Letter from Rickards and Sons to John Philip Gell, stating they believe he came to the right conclusion in the case concerning the Phillips portrait The only chance of success lay in proving Lady Franklin made a false statement in 1855, which, if succesful, even then might not have been enough, given the lapse of so many years; they see no reason to communicate with the Trustees of the National Portrait Gallery; if the Gell family could not have the portrait, the most satsifactory possessors would be the Nation, and any hint of questionable title might mean it was declined. 16 Mar 1892