22 Gerrard St
May 21 1853
Sir
Mr Warren De la Rue desires me to express his thanks Coln Leake had seen them in the hands of Mr Wheatstone R Murray had a set. I am obliged to you for the permission and want it extended as far as I am enabled by the prints in hand (which are very few, saving for the strong copy of bent muslin) to Mr Carpenter of the print Room British Museum, Sir James Ramsay who claims school fellowship with you at Harrow and is a photographer, and to my Relative Mr Clark of Edinburgh through which channel it will if you have no objection be shewn to the Messrs Chambers.
Since writing the above I have recd your letter of yesterday enclosing the half of an order for the acct of 9-9-4[?] rendered by me of the same date. I am aware of the ridiculous old act rendering a stamp necessary beyond 10 miles from London but this is the first time I ever saw it attended to
I have had a conversation with Dr Lindley who relates marvels of what he has seen. from [sic] his description I should say the process from by which these productions he speaks of were taken was merely mechanical, something of the principal of Collens, applied to the [illegible] process. we [sic] have seen that statues may be copied by that principle as well as medals – and a burnisher may be made to travel as well as a point what the lathe or machine can do Che[illegible] Busts and statues will shew
[crest/badge of a crab with inscription] [illegible]
In the seeds of the dandelion we have wiped out the false bite in the proof, how very fine some of the hairs are would not a spiders web make a pretty subject or it is too transparent –
The gravers are beautifully thruthful [sic] again what observation and study would be requisite to ensure the same beauty resulting from the combined labors of artist and engraver. the [sic] leaves are quite [illeg.] in their appearance. of [sic] coarse [sic] the longer you bite the narrower becomes the fibre for you bite right and left as well as down
The false bites do not decrease I find
Most Respectfully Yrs
Geo. Barclay
[envelope:]
[added in WHFT's hand:] Barclay
Henry Fox Talbot Esqre
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham Wilts