London
18 April 1845
My Dear Mother
Most beautiful weather in Town today, I hope you have the same at Brighton accompanied with refreshing breezes –
Dr Poncelet <1> the librarian or something of that kind at Alton Towers, writes to me for full instructions how to practise the photographic art, and sends me specimens to show me how greatly he is in need of instruction – Alas! I have no time to answer such enquiries, and tho’ desirous of obliging any of Ld Shrewsbury’s <2> friends, is it quite reasonable to expect that the results of a thousand experiments should be communicated to all the world? It never seems to have entered the Doctor’s mind that there could be the least hesitation about showing him everything.
Today I made a picture of a boy with a cage and a grey parrot at Claudet’s <3> – It will make a very pretty tableau Flamand. <4>
The parrot sat beautifully, evidently understanding what we were doing
Your affte
Henry
Notes:
1. Dr Jean Victor Poncelet (1788–1867), French mathematician.
2. John Talbot, 16th Earl Shrewsbury (1791–1852).
3. Antoine Françoise Jean Claudet (1797–1867), London; French-born scientist, merchant & photographer, resident in London.
4. Flemish picture, that is, a picture exhibiting qualities of the Flemish school, primarily attention to detail and representation of light.