Autograph Letter Signed ('C H A B') from Rev. Charles Harris Alured Barling of Brook Lodge, Norfolk, to 'My Dear Beevor', expressing dismay at the result of a visit by the auctioneers Christie's to view the pictures of Clarke Stoughton of Bawdeswell.

Letter: 6pp., 12mo, on bifolium and single leaf. An vivid and entertaining letter, shedding light on Victorian valuation and auctioneering practices. Barling wastes no time in passing on the bad news. 'I am very glad you have written to me about the B[awdeswe]ll. pictures & I can tell you [last world underlined] plainly what the 2 Christie's opinion was which I cd. not do to poor old C[larke]. S[toughto]n. The inspection in issue was a grievous disappointment. So far worse than I cd. have possibly believed, and then coming the question cd. two such Men as the Christies be wrong? for my part I think impossible [last word underlined twice] to have them looked over again by some other authority? - in as few words as I can put it I will give the Messrs. C opinion there being no difference between them. taking 4 or 5 pictures the so named Danae by Rubens, which they clearly set down as a vulgar daub, and the Minervas & if I recollect "choice of Paris" these I think old Clarke S considered the very valuable lot - I said to Christie "now will it answer to send these up to London? oh no said he - then I said what sum wd. they returrn after expenses 30£? he said they might return about 30 - however to cut the matter short - they said "there is not a picture in the house of any value and we knew it when we had been in it a very short time" this of course was as bad as bad cd. be'. Regarding 'the fowl pieces' - 'probably Spanish copies' - Barling exclaims: 'Surely they must (the family I mean) have been under an awful delusion! particularly as to price paid by the C o Cl: or he must have been an awful Noodle or the Christies (the first firm in the World in that line) know nothing of their business'. He feels that Beevor's 'good tact & judgment' will direct him 'for the best in the rather difficult affairs'. He now changes the subject, reporting 'a frightful murder in Shotesham tho: the woman yet breathed this mor[nin]g.', deploring the conduct of 'H P', and stating that he has received 'a very melancholy note from E R Br. yesterday in reference to himself - he says "that his strength has become "but labour & sorrow" and that "the conclusion cannot be far away". He concludes with other local news. Accompanying the letter is a list in another hand of six paintings (1p., 12mo, on worn paper), totalling £1200 in price. Above it Barling has written 'Catalogue of Pictures' and beneath it 'Clarke Stoughton Esqe.'. At the foot of the page Barling writes, in red ink, 'Deposited for Policy No 2199 | See Lr. 25th April 1868'. Included in the list are 'Danae in the Golden Shower - £200' and 'Diana bathing - £200'.