Autograph letter signed : Revesby Abbey, to Thomas Phillips, 1808 September 12.

Concerning the reasons for and against a proposal by Phillips to produce and sell engravings of Banks from a portrait by Phillips; saying "...whether a Print taken from that Picture will be a Profitable Concern is a matter of which I, who never was concernd in the science of money Getting, have not the means of Forming a Proper Judgment. The Sale of Such a Print must I conceive depend upon three things: the Excellence of the Painter, the Talents of the Engraver, & the notoriety of the Person it Represents. The Two first I readily admit to be of the very best description. Relative to the Third I have many doubts. There are already three prints of your Hble Servant to be met with in the Print Shops, one from a Picture of Sir Joshua, an admirable mezzotinto; another from the Pencil of the President, & a third, a most decided Likeness from a Crayon Picture of Russell;" doubting that any of them made any money for the artist adding "...a man like me who has never medled in Politics & who Cannot, of Course, possess a Squadron of Enthusiastic Friends, is not likely to sell a dear Print. A cheap one will answer better among the men of Science, many of whom have honord Russels Print with a Place in their apartments;" expressing his concern that his motives for having an engraving made might be misconstrued as vanity and explaining that he would only be able to purchase a few prints privately; discussing the work of several engravers; concluding "...therefore that I see not hopes of any profit whatever being reapd by the Father artist, the Painter."