.
Il y en a 29 - dont 23 Monsieur Leyland[3] voudrait bien vous acheter. Les autres six il ne tient pas posséder.
Pour les 23 épreuves donc il propose de vous payer 40 livres - en vous envoyant les autres six. En cas que ceci vous convienne vous aurez l'argent immédiatement sur votre réponse. -
Les six épreuves rejetées sont - les 5 petits portraits des enfants de Mons. Haden[4] - et le petit chien[5] endormi - Voilà comment est l'affaire - Il me parait peut être que l'offre n'est pas mal - Car les autres petites épreuves vous arriverez sans doute à vendre ou à Avery[6] ou à d'autres - et il n'est pas toujours que vous trouverez un amateur prêt à prendre pour 40 livres en bloc. -
Maintenant mon cher Delâtre soyez assez aimable de me mettre dans l'envelope de votre réponse un petit pacquet de cette poudre d'emeri (ou emery) que vous avez - un tout petit pacquet - et je vous en saurai bien gré - car je n'en ai plus - Je compte vous rapporter pas mal de planches à mon retour - J'en ai pris chez Hughes et Kimber[7] en attendant les autres de chez Main[8] - Je vous ferai chercher et rendre les six planches[9] de chez moi pour que vous puissiez les faire de suite polir et me les envoyer avec les deux autres. Maintenant dites moi aussi comment mélez vous votre acide pour [p. 2] mordre. J'ai oublié - en quantités égales n'est-ce pas -
C'est à dire moitié eau - et moitié acide nitrique
Adieu
Je vous serre le coude! -
J. McN. Whistler
This document is protected by copyright.
Translation:
22nd January
Speke Hall - near Liverpool -
My dear Delâtre -
The etchings arrived in perfect health - and have been much admired.
There are 29 - of which Mr Leyland would like to buy 23 from you. The other six he does not care to own.
For the 23 prints therefore he proposes to pay you 40 pounds - sending the other six to you. If this is acceptable to you you will have the money immediately upon your reply.
The six rejected prints are - the 5 small portraits of Mr. Haden's children - and the small sleeping dog - This is how it is - I feel that it is perhaps not a bad offer - Because you will doubtless be able to sell the other small prints either to Avery or to others - and you will not always find a collector ready to take 40 pounds worth all together. -
Now my dear Delatre be kind enough to put in the envelope with your reply a small packet for me of this emeri (or emery) powder that you have - a very small packet - and I shall be very grateful to you - because I have no more - I hope to bring you numbers of plates on my return - I got some at Hughes and Kimber while waiting for the others from Main's - I shall ask you to look out and return the six plates from me so that you can have them polished straight away and send them to me with the two others. Now tell me also how you mix your acid for [p. 2] etching. I have forgotten - is it in equal quantities?
That is to say half water - and half nitric acid.
Goodbye
Cordially yours [lit.: I shake your elbow!] -
J. McN. Whistler
Notes:
1. 22 January [1875]
Dated from the address.
2. Auguste Delâtre
Auguste Delâtre (1822-1907), printer [more].
3. Monsieur Leyland
Frederick Richards Leyland (1832-1892), ship-owner and art collector [more].
4. portraits des enfants de Mons. Haden
JW made many etchings of the family of Francis Seymour Haden (1818-1910), surgeon and etcher, JW's brother-in-law [more]. Indeed he and Haden had learnt the fine points of printing etchings from Delâtre himself in 1858. Two of the etchings concerned were probably Little Arthur (K.9) and Annie (K.10), which were published in the 'French Set' by Delâtre; other possibilities are Seymour, Standing (K.6), Annie Haden, with books (K.8), Seymour, Seated (K.29), Annie, Seated (K.30), Seymour Standing under a tree (K.31), Arthur Haden (K.61), Annie Haden (K.62).
5. petit chien
The Dog in the Kennel (K.18).
6. Avery
Samuel Putnam Avery (1822-1904), print-publisher, collector and philanthropist [more].
7. Hughes et Kimber
The principal suppliers of JW's copper plates.
8. Main
Not identified. An alternative reading 'Marie?' is noted in the margin.
9. six planches
JW's etchings of the Hall and surrounding countryside (K.96, 143-146) included Speke Hall, No.1 (K.96). His drypoints of the Leylands (K.103-110) include F.R.Leyland (K.102), and Mrs Leyland, The Velvet Dress (K.105).