| Description | 15 Jan 1894
2 Holland Park Road, Kensington
Dear Mr Quilter
I duly received the invitation you were good enough to send me to your 'Private View' and if I did not visit it it was, apart from the fact that I had engagements which detained me on the grounds that I have for many years abstained from all similar functions as I cannot without discourtesy go to some and avoid others; - but indeed I have as an artist little sympathy, and this you will understand, with gatherings at which guests purposely do everything except look at the works displayed. Meanwhile I was about to write to you on another matter in which you are warmly interested - about a year ago you wrote offering liberal and in the work of the removal of Stevens' magnificent monument in St Pauls'. I was at that time in possession of subscriptions adequate to the estimated wants of the delicate and difficult operation - the estimates, however, have been exceeded to the extent of being doubled. Meanwhile, determined on this act of re[-]tion and homage, I had guaranteed the entire cost, which, the work being completed, is now defrayed - leaving me unfortunately more than £800 out of pocket. I am perfectly ready to add to my labour a material contribution of £300 or even £400 - but for a working artist (in these days too) the full sum seems excessive. I am therefore seeking privately to shake off some portion of it thro' the public spirit of others of like mind with myself. It occurs to me that you previously expressed offer may perhaps still hold good for some contribution to the fund. It would seem obvious to turn at such a moment to the public and announce the insufficiency of the money subscribed, but I am barred from doing this by the fact that I purpose as soon as this matter is settled to make a further appeal for the completion of the monument - and a double application would certainly be a fatal error.
If you are indisposed to join in the work at this stage pray give the matter no further thought.
Yours faithfully
Fred Leighton
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