On my Return home last Night, I was sorry to find you had taken the trouble to call here—I suppose for my Answer to your Letter of yesterday, which I received as I was dressing to go out, and which I informed the Bearer I would answer in the Evening or early this Morning—and which I now do.

I am, Sir, by no means of your Opinion, “that on the whatever pretence I might have received Lady Nicolson’s Portrait, it requires but little Penetration ro perceive the Propriety of restoring it to her Husband.”—On the contrary it appears to me, that it requires but very little Penetration to perceive the Impropriety of such a Measure, both with regard to her,—to you—and to myself. A more proper and delicate Method for all Parties, according to my Ideas of Propriety, (and the only one I shall ever comply with) would be, for her, tossed me back my Portrait first: this would convince me she did not wish me to retain hers (and would indeed render it improper) consequently I should immediately return it by the Bearer of mine. I know of no Method more eligible, and doubt not it will be adopted, if it is true that Lady Nicolson wishes to deprive me of the only Token I have left of the Friendship she formerly honour’d me with.

This is the only answer I can, or shall, make in this puerile Affair, which has already taken up too much of my Time. I am, Sir, Your very humble Servant