TALBOT4955

My dear Henry

I am much obliged to you for a most liberal supply of Calotypes, a name which I can not get people to adopt, it is hard work to stop their calling them Daguerreotypes, ¹ & having once adopted the term Photographes, they will not unsettle their minds any further. Orleans & Chambord are particularly good, but I grudge the fine delicate effects of the shutters on the Parisian houses. I wish it was all Gothic tracery. The facsimiles are just the thing – Could you not make some of Magna Charta ² & publish it, with a vignette of Lacock, or at least of the Tower where it is kept? –

Your book of specimens³ is just what I suggested to you three years ago – you know perhaps the book that was published at the time of the introduction of Lithography by Senefelder & Ackermann, called a complete Course of Lithography⁴ with specimens – something in that style – quarto – but less voluminous, & a greater variety of tint & colour – would do.

Is the light in Kings College Chapel strong enough to allow of taking a Calotype of it? Turkish fountains & kiosks would make beautiful subjects for the art. Has Lepsius ⁵ sent you any Calotypic views from Egypt? Why do you not go on purpose some day & take Stonehenge. Could you not apply the principle of the art to testing diamonds & other gems by the power of their light transmitted or reflected?

The Oxford Monument ⁶ seems never to come out as well as it ought tho’ that must be sharp & fresh – They tell me Horatia’s ⁷ music has many misprints. Do you know the German verb weihen to consecrate weihnacht – Christmas eve – &c Can you not come over here ⁸ for a week at Easter if it is fine & take a few views?

Y^rs aff^ly

W F S

I had a long letter from Martius ⁹ who says all sorts of things about you. Among your garden scenes you ought to take the Nun’s cauldron & Ela ¹⁰ & the rest of the groupe on their donkey.

Henry F. Talbot Esq
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham
WFS