362 REMINISCENCES OF 



the Queen, and he was desired to send two specimens 

 of his work. Lady Clifden, one of the Queen's ladies, 

 wrote asking if mine might be sent. As I knew that 

 Boehm was away from home, I wrote to Mrs. 

 Boehm. 



"GLOSTER HOTEL, WEST COWES, 

 " ISLE OF WIGHT, -22rf January, 1869. 



" MY DEAR CAPTAIN THOMSON, 



" Pray forgive that only now I thank you 

 for the kindness you had in writing to Mrs. Boehm 

 about the statuette, which is now in my studio at 

 Osborne and having been en face Her Majesty, 

 during a long sitting she gave me to-day, formed the 

 chief point of our conversation. From head to knee- 

 cap, from brow to toe, every detail was examined 

 and bespoken ; and you may be sure that I did not 

 spare to speak of my kind mentor in the noble sport 

 (though I do him little honour in that line) with all 

 the enthusiasm I feel for you. You have no idea what 

 use that statuette has already been to me. I soon 

 expect your exemplar, which I wish I had had instead 

 this one, which is a second, though good, cast only 

 of the original bronze of yours, that I believe will in 

 a few weeks be back again with proper colour and 

 accoutrements. But now if you are ever so tired 

 from ever so fine a run, you must hear my rambles 

 across country from Deene to London, where I had 

 only a few hours cheque (check), and on again at the 

 rate of fifty miles an hour to Osborne. I have to 

 thank you the preliminary introduction or proposal 

 of an equestrian statuette, of the most charming of all 



