xx The Barberini or Portland Vase 265 



your letter of the 22nd of last month. It gives me 

 much satisfaction to find that the Barberini Vase not 

 only remains in England, but is in your hands, as I 

 well know that no one can make a better use of it. ... 

 You have seen so well into the difficulties you will 

 have to encounter, if you attempt an exact copy of this 

 Vase, that I really have nothing to add to the reflec- 

 tions you have made on the subject, and I much 

 approve of your beginning with the most simple copies. 

 I much approve likewise of your making copies of 

 single figures and even of the heads. In short, you 

 cannot multiply this wonderful performance too much ; 

 but I am convinced, as you say, that an exact copy of 

 the Vase finished by the engraver would be too expen- 

 sive to find a purchaser in Europe. 



" I admire your enthusiasm on the frequent and 

 close examination of the Vase, and am happy that its 

 superior merit is felt by some few in England. I saw 

 it every day for above a year, and protest that I 

 admired it more and more. You are very right in 

 there being some little defects in the drawing. It 

 would, however, be dangerous to touch that, but I 

 should highly approve of your restoring in your copies 

 what has been damaged by the hand of Time. The 

 side where the female figure has a torch reversed is 

 perfectly preserved, and the other should be made as 

 like it as possible. 



"I should have thought that my friend Flaxman 

 would have been of use to you in your present under- 



