Falmouth
August 12 – 1842
Sir
it will I assure you be a work of pleasure to me to endeavour to produce very perfect specimens of your Photographic process, <1> and by so doing make some return for the very friendly disposition you have manifested towards a very humble follower of the art – The terms you have proposed I cannot object to, & I shall immediately set to work in preparing for the speculation, which will I trust prove profitable. As the license is not to be exclusive would it not be mutually advantageous that I should have the power of operating in any part of the County. My situation as Secretary of the Polytechnic <2> leads me frequently to the different districts, and I should be enabled to work the Calotype to more advantage than any other person – Will you oblige by defining what you intend by the gross profits? I shall of course trouble you for all the information as to the practice of the Art which is necessary for its perfection. I should like to know if you prefer taking portraits in the open air or otherwise – and if you have succeeded well with them in diffused daylight – Do you really find any great advantage in the crystalised [sic] Gallic Acid over the Infusion of Galls – The Tinctr of Galls I have not used successfully – You will perhaps furnish me at once with the necessary license &c – as the sooner I can commence to work the Calotype the better –
I am Sir Yours most respectfully
Robert Hunt
Hy Fox Talbot Esqr
Notes:
1. WHFT's new calotype process, which used a developer to bring out a latent image, much reducing exposure times.
2. Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society, of which Hunt became secretary in 1840.