Philadelphia
8 December 1849

H.F. Talbot, Esqr.

Sir

Not having received an answer to our two letters of Oct & Nov. we again take the liberty of addressing you. Our situation is such that it is of the greatest importance to us to learn your decision soon and we beg again and again not to keep us any longer in suspense. Our exertions to sell licenses have not as yet met with the desired success. From the first day of Nov we have only had six applications and there is therefore no hope of meeting our obligations with the proceeds of the sales of licenses.

The demand for Talbotype portraits is increasing but not in such a ration that we could hope to pay the instalments from the proceeds at the time the [sic] fall due. We have no doubt that in the course of time we shall break through all obstacles and see the Talbotype preferred to the Daguerreotype but we also see that it not only requires undefatigable atten exertions but we also see, that it not only requires undefatigable time. If we are compelled to pay the instalments as they fall due we shall be lamed and therefore we reiterate our petition. ^<1> Pray, Sir, let us hear of you soon and we shall remain.

Your obedient servants
W. & F. Langenheim

Henry Fox Talbot, Esqr
Lacock Abbey
near Chippenham, Wiltshire
England

per steamer

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Notes:

1. This was in reference to their payments for the US rights to WHFT's calotype: Improvement in Photographic Pictures, US Letters Patent 5171, 26 June 1847. The Langenheims had proposed the payment schedule themselves - see Doc. No: 06221.