TALBOT5985

Convent of S^t Nicolo d'arena - Etna
28^th Aug^t 1847

My dear Sir/

Your very kind letter expressing surprise at not having heard from me lately, found me, two weeks ago, at Ischia, whither I was obliged to fly from this place in June, to try the baths for a severe attack of sciatica - Two days ago I returned hither - & hasten to acknowledge one box containing copies, & your very kind present of iodised paper. - The other box may be arrived at Malta - but I have not yet heard of it -

In Naples I met with a Sig. Lechi, ¹ a Milanese - who is teaching the art at 600 francs - one only lesson: - a poor Optician in Toledo, paid that sum - & by some means obtained the whole process in writing: - from him I have it & have seen some very superior negative & possitives worked by it: - but have yet been too ill to try it myself. I give you the copy overleaf - I have also seen very perfect portraits taken in 40" by Claudet's ² wet process - equal to Daguerres ³ on metal in detail - I hope to try both methods before I leave the mountain, & to send you specimens - I observe in the copies you send me the skies are discoloured - & that none seem sufficiently cooked in Camera - a defect I will now try to remedy - Lechie's skies are perfect - & he succeeds on paper of very inferior quality - no spots seeming to appear, or injure the process.

Procèdé ⁴ de M. Lechie - poids napolitain

No	1 -	8 gram nit. d'argent - 10 oz. eau distillée -
	2 -	5 gram iodine de potass. 10 oz. eau -
	3 -	10 oz eau. avec une goutte bromine d'iode -
	4 -	5 gram. nit argt 2 oz. eau - 15 gr. acide acétique
	5 -	4 oz. eau satuire d'acide gallique
	6 -	8 gr. bromine de potass. 4 oz. eau -
	7 -	forte dissolution de sel marin
	8 -	5 gr muriate d'ammon. 4 oz. eau
	9 -	8 gr. nit d'arg. 2 oz. eau
	10	1 oz. hyposulp. de soude 10 oz. d'eau

Passer le papier au bain N^o 1 - 2 fois en le sechant dans le papier buvard - secher - passer au N^o 2 - ensuite laver a l'eau distille, et secher au papier buvard - Lorsque'on vent operer, on prend une feuille de papier préparé, on le trempe dans le N^o 3 - il devient noir - on le seche au papier buvard - ensuite on applique avec un pinceau une couche de N^o 4 et 5, parties égales - et on l'expose encore humide a la chambre obscura - L'epreuve obtenue on la met dans une assiette qui l'on echauffe doucement avec une lampe a esprit de vin, ou l'eau chaude - on passe avec un pinceau le N^o4 et 5 partis egales jusque a ce que l'image paraisse - on lave a grande eau, et on fixe avec N^o6, on laissant le papier pendant 12 min dans cette dissolution - on lave et on [illegible] le N^o7 chaud - on lave encore, et on séche avec de papier buvard

Reproduction -

On passe sur le feuille de papier avec un pinceau le N^o8 - on seche entre le papier buvard - ensuite on met deux couches de N^o9 en sechant chaque fois en papier buvard.

Certainly some few of his specimens are more perfect in detail than any I have seen - He is employed now by the King of Naples ⁵ in copying at Pompeii - but I have some 4 or 5 taken there equal to his. - His advantage seems to be that he makes use of any inferior paper, & is more certain of good productions. - I saw him take 14 one morning at Pompeii without one failure. - If you are writing to M^r Jones ⁶ pray communicate this - As he has been most kind in giving me all the information he could. - A M. Fays ⁷ a French amateur I saw much of in Naples - he paid for the process, & succeeds admirably - we went together to Porruchi[?] & Baica & on your last paper I also got some very good negatives in 3' and 4' - morning and evening - but the skies not so dark & uniform as his - nor so free from spots & blemishes - He also takes about the same time. -

At present I am too lame to attempt the Crater ⁸ again - but I hope to do so before I leave the mountain - for I see my negs give but poor impressions - the dark lava requiring double time. -

From hence all letters are very uncertain especially double ones - so I forbear enclosures - The police have been throwing Maltese letters & papers into the sea - afraid of the reports from Rome - In Calabria there is some stir ⁹, but here all quiet - A very strong French fleet at Naples for some weeks past - but not an English ship nearer than Athens. - I am collecting a few seeds for you - & hope you will succeed with the beautiful tree broom, peculiar to Etna - how beautifully it would adorn the plantations of Lacock - & Bowood -¹⁰

I will take the liberty of writing again to you very shortly - and am my dear Sir very truly Yours
Geo W Bridges

My sailor boy ¹¹ is in Smyrna just now - where I hoped to have joined him - but for the mischance - & proceed to Jerusalem & Egypt which it seems I am destined never to visit -

H. Fox Talbot Esquire
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham
Wilts
England