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Document number: 6679
Date: 30 Aug 1852
Postmark: 30 Aug 1852
Recipient: TALBOT William Henry Fox
Author: PALEY Robert C Rev
Collection: British Library, London, Manuscripts - Fox Talbot Collection
Collection number: envelope 20481
Last updated: 7th July 2010

[on notepaper blindstamped 'St Peters College Cantae':]

10. Melbourne Place
Cambridge.
Augst 30/52

Dear Sir,

I have lately purchased an apparatus for the purpose of taking what are usually I believe termed Talbotype views and likenesses – In the course of two or three months I hope to leave this country for the mission of Abbeokuta on the Western Coast of Africa, the great object that I have had in purchasing the apparatus being that I may thus the better be enabled to take views of that part of Africa.<1>

Will it then be asking too [a?] great a favour of you to give me a few hints on the best method of using the apparatus. If it is not inconvenient to you to do so & you have the time to write a few lines on the subject I shall certainly feel exceedingly obliged to you. Trusting you will pardon the liberty I have taken in thus writing to you

I beg to remain Dear Sir Yrs most truly
R. C. Paley

[envelope:]
To
H. Talbot Esqre
Laycock Abbey.
Bath.

Notes:

1. It is not known if WHFT provided any tutorage or if Paley ever took any photographs. The missionary died on 1 April 1853, only two months after his arrival at Abbeokuta, and his wife died a month later at sea.