| Description | Orleans House, Twickenham
16 Nov 1868
Monsieur
Vous nepouvez douter de l'interet que le prends a la louable enterprise de l'Academie Royale, et demondesir de lui preter un concours utile, entant qu'il defendra de moi, mais je regretted I'etre oblige devour dire que pour cette aimee il me serait bien difficile d'acceder au voeu que vour m'exprimez. Vous avez pu juger par vous meme du bouleversement de ma galerie. On achive ence moment le nettoyage de mes tableaux det la reparation des cadres; une autre operation non moins delicate, la distibution et la suspension de toiles va commencer, et au moment ou j'ai besoin de la avoir toutes jour les yeux, il ne m'est pas possible de me dessairir de quelques unes d'entr'elle pour cooperer au but que vous vous proposez.
Veuillez croire, Monsieur, au regret que j'en eprouve.
Votre affectionne
[H] d'Orleans
Translation:
Sir,
You cannot doubt the interest that I take in the commendable enterprise that is the Royal Academy, and of my wish to lend it a useful aid, as much as it will depend on me, but I regert to have to tell you that this year it would be difficult for me to attain the wish that you express.
You have been able to judge for yourself the upheaval of my gallery.
At the moment wer are finsihing the cleaning of my paintings and the repairs of the frames; another but not less delicate take , the distribution and the hanging of the paintings is about to start, and at the time when I need to have all of them within view it is not possible for me to lose a graps of some of them to cooperate in the aim you are proposing to us.
Please believe me, Sir, the regret that I feel about it
Your affectionate,
H of Orleans
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