[draft:]

L^d G

Dec 2/51

I hope I w^d not app^r t y unreas^ble if I suggest, that y^e pres^t state of politic^l tumult in F^ce. aff^ds an add reasⁿ why y^e work undert^ken by y^e R Com^rs sh^dbe exec^d in England. Surely this is no mom^t for an inexp^ced yg man to establish a manuf^y in F^ce. M^r Bingham^<1> does not even speak French.

If it sh^d be finally decided after all to intrust the work to M^r Bingham, (upon such equitable cond^ns as I c^d agree to) I would then urge you to have it done by him in the south of England, at some such place as Brighton for example, and we would assist him by lending him a multitude of copying frames and in many other ways- The work would be quicker done in England-

The only advantage of the South France is the brighter sky, but this is more than compensated by the inferiority of in every other requisite point - and the difficulties attending such an enterprise 20,000 copies made in France (adopt^g M^r B's estimate of 80 per diem) will take 250 days, say 8 months. The work can could be done in England in 3 months, by my licensees, or by M^r Bingham with their assistance.

Perhaps you are not aware that one requisite will be very large quantities of hot water

You thought that what I s^d was not borne out by y^e Exh^t I made from one of M^r Cole's letters did not bear me out I send therefore a copy of y^e whole letter. If it bears another interpretⁿ I shall be glad, because on the day he wrote it (Nov^r 14) it seems he had already promised the sale to M^r B. the after sale of the pict^res to the public, whereas I read his letter as reiterating & confirming his promise of it to M^r Henⁿ. He says

The R. Comm^rs. naturally wish to have ye work done as quickly as is consistent with its being done well. As to speed, I have known M^r Hⁿ make 300 copies in a summer's day- I only state the number from memory at present- But there exists an accelerated process which I discov^d some yeas ago, and which would produce the copies at the rate of at least a thousand per diem, which might be adopted on this occasion, [illegible deletion] though hitherto such rapidity has never been required in practice, the common methods sufficing. This method has not been tested [illegible deletion] in one point only viz. whether the copies will keep perfectly good for many years. Experim From theoretical considerat^ns I sh^d say that they were more likely to be well fixed than those made by the usual method slow process.

If the Royal Com^ers would take not object to this plan being adopted, the work would be very speedily done. and the plates might then be kept for a

As my mean^g app^y I hope misunderst^d in one respect, I beg to explain that I disclaim^d any royalty on this work but of course on unders supposⁿ w^h of that one or other of my lic^sees were to execute the work. It had never occurred to me that it c^d be otherwise. The royalty so relinqu^sd would be £500 or £600 on the suppos^g the whole cost of the plates from £2000 to £2400

But if the profits of the work are to be given to a stranger, I do not then disclaim the royalty; why sh^d I?- On the cont^y I claim it, only in the shape of copies of the work itself rather than of money, which arrang^t I sh^d think must be far more agreeable to all parties- I am truly sorry to give y^r L^shp so much trouble on this subject, but you will bel^ve when I assure y that I am most unwittingly drawn into this controversy & only in self defense.

[expanded version:]

2 December 1851

Lord Granville

I hope I would not appear to you unreasonable if I suggest, that the present state of political tumult in France affords an additional reason why the work undertaken by the Royal Commissioners should be executed in England. Surely this is no moment for an inexperienced young man to establish a manufactury in France. M^r Bingham does not even speak French.

If it should be finally decided after all to intrust the work to M^r Bingham, (upon such equitable conditions as I could agree to) I would then urge you to have it done by him in the south of England, at some such place as Brighton for example, and we would assist him by lending him a multitude of copying frames and in many other ways. The work would be quicker done in England.

The only advantage of the South [of] France is the brighter sky, but this is more than compensated by the inferiority of in every other requisite point and the difficulties attending such an enterprise 20,000 copies made in France (adopting M^r Bingham's estimate of 80 per diem) will take 250 days, say 8 months. The work can could be done in England in 3 months, by my licensees, or by M^r Bingham with their assistance.

Perhaps you are not aware that one requisite will be very large quantities of hot water

You thought that what I said was not borne out by the exhibit I made from one of M^r Cole's letters did not bear me out I send therefore a copy of the whole letter. If it bears another interpretation I shall be glad, because on the day he wrote it (November 14) it seems he had already promised the sale to M^r Bingham the after sale of the pictures to the public, whereas I read his letter as reiterating & confirming his promise of it to M^r Henneman. He says

If the Royal Commissioners would take not object to this plan being adopted, the work would be very speedily done. and the plates might then be kept for a

As my meaning [was] apparently I hope misunderstood in one respect, I beg to explain that I disclaimed any royalty on this work but of course on understanding supposition which of that one or other of my licensees were to execute the work. It had never occurred to me that it could be otherwise. The royalty so relinquished would be £500 or £600 on the supposing the whole cost of the plates from £2000 to £2400

But if the profits of the work are to be given to a stranger, I do not then disclaim the royalty; why should I?- On the contrary I claim it, only in the shape of copies of the work itself rather than of money, which arrangement I should think must be far more agreeable to all parties- I am truly sorry to give Your Lordship so much trouble on this subject, but you will believe when I assure y that I am most unwittingly drawn into this controversy & only in self defense.

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Notes:

1. Robert Jefferson Bingham (1825-1870), English born author and photographer, mostly active in France, who was the premier reproduction photographer of his day.