Dear Sir,

Thanks to Parker’s dilatoriness the Picture had not been forwarded¹   I sent off to M^r. Myers² with the corrected address, and also called this morning upon M^r. P: I trust, the Portrait will arrive safely, it goes from me uninjured, & the more I examine it, I think that it will adorn either your own or your relations dining-room—

If it could speak, it would tell of its own travels and interesting history, 1^st. at Ashborne, then over the chimney piece at Derby in Uncle Hadley’s dining-room afterwards in several migrations to residences with my esteemed & loved Aunt Hadley & more strange still to myself, and last to those who will value it for its ancestral worth—³ Glad as I am to see it so safely housed, I feel a little pang when I say farewell to the dear old painting— I received y^r. handsome acknowledgment for it, but never was such a thing heard of as payment before the article received it is most kind & benevolent of you.⁴

I shall be glad to hear that Parker has duly attended to all directions—

At your leisure I shall be glad to learn your opinion of the painting. Wrights are I believe considered valuable, tho’ in his life-time he did not receive the commendation he ought to have done.

I send you another copy of my friend’s; I have another so pray accept it—⁵

Receive my best wishes for the New-Year & I hope that you may be spared many more to look on your justly famed ancestor— | I am dear Sir, | Yours truly, & obliged, | Eliz^th. A. Greaves

P.S. Parker’s men have just been for the Picture; and it will be sent off tomorrow morning, so that I trust you will receive it in the Eveng. in the same condition it went from here: I laid down very strict injunctions—& they will be answerable for any damage—