[crest with ram’s head and GB]
22 Gerrard S^t W.
April 11 1857

Sir

Since writing you. I have had a commission to buy a number of the Company publication. chance led me to choose the second, it has 4 prints and I had “choice proofs”, the plate, Crimean Heros, is helped in the hair, nostrils, eyes & cap by the engraver the whole background is engraved by the roulette. the figures seem to be untouched unless by a light aquatint in parts with which the natural ground of the gelatine seems to assimulate. The celebrated plate Don Quixote is helped in almost all the half tints and background by the roulette the face and figure seem to be unaided, “Hampton Court” is almost wholly engraved by various processes chiefly roulette. but the sky is most ingenuously machine ruled. the mode produced in ordinary engraving it is difficult to find a piece of Photography left but there is a little. Tigenmouth is materialy [sic] Photographic, materially helped – the tone engraving – the distant hills aquatint, the middle distance half tints all roulette. The fore ground also in parts.

By similar means your Napoleon might have been before the public a first rate photographic production long since.

Instead of opposing the Company wont they buy Your Patent?

I have been induced to give You this because I think of making some remarks for Publication upon “the fiction” in some periodical, and from the interest in Your progress and result felt you ought to be the first recipient

I hear the company is not much bound by unanimity of feeling

Most truly Yours
Geo Barclay