| Collection | Victorian Additional Papers |
| Description | Gruner writes that he is today giving the box containing the drawings he mentioned (see VIC/ADDA10/85/431) to the British envoy. The fourth item, which he did not name in his previous letter, is a rapid tracing of Count Riesch's drawing; luckily it arrived this morning. He asks Becker to lay these before the Prince Consort - adding jokingly that he could put them on HRH's Christmas table - as proof of his zeal.
He is also sending a copy of Passavant's letter (see VIC/ADDA10/85/432) casting doubt on the authenticity of Count Riesch's drawing - an opinion which makes the lack of a photograph of it much more bearable. Nevertheless he would like an answer to his question about Becker's letter to Count Riesch. Finally he repeats his request that the drawings be returned as soon as possible via a Cabinets Courier, although the boxes with the negatives may be sent by a general conveyance company.
Gruner adds a postscript commenting indignantly on the failure of the South Kensington Museum to send him photographs of all the [Raphael] Cartoons and all the [Holbeins] as soon as they were publicly available, as well as those in the Louvre and at the British Museum, although they were promised six months ago and he has written repeatedly to remind the museum of his request. He has received nothing but a few heads [from the Cartoons]. Given the trouble he takes to supply the museum with excellent material that it would have difficulty obtaining otherwise, he thinks he has been shabbily treated, and asks Becker to tell Mr Wallis so, if he should see him. |