Letter from David Wilkie, Long Stowe Hall, to Sir George Beaumont, 1820 October 30 : autograph manuscript signed.

Concerning two of his paintings: The Chelsea Pensioners and The Reading of the Will; relating news of William Owen whom he is visiting at Long Stowe Hall and adding that "Sir Thomas Lawrence, much to his credit called for him some time ago and took him down to Buckingham House to show him his portraits of the foreign sovereigns he is new completing there, with these he said he was much gratified and thought them a step decidedly beyond any thing Sir Thomas had previously done;" reporting news of the Royal Academy and the art on exhibition in London; reporting on the status of his own work; saying "My own Picture of the Chelsea Pensioners is in progress, but previous to my leaving town underwent a complete alteration or rather transposition of all the figures. The effect has been to concentrate the interest to one point and to improve the composition by making it more of a whole. The background is almost a correct view of the place itself and is remarkably favourable for the picture. The Picture of the Reading of the Will I had packed and sent off to Munich about 6 weeks ago. It was delayed by me so long by a very curious circumstance. Sir Thomas Lawrence made an application while it was in the Exhibition from the King to know if his Majesty could have it. My answer was that it was a commissioned Picture and not at my disposal and upon the circumstances being represented to his Majesty Sir Tho's Lawrence received his commands to write to Mr. Brook Taylor, the British Minister at Munich, to request him to ask it as a favour from the King of Bavaria. This honour was found to be a delicate request to make and Mr. B. Taylor in answer said that as he understood the King of Bavaria had expressed a desire to have the picture and some impatience at its delay, he wished Sir Thomas to make this known to his Majesty before the request was made. This was accordingly done and The King was pleased to say that the relinquishment of the picture should not be urged unless the King of Bavaria should upon an inspection of it feel disappointed. This of course left me at liberty to send off the Picture and also relieved me from duplicate or perhaps another picture to satisfy either of the parties. This uncertainty has delayed me a good deal with the Pensioners, but I expect now to proceed with it;" asking Sir George how is own painting is coming and complimenting him on some of his alpine sketches; asking to be remembered to Lady Beaumont.