pace to be covered should be small in
proportion.

IV. That all attempts to overstep the limits insisted upon by such
proportion, are inartistic thoroughly, and tend to reveal the paucity
of the means used, instead of concealing the same, as required by Art
in its refinement.

V. That the huge plate, therefore, is an offence--its undertaking an
unbecoming display of determination and ignorance--its accomplishment
a triumph of unthinking earnestness and uncontrolled energy--endowments
of the "duffer."

VI. That the custom of "Remarque" emanates from the amateur, and
reflects his foolish facility beyond the border of his picture, thus
testifying to his unscientific sense of its dignity.

VII. That it is odious.

VIII. That, indeed, there should be no margin on the proof to receive
such "Remarque."

IX. That the habit of margin, again, dates from the outsider, and
continues with the collector in his unreasoning connoisseurship--taking
curious pleasure in the quantity of paper.

X. That the picture ending where the frame begins, and, in the case of
the etching, the white mount, being inevitably, because of its colour,
the frame, the picture thus extends itself irrelevantly through the
margin to the mount.

XI. That wit of this kind would leave six inches of raw canvas between
the painting and its gold frame, to delight the purchaser with the
quality of the cloth.

[Illustration]

_An Unanswered Letter_

PRE CHARMOY, AUTUN,
SAONE ET LOIRE, FRANCE,
Sept. 13, 1867.

Sir--I am at present engaged upon a book on etching and should be glad
to give a full account of what you have done, but find a difficulty,
which is that, although I have seen many of your etchings, I have not
fully and fairly studied them. I wonder whether you would object to
lend me a set of proofs for a few weeks. As the book is already
advanced, I should be glad of an early reply. My opinion of your work
is, _on the whole, so favourable that your reputation could only gain_
by your affording me the opportunity of speaking of your work at
length.

I remain, Sir,
Your obedient servant,
P. G. HAMERTON.

JAMES WHISTLER, Esq.

_Inconsequences_

[Sidenote: The "book on etching."]

James Whistler is of American extraction, and studied painting in
France. As