TALBOT4291

Dear Sir,

I almost rejoice in your Martyrdom, for I am myself a Martyr in the very same cause, and thro' the agency of the same Inquisition. The Royal Society ¹ has rejected my Paper on the " Compensation of Polarised Light ²" one of the most original and Important that I ever wrote, and absolutely necessary to understand another which I am just engaged in drawing up on The Polarising Structure of the Atmosphere ³. I have remonstrated with the Secretary, ⁴ & with Sir John Lubbock. ⁵ I ascribe my fate either to personal feeling, or to very gross ignorance; - and I am entitled to feel strongly, as the Royal Society in the days of Young, ⁶ Davy ⁷ and Wollaston ⁸ made a point of printing every one of the Communications I sent them. They have printed two Papers of mine on the Diamond, ⁹ & on the Colours of thin plates, ¹⁰ neither of which can bear any comparison with the unfortunate Victim.- I conceive the Society entitled to reject a Paper that is not original,- that is too long, or requires too expensive illustrations; but I think that nothing can justify the rejection of a paper in the circumstances in which you and I stand.- The reason for rejecting yours ¹¹ is absolutely frivolous, & I have not heard what objections are entertained against mine, and who are the parties that have made them. I suppose Whewell ¹² and Airy. ¹³ I dislike greatly the predominance of Cambridge influence in the Council, tho' I am puzzled to conceive how it could be hostile to you.

We must add a volume to Babbages Decline of Science. ¹⁴ I shall complain to the President ¹⁵ in the first instance, after I have learnt the history of the Transaction. I shall like to know your intentions.

I shall wait anxiously for your Calotype Instructions. ¹⁶ We need the very Alphabet of the Art.

I am, Dear Sir, Ever Most Faithf^y y^rs
D Brewster

S^t Leonards
S^t Andrews
July 1^st 1841

Henry Fox Talbot Esq^r
31 Sackville Street ¹⁷
London