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ties, and I commenced the work with zeal and
enthgsiasm. Animated by your commands,
gracious Sire, I renewed my professional studies,
and burnt my midnight lamp to attain and give
that polish at the close of Your Maj esty' s chapel,
which has since marked my subsequent scriptural
pictures. Your Majesty's known zeal for pro-
moting religion, and the elegant arts, had en-
rolled your virtues with all the civilized world;
and your gracious protection of my pencil had
given to it a celebrity throughout Europe, and
spread a knowledge of the great work on Re-
vealed Religion, which my pencil was engaged
on, under Your Majesty's patronage: it is that
work which all Christendom looks with ta com-
completion.
placency for its
" Being distinguished by Your Majesty's be-
nignity at an early period as a painter, and
chosen by those professors highly endowed in
the three branches of the tine arts to fill their
highest station, and sanctioned by Your Majesty's
signature in their choice that station, I have
been, for 1n0re than ten years, zealous in promot-
o 2