Sir D. B. 20 Oct/51
Y are awre yt ye Fch hve shn a fixd determn / clm fr thsves ye invn of phy on paper, altho’ purely of English orign fm 1st to last. This has come to such a point, that ye Fch newspapers in illegible deletion mentg ye award of the your jur ies y, have struck out the word Talbotypes and I believe subsd "heliogs" – Hennn can I believe think show you these newspapers if you give him a call. – I wish to know wer y. thk I can do anythg to obtn justce for myself in this matter – I had some idea of asking the Royal Commssers t. make a formal remonstrance, or to make a communicate with the Fch Academie des Sciences and invite them to appoint a joint committee, French and English to investigate & report upon the question whether the art of photy upon paper was discod by M. B. Evrd or by myself. But shd be glad to have your advice upon ye matter.
I am confident of one thing that the history of the Sciences does not present illegible deletion many similar examples of injustice
The English certainly adopted ye word Daguertype most cheerfully & gave the French inventor every credit. But there is no reciprocity / on ye other side ye Channel –
[expanded version:]
20 October 1851
Sir David Brewster
You are aware that the French have shown a fixed determination to claim for themselves the invention of photography on paper, although purely of English origin from first to last. This has come to such a point, that the French newspapers in [illegible deletion] mentioning the awards of the your jur ies y, 1 have struck out the word Talbotypes 2 and I believe substituted "heliographs" – Henneman 3 can I think believe show you these newspapers if you give him a call. – I wish to know whether you think I can do anything to obtain justice for myself in this matter – I had some idea of asking the Royal Commissioners 4 to make a formal remonstrance, or to make a communicate with the French Academie des Sciences and invite them to appoint a joint committee, French and English to investigate & report upon the question whether the art of photography upon paper was discovered by M. Blanquart Evrard 5 or by myself. But should be glad to have your advice upon the matter.
I am confident of one thing that the history of the Sciences does not present illegible deletion many similar examples of injustice.
The English certainly adopted the word Daguerreotype most cheerfully & gave the French inventor every credit, but there is no reciprocity on the other side the Channel –
Please cite as “TALBOT6484,” in Ɛpsilon: accessed on