atching the progress of
these same plates, and the previous French set, as they were proved by
me and printed by Delatre, to whom I introduced him.

Far from me to spoil a good story; but for the life of me I cannot see
what any sympathizing _raconteur_ will regret in the destruction of
this mere jumble of statistics that Mr. Hamerton calls "Mr. Haden's
anecdote."

VENICE, Aug. 16, 1880.

[Illustration]

_In Excelsis_

Mr. Hamerton presents his compliments to Mr. Whistler, and begs to
inform him that he has read Mr. Whistler's very unbecoming and
improper letter in the _New York Tribune_.

Mr. Hamerton in his article in _Scribner's Monthly_ simply quoted a
passage from one of Mr. Haden's lectures on Etching, published in
Cassell's _Magazine of Art_; consequently Mr. Hamerton did not offer
matter to his readers under any disguise whatever. Mr. Hamerton has
answered Mr. Whistler's letter in the same journal in which it
appeared.

PRE CHARMOY, AUTUN, SAONE ET LOIRE,
Sept. 28, 1880.

_A Suspicion_

It is possibly too much to expect--upon the principle of "trumps not
turning up twice"--but Mr. Whistler does hope that Mr. Hamerton's
letter to the _New York Tribune_ will be as funny as his note to Mr.
Whistler, which has just been forwarded from London.

VENICE, Oct. 7.
CAFE FLORIAN, PLACE SAN MARC.

Pardon! Is Mr. Whistler right in supposing, from the droll little
irritation shown in Mr. Hamerton's note, that Mr. Hamerton is
perhaps--another "Art Critic"?

[Illustration]

_Conviction_

_TO THE EDITOR:_

[Sidenote: _New York Tribune_, Oct. 11, 1880.]

Sir--A friend in America has sent me the letter from Mr. Whistler
which refers to my article in _Scribner_ on Mr. Haden's etchings. The
letter begins as follows:

In _Scribner's Magazine_ for this month there appears an article on
Mr. Seymour Haden, the eminent surgeon etcher by a Mr. Hamerton, and
in this article I have stumbled upon a curious statement
concerning--strangely enough--my own affairs, offered pleasantly in
the disguise of an anecdote habitually 'narrated' by the Doctor
himself, and printed effectively in inverted commas, as here shown.

Here Mr. Whistler accuses me of disguising something which I chose to
tell, as if it came from Mr. Haden, by printing it in inverted commas.
The statement is "offered pleasantly in the disguise of an anecdote,"
and "prin