[WHFT's file copy:]

M^r Crookes/

Lacock
Feb. 20

D^r Sir

I am willing to give you license to use and practise my photoglyphic invention, with the reservation that I shall be at liberty to withdraw the license at any future time if I should desire to do so, which might be for instance if I were to sell the patent and the purchaser should desire to hold the undivided patent right, without licensees. There would be no pecuniary consideration for the license, unless you should wish to make a commercial use of it, in which case a further license would have to be granted and the terms agreed upon according to the Circumstances.

As you have a very large correspond^ce and acquaintance, you would much oblige me if you could obtain a temporary situation as Assistant-Photographer or Clerk or any other useful and respectable employment, for M^r N. Henneman ^<1> with whom you are acquainted and who has been unfortunate in business – He was intending to go to Lisbon and to set up as a Photographer there but hearing last October of my photoglyphic invention he resolved to remain in London, in case I should require his services. I have told him that I shall be happy to employ him if any Company is organised for photoglyphic engraving, but my health has been too feeble this winter to allow of my taking any steps for the formation of such a Company, and most likely some months more will elapse before I can do so – in the meanwhile he wants employment, and having a wife and children is getting anxious about it – Perhaps Mess^rs Petter & Galpin ^<2> would be willing to engage him for 3 or 6 months as your photoglyphic assistant if you intend to practise the new art zealously – (I don’t understand how you can spare the time for it, as your Editorial duties must absorb so much of it) – Henneman is not at present a photoglypher but I could soon teach him. I could give him a good deal of occasional employment for myself, (which of course would go in diminution of any salary you might agree to give him) – but he has no apparatus – You could probably lend him the use of some of yours – For instance if I had a page of your journal beautifully reduced upon glass, I could make you a steel Engraving of it of great perfection which I think would interest the Public –

I am sorry the views of the Tuileries will not do – I am going to Scotland again in a few days and shall not be able to make another attempt at present. In fact I have no other large glass positive – This one was made for me by Clouzard and Soulier ^<3>, and as it was a gift, I can hardly ask them for another – If you can procure any good things on glass, pray do so – I shall leave the plates in a box by themselves, in case they are wanted at any future time, that they may be found readily.

Yours very truly
H. F. Talbot

[draft copy:]

Crookes –

20 Feb/59

I am w^llg t give y lic^se t use & practise my ph^glc invⁿ, with the reservⁿ that I shall be at lib^y to withdraw y^e lic^se at any fut. time if I sh^d desire to do so, w^ch might be for inst^ce if I sold were to sell the pat^t & the purchaser absolutely requi v^y m^ch wish^d to h^ld the undivid^d pat^t Right, without licensees.

There w^d be no pecun^ry considⁿ for the lic^se, unless y sh^d wish to make a commerc^l use of it, in w^ch case a further license w^d have to be granted and the terms agreed upon acc^g to the circ^ces–

I sh^d be v^y glad if As you have a v^y large corresp^ce and acq^ce you w^d m^ch oblige me if you c^d obtain a temp^y situatⁿ as assist^t photographer or Clerk or any thing other useful and respectable situⁿ employm^t, for M^r N. Hennⁿ w^th whom y are acq^d & who has bⁿ unfort^te in business. – He was intend^g to go to Lisbon & to set up as a photogr^r there, but hearing last Oct. of my photog^lc invⁿ he resolv^d to remain in London, in case I sh^d require his services – I have told him that I shall be hap^y to employ him if any Company is organised for phot^c Engrav^g, but my health has been too feeble this winter to allow of my taking any steps for the formatⁿ of such a Comp^y, and most likely some months more will elapse before I can do so, in the mean while he wants employm^t, and hav^g a wife & children, is getting anx^s about it. Perhaps Mess^rs Petter & Galpin w^d be will^g to engage him for 3 or 6 m^ths as your photoglyphic assistant, if you intend to practise the new art zealously – (I don’t understand how y. can spare the time for it –& your Editorial duties must absorb so much of it) – Hennⁿ is not at present a ph.glypher but I c^d soon teach him – I c^d give him a good deal of occas^l employment for myself (w^ch of course w^d go in diminutⁿ of any salary y might agree to give him) but he has no apparatus – You c^d prob^y lend him the use of some of yours – For inst^ce if I had a page of your journal beautifully reduced upon glass I c^d make you a steel engrav^g of it of great perfectⁿ w^ch I think w^d interest the public –

I am sorry the views of the Tuileries will not do – I shall leave the plates in a box I am going to Scotland again in a few days, and shall not be able to make another attempt at pres^t – in fact I have no other large glass positive – This was made for me by Clouzard and Soulier, & as it was a gift, I can hardly ask them for another – If you can procure any good things on glass, pray do so.

I shall leave the plates in a box by themselves, in case they are wanted at any fut^re time; that they may be found readily.

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Notes:

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

2. Petter & Galpin Co, London printers.

3. Clouzard & Soulier, photographers, Paris.