TALBOT6304

[draft]

Dilke
Feb 18 / 50

Observing that _^^{ye name of} M^r D jun^r occupies an hon^ble posⁿ among those to whom the carrying out of Prince Albert’s magnificent scheme of the grand ^{a general} Exhibition of Industry is entrusted, I am desir^s of ment^g a subject There is respecting w^ch I sh^d be glad to ask his [illegible deletion] opinⁿ & advice _^^{as well as your own} if you will be kind enough to give it to me –

I am thinking of offering a considerable prize, say for example 100£, for the best specimen of photography on paper that is sent to ^{shown at} y^e Exhibition

and a similar & equal prize for the best specimen of Dtype and I sh^d be glad to know whether you think there w^d be any objectⁿ to my offering such prizes? and whether I could offer the one ^second with equal propriety as the first?

In my own h^ble jud^t it w^d be better to offer both. I sh^d prefer doing so to offering only 1 prize if it is thought unobjectionable.

H. F. T.

P.S.
As some persons have expressed an interest respecting my _^^late patent for “imp^ts in phot^y“
I will take this opp^y of ment^g (altho’ I am not aware whether perhaps it is a matter of little conseq^ce) – that the process of phot^y on glass coated with albumen, is not one of the Improvements therein _^^{referred to or} contemplated
the first?
In my own h^ble judgm^t it w^d be better to offer both. I sh^d prefer doing so to offering only 1 prize if it is thought unobjectionable.

[expanded version]

Dilke
February 18, 1850

Observing that the name of Mr Dilke, junr ¹ occupies an honorable position among those to whom the carrying out of Prince Albert’s magnificent scheme of the grand a general Exhibition of Industry ² is entrusted, I am desirous of mentioning a subject There is respecting which I should be glad to ask his [illegible deletion] opinion and advice as well as your own if you will be kind enough to give it to me –

I am thinking of offering a considerable prize, say for example £100, for the best specimen of photography on paper that is sent to shown at the Exhibition and a similar and equal prize for the best specimen of Daguerreotype and I should be glad to know whether you think there would be any objection to my offering such prizes? and whether I could offer the one second with equal propriety as the first? In my own humble judgment it would be better to offer both. I should prefer doing so to offering only one prize if it is thought unobjectionable.³

H. F. T.

P.S. As some persons have expressed an interest respecting my late patent for “improvements in photography” ⁴I will take this opportunity of mentioning (although I am not aware whether perhaps it is a matter of little consequence) – that the process of photography on glass coated with albumen, is not one of the Improvements therein referred to or contemplated