Belle Vue Grasmere
March 8/60
Sir
In reply to your favor of the 23rd Ult. I should be much pleased if we could make satisfactory arrangements for my Coming to your neighbourhood this Summer to take Negatives. it is a long distance to come which would require my absence from home a considerable time if the quantity of subjects you name was got well. now I would propose as the likely expence £1 each for every successfull negative, paying my own expences – or 15/- ea & my expences paid. I have at present never taken negatives for Sale – except about 4 taken for gentlemen in this neighbourhood but I have had offers from a London House of 3 guineas each for at least 50 of the negatives I have by me – but I considered they were more valuable to myself for printing from. If I was allowed to get a duplicate negative for myself of any of the subject you required it would make a great difference in the price. You did not say but I suppose you to require the negatives for yourself. if you merely wish me to take the negatives for myself – & you would take a certain quantity of positives from each – I should require to be informed how many each you would be likely to require, should you want any more of my views the price will be 4/- per dozen. for single unmounted prints. I shall be glad if you will give me your further Idea of the scenes in your locality, at Your early convenience & am
Yours very Truly
Alfd Pettitt
F Talbot Esq
Laycock Abbey
[envelope:]
Fox Talbot Esqre
Laycock Abbey
Chippenham
Wiltshire