St Andrews
April 7th 1839
Dear Sir,
I am much obliged to you for the new specimens of Photogenic Etching <1> which have excited great interest here, and for the leaf of the Comptes Rendus. <2>
I have tried in vain to make the Circular Crystals; <3> and I must beg you to favour me with one of your own specimens, as I think I can do something on the subject.
I have discovered the Ghost of Circular Crystals under very curious circumstances. I read or rather Spoke a notice on the subject at the last meeting of our Society here, <4> of which I will send you an account in the Fifeshire Journal which is published on Wednesday last. You will scarcely believe it possible that a Black Cross with coloured luminous Sides exactly like the phenomenon of circular Crystals can be produced by a substance without a trace of crystallisation.
I find the Circular Crystals of the Litho-xanthate of Ammonia <5> very easily made, and have got some rather interesting results with them. I shall return your No of the Comptes Rendus under Mr Strangways <6> Cover as you direct,
and I am Dear Sir
Ever Most Truly yrs
D Brewster
H.F. Talbot Esqr
Notes:
1. Although WHFT was to become interested in photomechanical reproduction, this undoubtedly refers to photogenic drawing.
2. Comptes Rendus hebdomadaires des séances de l’ de l’Académie des Sciences.
3. See Doc. No: 03261.
4. The Literary and Philosophical Society of St Andrews. [See Doc. No: 03836].
5. See Doc. No: 03394.
6. William Thomas Horner Fox Strangways, 4th Earl of Ilchester (1795–1865), botanist, art collector & diplomat.