I never knew till now the difficulties of art, and no one can duly appreciate it unless he has tried it.
Difficulties, however, only increase my ardor and make me more determined than ever to conquer them.
"Mr.West is very kind to me; I visit him occasionally of a morning to hear him converse on art.

He appears quite attached to me, as he is, indeed, to all young American artists.

It seems to give him the greatest pleasure to think that one day the arts will flourish in America.

He says that Philadelphia will be the Athens of the world.

That city certainly gives the greatest encouragement of any place in the United States.
Boston is most backward, so, if ever I should return to America, Philadelphia or New York would probably be my place of abode.
"I have just seen Mr.Stephen Van Rensselaer, who you know was at college with us, and with whom I was intimate.