Transcript of a letter dated 19th September 1858 from Mr. Lewis to (it is assumed) Francis Curteis Rawes of Oporto, Portugal. The letter is concerned with the portrait of F.J. Curteis, Esq. by Reinagle. (The original letter is with Francis Roderick Rawes along with the aproximately 3ft by 2ft portrait). (Oporto Line)

My dear Sir,               With this you will / receive the far-famed portrait of / F J Curteis Esqr, which by universal / consent is the best Reinagle has / done; & in my humble opinion / as good as anybody else could / have done: we consider the / likeness marvellously correct, / so much so, that all who have / seen it, could not refrain from / laughing at the complete identity / of the Picture: there is only / one regret viz that it should / leave the country. / I shall be very anxious / to hear your opinion of it, / let it be hung up in a / good position before you / proceed to pass judgment / upon it.         Believe me         Yours very truly         Lewis K[?] Mayo[?] 19 Sep 1858 Notes:- Mr Curteis was a school companion of Frank's father James Rawes senior of Portugal. Both James and Mr. F.R. Curties went to the Rawes Academy in Bromley. It is believed that Mr. Curteis was somehow instrumental in James Rawes's emigration to Portugal. James named his eldest son Francis Curteis in respect to his friend. Copied by Julian Rawes of Cheltenham, 1997.