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fellow creatures such as the Almighty was pleased to bestow on him & I wish we could always keep in mind, that whatever our powers are, we may be assured they are the best for us, & at the same time that we shall have no account to render concerning the greatness or smallness of our abilities, we must render a very strict one concerning the use we have made of them; his death, untimely, for his friends & family is to be lamented, & the Inheritance of Misfortune to his Widow & Orphans should be alleviated as much as possible; as soon as M:^rs Hodges's Brother has determined with her & you what they wish to be done respecting the Royal Academy you will command my Services but I must remind you that the Fund for the relief of Academicians, their Widows &c is not expected to be complete in less than two years to come & even then as this Fund is raised by Exhibition the application being made in behalf of a Constant Exhibitor, will weigh greatly in the Application however in the mean time there can be no doubt that M^rs: Hodges's Case being represented to the Academy would obtain a temporary present

If any Life \or Work/ of M:^r Hodges should be published I beg to set down my name as a Subscriber —