'F. R. L. . . . frill!' dates from between 1878 and 1879.

It refers to the threat by Frederick Richards Leyland (1832-1892), in a letter dated 17 July 1877, to horsewhip Whistler if he met Frances Leyland (1834-1910) again. 1

Horsewhip, Glasgow University Library

'F. R. L. . . . frill!', Ashmolean Museum

A related sketch, Horsewhip [M.0661] was drawn on the verso of a draft for a letter dated 4 January 1878. 2

However, it is possible, that, like 'F. R. L.' Frill - of Liverpool begins to be uncertain about the White House [M.0718] (which is on similar paper), it dates from 1879, during Whistler's bankruptcy proceedings.

It is fully catalogued in MacDonald 1995 (cat. rais.) [more] (cat. no. 719) where it was dated 'c.1879'.