20 Mornington Road

N.W.

Feb^y 9. 1860.

Dear Sir

You will no doubt be surprised to hear that my reputation as the Editor of the Photographic News has been assailed on the ground of incompetency. It is admitted that I am a good chemist but that I am sadly deficient in knowledge as a Photographer and ability as an Editor. This charge has arisen in some Chancery proceedings which have been necessitated on my part against the publishers of that Journal, and although my kind friends would not I am sure heed such a charge the Court of Chancery in the absence of testimony to the contrary would be bound to believe it. I am therefore under the pressing necessity of making immediate application to a few eminent Gentlemen whose kind appreciation of my humble abilities as a scientific Photographer will induce them to respond to the appeal which I am driven to make to them to bear such testimony on my behalf as they may deem me deserving of. Under ordinary circumstances this assistance would require to be rendered in the form of an affidavit but with the view to save trouble a letter addressed to me expressing the writers opinion on the subject referred to will sufficiently answer the purpose. May I venture to request the favour at your hands of such a letter as will on the face of it express your candid opinion of the estimation in which you hold my reputation as a photographer and as an Editor of the Photographic News and generally as a man of science. I shall have to swear an affidavit not later than Saturday next and it would increase the obligation under which I shall be to you if you could make it convenient to let me have your letter by the earliest post

Believe me very truly yours

William Crookes.

H. F. Talbot Esq^re