TO THE EDITOR OF THE SPECTATOR.
38. West Square, November 170, MO. SIR--4 letter having appeared in most of the public journals, signed Aaronnw DuNcast," attacking my professional character, I trust to yaur candour to give insertion to the following reply. Mr. DUNCAN'S communication has been dictated by a bad spirit, and Contains assertions directly the reverse of truth. The engraving of " The Orphans," (published in the Remembrance) certainly was not done by me, nor was it the work of Mr. DUNCAN—he engraved the figures, and a young artist of high promise (Mr. GODDEN) put in the back-ground and some of the minor details : the whole plate was finished by me; and I am sure your acquaintance with art has led you to know that this is a practice very general in the profession of an engraver of experience and reputation "going over" the work of one who is with- out these advantages. I hope I may be permitted to state, that, how- ever little ability I may possess in art, in which I have laboured so many
no Tears, I am under apprehension of being placed upon a par with Mr.
A no ANDREW Dumcx. I beg to add, that I know of scarcely one fine en- graving completed from beginning to end by one individual. I became possessed of the plate in consequence of Mr. SHARPE bringing it to me, stating that he was dissatisfied with it, and requesting me to improve it ;I did so, and feel satisfied that no individual, whether a judge of art or otherwise, can look at the print as I received it, and that after it had passed out of my hands, without at once perceiving, that from being crude and defective to a very shameful degree (considering that Mr. Duscax received the very liberal sum of fifty guineas for it), it became a plate by no means discreditable to any engraver. The "ex- treme blackness" which has been alluded to, is, I apprehend, the fault of the printer, and may have been confined to a few of the impressions only. To Mr. DUNCAN'S very impertinent observation about "buying the reputation one does not possess," I make no reply, except to state, that If my reputation and ability were no greater than his I must be very unworthy of the frequent praise with which I have been honoured in =est of the public journals during a period of years, and which has sti- znulated me to those exertions which have led to success.
I am, Sir, very respectfully your's,
CHARLES ROLLS.
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