22 Gerrard St W
May 7 1857
Sir
In spite of the old proverb of the general bad odour of proffered service, I write to tell you that a friend of mine a printer is in possession of some prints from Steel plates brought to him to prove some two Years since by a Young man a total stranger, and like yourself having no Knowledge of engraving he has not since heard from him or of him
They are evidently by your process; but have infinitely more force, in fact too powerful. they are as your own too untouched I can offer you a sight of the proofs when You are in town, for he has offered to lend them to me for a few hours for that purpose
I lately had a day or two to spare and would have attempted something in your way could I have found your the account in the Atheneum but I suppose it must have been lent to somebody who did not return it. I obtained a slight effect on the gelatine, but Knew not what to bite in with, the ordinary acid annihilating the gelatine The pleasures of experimenting are reserved for men of Fortune
Most truly Yrs
Geo Barclay
H. F. Talbot Esq