link to Talbot Project home page link to De Montfort University home page link to Glasgow University home page
Project Director: Professor Larry J Schaaf
 

Back to the letter search >

Document number: 06640
Date: 10 Jun 1852
Recipient: PARSONS William
Author: TALBOT William Henry Fox
Collection: Royal Photographic Society Coll, National Media Museum, Bradford
Collection number: T/2 1274E
Last updated: 21st April 2009

<draft>

June 10 / 52

Ld Rosse.

I am v desirs of complying as far as I am able wth ye wshes of ye scfic wld respg my phc pat but I labor undr ye difficy of not exactly knowg what these wshes are

Under these circs I hve addressed a lettr to Sir C. E. of wch I annex a copy hoping you yt it wll meet wth your approval, & tht y will be disposed to adopt ye course there suggested, unless a better one can be adopted. pointed out. When I spoke suggested the idea of a meeting , of scientific persons, or of a letter of acknowlgnt to be written subsequently, that was under the idea of abanding <sic> the patent entirely; I am perfec free to admit, that if I propose to retain any part of it, that makes a considerable diffce – and under such circs I shd not expect any such acknowledgnt to be made altho’ the art will henceforth be practically free & unfettered in all points wch are essential to its development, & will speedily become I doubt not, of national importance.

<expanded version>

June 10 / 52

Lord Rosse.

I am very desirous of complying as far as I am able with the wishes of the scientific world respecting my photographic patent but I labor under the difficulty of not exactly knowing what these wishes are.

Under these circumstances I have addressed a letter to Sir Charles Eastlake <1> of which I annex a copy hoping you that it will meet with your approval, and that you will be disposed to adopt the course there suggested, unless a better one can be adopted. pointed out. When I spoke suggested the idea of a meeting of scientific persons, or of a letter of acknowledgement to be written subsequently, that was under the idea of abandoning the patent entirely; I am perfectly free to admit, that if I propose to retain any part of it, that makes a considerable difference – and under such circumstances I should not expect any such acknowledgement to be made although the art will henceforth be practically free and unfettered in all points which are essential to its development, and will speedily become I doubt not, of national importance.

Notes:

1. Sir Charles Lock Eastlake (1793–1865), painter.