Falmouth
Sept^r 9 – 1842.

Dear Sir,

I have within this week been trying to produce some perfect Calotype pictures – I have not succeeded in producing one so clear as that you sent me – I have detected many of the causes which lead to failure – but I cannot secure the light parts from some slight smuttiness and this interferes sadly with the transfer. I have taken several portraits but they want that strength of outline which is to be desired – Do you know of any plan of rendering the paper more transparent – Unless we can produce pictures as sharp as those on the Silver plates ^<1> we cannot expect to make the process very profitable – I will thank you to give me a few hints – Your experience in Manipulating has of course put you in possession of little details – on which a few remarks will be valuable – I am anxious to have some good things to Exhibit at the Polytechnic ^<2> next Month. I enclose you two – positive & negative – by these you will see in what I have failed –

Your early reply will oblige –

I am Dear Sir Yours respectfully & truly
Rob^t Hunt

H^y Fox Talbot Esq^r. F.R.S.
&c &c

H Fox Talbot Esqr. F.R.S
&c &c
Lacock Abbey
Chippenham.

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Notes:

1. The Daguerreotype.

2. Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society, of which Hunt became secretary in 1840.