Publication InformationFlorence Aust 17 1851 --

Hon George. P. Marsh.

Page 1

My Dear Friend

I have just received a letter from my friend Gould in which he requests me to send him some money. You will know by this time, the object of his touring to Constantinople, and thence to the place of Kossuths confinement and of his success for he will have seen you on his coming back to Constantinople -- Now it so happens on account of a disappointment as to payment on a work I have been doing for a Gentleman now in Paris (Mr Gould will give you the particulars as I have written [...] to him) that I cannot at this moment supply him and as he is a dear friend of mine and has rendered me important service, I cannot endure the thought of his suffering for want of means in a

strange country--and if you can aid him to the extent of his wants (he names $150-- in his letter to me) you will greatly oblige me, and I will see that you are repaid with the least possible delay My own deficiency in money matters, is but temporary, and, I will repay you by a bill or otherwise as soon as I shall be informed of the amount and your wishes as to how it shall be paid. Mr Gould knows many of the officers of the Mississippi now on her way to Constantinople and it may be, that some of them will supply him, in which case, he will not require your assistance, I write this -- however -- to make sure of timely aid from some quarter

I have no news to tell you, matters here remain in about the same state as when you left Florence -- The Austrians seem to have every thing in their hands,

and in their own way --

I am busy as ever in my studio working now mainly on busts, which pay me better now than they did I get £200 for portrait busts, which is nearly four times as much as is charged by any other artist in Italy -- I have several new commissions for statues since you left here, and in short I have now more work before me than I know well how to do -- You will be glad to hear this of your old fellow townsman or towns- -- I know, and therefore I tell it to you --

I had a most kind and welcome letter from your good Mother some months ago, it was a delightful surprize to me -- She did not appear to expect an answer -- the letter came by a private hand -- but I mean to write to the old Lady notwithstanding -- one of these days, with all our best good wishes for you and yours, I am every most sincerely your friend

Hiram Powers

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