Private
35 Grosvenor Road,
Highbury New Park,
London N.
April 30th 1874
H. Fox Talbot Esq. D.C.L., F.R.S.Dear Sir,
The Photographic Society has been passing through a critical period of its existence – due in a great measure to its actual prosperity – having now 300 members and a good round sum of money at the Bank.
Owing to some opposition having been raised to the candidature of some new Members of Council proposed by Mr Glaisher <1> as President, that gentleman has formally resigned his office, and we fear that unless his place can be quickly filled, our time-honoured Society will be dissolved.
As Senior Vice-President I have been invited to reorganize the Council and report to the next general meeting, May 12th on the position of affairs. We shall then have a fresh election and many of the old Council will serve. All would, I think, if we had a good Head. Under these circumstances, I am prompted to ask you whether you would consent to be put in nomination as President? No one is held in higher repute amongst us, and I feel sure that your election would be unanimous.
The holding of this post need not entail a personal attendance at all the Meetings – 8 in the year – for you would be assisted by three Vice-Presidents. Mr J.R. Johnson <2> (inventor of carbon printing) and myself being the two already in office, & I propose asking Sir Charles Wheatstone, <3> now on the Council, to allow me the privelege of nominating him as a Vice President to act with you.
Unless some active steps are taken before the period of our usual adjournment in June, I foresee that the withdrawal of our late President will involve the breaking up of the Society, which would be a thousand pities after reaching the Zenith of our fame, as indicated in the Council’s Annual Report of February last (printed in our Journal).
I have not yet seen Sir Charles Wheatstone or laid the proposition before him; in fact, I thought it better to mention the subject to you “privately” and ascertain your views before proceeding further in the matter. I am writing to you now entirely on my own responsibility, not wishing to mention your name until duly authorized. Mr Glaisher has done such good work that we all regret his leaving, but he is firm in his resolve never again to occupy the chair and has stated so publicly. I took the Chair at the last Meeting and all went well so far, but it is utterly impossible to carry on unless we have an influential President; and for this post none is so competent and well suited as yourself.
As I have to submit a programme on Tuesday, 12th May, and I would like to consult Sir Charles Wheatstone next week on my return from Manchester I beg leave to ask, as a particular favour, an early reply–
I remain, dear Sir
Yours faithfully
John Spiller
Notes:
1. James Glaisher (1809–1903), meteorologist and aeronaut.
2. John Robert Johnson (1816–1884), chemist, engineer and inventor in a number of fields. He improved the carbon printing process remarkably in patents taken out 1869, 1870 and 1877, but could hardly be said to be the inventor, as a patent had been taken out in Britain as early as 1855 by Alphonse-Louis Poitevin. Johnson was one of the founders, and managing director, of the Autotype Company.
3. Sir Charles Wheatstone (1802–1875), scientist.