TALBOT3803

44 Queen Ann S^{t 1}
Monday Feb. 11 1839

Dear Sir

The re-transfer process ² is thus mentioned by me in my paper read to the R.S. which is reprinted in Saturday’s Athenæum, ³ a copy of which I will have the pleasure of sending you– §11. “In copying engravings”, &c… “But if the picture so obtained, is first preserved so as to bear sunshine, it may afterwards be itself employed as an object to be copied, & by means of this second process the lights & shadows are brought back to their original disposition. ”

The discovery you have made of a glass which increases the effect of sunshine, is very remarkable; ⁴ I hope it will be confirmed by your subsequent experiments.

Although Daguerre ⁵ is said to succeed admirably with the Camera, it does not follow that he can copy an engraving, a flower, or anything else that requires close contact. I say this, on the supposition that he uses a metal plate covered with a liquid from which light precipitates something previously held in solution. If so, it is evident that the engraving would prevent all effect.

This was my idea when I suggested that it might be best not to disclose at present the washing out process the retransfer, &c. until brought to a state more worthy of publication, inasmuch as the Parisians would hardly be able to discover it immediately if it is no part of Daguerre’s process, & I wished to show them that we could do something here which they could not imitate as yet. Do you think me right in this respect? There is not the smallest doubt that the finest engravings can be imitated & I wished that we might have the honour of first exhibiting them. I can work with very thick engravings on a summer’s day.

I am much obliged to you for proposing to the Council to print my paper in full in the Proceedings, which sufficiently establishes the date of that communication. I never expressed any intention of withdrawing the paper. I wrote to D^r Roget ⁶ quite the contrary.

The little view you sent me is pleasing– It looks something like Eastnor Castle. ⁷

The newspapers say that dilute nitric acid will “wash out” a drawing. I have made trial of it accordingly, but as far as one experiment goes, without success–

Believe me Dear Sir Yours most truly
H. F. Talbot

I am so confident about the success of copying engravings judging by those which I have already made, that I should like very much to prepare a fine collection of them, to be shown at the Scientific Meeting at Birmingham ⁸ or sooner. I wish to know if you do not think that the publication of the washing out, fixing, &c. &c would prevent this, by putting it in the power of anyone, either at home or abroad, to exhibit such a collection before we may be ready to do so!

Sir J. Herschel Bar^t
Slough