TALBOT5104

Sir,

I trust you will excuse the liberty I take as a Stranger in addressing you & hope I commit no further indiscretion in doing so, being under the belief that you do not seek to withhold the knowledge of your methods of operating from the public. I have amused myself some time en amateur with the Daguerreotype & seeing lately a notice your new work the Pencil of Nature¹ - in the Post - I have just been enabled to receive it by the opportunity of a friend. I was somewhat disappointed at its giving me no insight into your present way of operating & I wish to ask you if there is any work published which will enable me to make attempts myself. I have been some time in possession of a German Pamphlet, professing to give your directions with sundry ameliorations² but I felt I had rather trust myself to you & cast it aside for the ‘Pencil of Nature’ which leaves me pretty much where I was.

To occupy your time as little as possible, may I ask you will the No’s of your work be at long Intervals & in the mean time whether you can recommend me any other works.

The ordinary chambre noire I conceived may be used, but I feel at a loss how the Paper is to lay flat if put in damp, & also as to the means of obtaining a positive from a negative Picture.³

Should you excuse my applying to the fountain head, being in a foreign country & [illegible deletion] not knowing where else I would address myself for information I shall feel much [illegible deletion] indebted to your courtesy for any reply. Should I be successful & are any views in this country acceptable to you I should have much pleasure in sending views to you -

I have the honor to remain Sir, very faithfully yours
W Smyth

Bohn Am Rhein
October 17^h 1844 -

A Line addressed to me care of J. L. Bicknell Esq. 25 Abingdon S^t. Westminster, will save you the expense of a foreign postage.⁴