TALBOT5817

Malta
24^th Dec^r

My dear Sir

With very many thanks for your kind present. I have to acknowledge this morning the receipt of the parcel which contains also the Talbotypes ¹ for M^r Muir ² – which I have just now delivered to him, & which he expresses no doubt of disposing of. –

I have a letter too from M^r Jones ³, who tells me that ere this Cowderoy ⁴ has probably been dismissed from your employ – this leaves me in some doubt as to whose order I may make payable the amount of his bill, which I should otherwise remit to him by this mail – Will you have the goodness to inform me upon that point. –

By following your advice, and reducing the proportions of salt, I find the copies better – less liable to become specky in the tissue of the paper – yet even these become invariably so if done in a Sirocco ⁵. – still however they fade considerably in the hyp. sulph. ⁶ bath: tho’ they recover a little in drying & exposure, & then stand firm –

M^r Jones tells me your people ⁷ sell a mixture for preparing the paper – will you do me the favour to order them to send me a supply of it – addressed to the care of John Bridges Es^{r 8} Warnford Court, Throgmorton – who will forward it to me. –

Every direction I have, speaks of only one coat of nit. silv. ⁹ on the salted paper – I can get no impression without two – of 60 grs each – why? –

I have lost the chance of accompanying the Bishop of Jerusalem ¹⁰ to Palestine. – he saild last week – & the Hibernia ¹¹ is still at Lisbon. However I hope to follow him when she comes in. – In the mean time to run over to Palermo, Grigenti¹² &c from where I will, as occasion offers, take your permission to send you negatives per post. –

Begging your instructions about the bill, pray believe me, my dear Sir

very truly Yours
Geo W Bridges

What a beautiful specimen of the art is that group of gardeners ¹³ &c under the vine clad wall of the Abbey – & the lovely young face from the print. –The weather here is very stormy & bad scarcely better than yours for photographic purposes – with the smallest of the three diaphrams, it takes 6’ – with the largest 3 ½
Should the smallest be used for copying pictures? – or only for paysages, well defined. –
Shall I send you any of Naples and Pompeii? perhaps M^r Jones has supplied them – & Pæstum.–