[draft]

Wheatstone

May 29/52

Y^e only condition I ma ke de is was that the request sh^d proceed from a sufficiently numerous & influential body of gentlemen representing Science & Art. I sh^d undoubtedly expose myself to ridicule by relinquishing the patent right merely because a body of artists objected to it “as well as to all other Patents, on principle”^<1>

You doubtless saw the printed draft of a letter proposed to be presented to me.

I don’t know who drew it up but I object to several passages in it especially to “a promise to memorialize the govern^t &c” – for which I do not think there is a precedent.

Yours truly
H. F. T.

But Extending to relate, the Abbé Moigno a Frenchman has been found to take up the Cudgels on my behalf – The Abbé Moigno ^<2> in his Cosmos ^<3> informs the French that so far from having (as they fond^ly imagine) invented the Entire art of Photog^g on paper, they have no claim to the smallest part of it that inventⁿ which is entirely of English inventⁿ origin.

[expanded version:]

29 May 1852

Wheatstone

The only condition I ma ke de is was that the request should proceed from a sufficiently numerous and influential body of gentlemen representing Science and Art. I should undoubtedly expose myself to ridicule by relinquishing the patent right merely because a body of artists objected to it “as well as to all other Patents, on principle.”

You doubtless saw the printed draft of a letter proposed to be presented to me.

I don’t know who drew it up but I object to several passages in it especially to “a promise to memorialize the government &c”– for which I do not think there is a precedent.

Yours truly
H.F.T.

But Extending to relate, the Abbé Moigno a Frenchman has been found to take up the subject cudgels on my behalf. The Abbé Moigno in his Cosmos informs the French that so far from having (as they fondly imagine) invented the entire art of photographing on paper, they have no claim to the smallest part of it that invention which is entirely of English invention origin.

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Notes:

1. WHFT was seeking a comprimise on the patent controversy swirling around the calotype. He felt (rightly) that he should be recognised as the true inventor of the calotype and he sought to retain some benefit from commercial applications of it - this was largely in support of his former valet, Nicolass Henneman, whose business he sought to protect. WHFT was willing to grant free licenses for amateurs to practice the art, but even this was seen as too restrictive by many.

2. l’Abbé François Napoléon Marie Moigno (1804–1884), French physicist & editor of Cosmos

3. Moigno was the editor of Cosmos revue politique et social des progrès des sciences et de leurs applications from 1854–1867.