[draft in WHFT's hand:]

Sir D. B. 20 Oct/51

Y are aw^re y^t y^e F^ch h^ve shⁿ a fix^d determⁿ / cl^m f^r th^sves y^e invⁿ of ph^y on paper, altho’ purely of English origⁿ f^m 1^st to last. This has come to such a point, that y^e F^ch newspapers in illegible deletion ment^g y^e award of the your jur ies y, have struck out the word Talbotypes and I believe subs^d "heliog^s" – Hennⁿ can I believe think show you these newspapers if you give him a call. – I wish to know w^er y. th^k I can do anyth^g to obtⁿ just^ce for myself in this matter – I had some idea of asking the Royal Commss^ers t. make a formal remonstrance, or to make a communicate with the F^ch Academie des Sciences and invite them to appoint a joint committee, French and English to investigate & report upon the question whether the art of phot^y upon paper was disco^d by M. B. Evr^d or by myself. But sh^d be glad to have your advice upon y^e matter.

I am confident of one thing that the history of the Sciences does not present illegible deletion many similar examples of injustice

The English certainly adopted ye word Daguertype most cheerfully & gave the French inventor every credit. But there is no reciprocity / on y^e other side y^e Channel –

[expanded version:]

20 October 1851

Sir David Brewster

You are aware that the French have shown a fixed determination to claim for themselves the invention of photography on paper, although purely of English origin from first to last. This has come to such a point, that the French newspapers in [illegible deletion] mentioning the awards of the your jur ies y, ^<1> have struck out the word Talbotypes ^<2> and I believe substituted "heliographs" – Henneman ^<3> can I think believe show you these newspapers if you give him a call. – I wish to know whether you think I can do anything to obtain justice for myself in this matter – I had some idea of asking the Royal Commissioners ^<4> to make a formal remonstrance, or to make a communicate with the French Academie des Sciences and invite them to appoint a joint committee, French and English to investigate & report upon the question whether the art of photography upon paper was discovered by M. Blanquart Evrard ^<5> or by myself. But should be glad to have your advice upon the matter.

I am confident of one thing that the history of the Sciences does not present illegible deletion many similar examples of injustice.

The English certainly adopted the word Daguerreotype most cheerfully & gave the French inventor every credit, but there is no reciprocity on the other side the Channel –

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Notes:

1. The committee that judged photographic exhibits in the Great Exhibition of 1851. Brewster was a member.

2. Although WHFT modestly used the term calotype for his new process, some of his friends preferred to honour the inventor's name, in parallel with the Daguerreotype.

3. Nicolaas Henneman (1813–1898), Dutch, active in England; WHFT’s valet, then assistant; photographer.

4. The Great Exhibition of 1851 was set up by Royal Commission. The Commissioners had arranged that the British invention of photography should be used to record the building and the exhibition. See Doc. No: 06948.

5. Louis-Désiré Blanquart-Évrard (1802–1872), photographer. See also Doc. No: 06491.