Mount Edgcumbe <1>
Friday June 11th 1852
Dearest Henry
I have been bothering my head these two or three days trying to compose a letter to Col Grey <2> wh should meet your approbation. However after many attempts I found I could not even please myself. So I asked Milord <3> again – & he has dictated the enclosed which seems more to the purpose than mine – certainly shorter & something definite, to which one may hope a definite answer.
I send it in order to see if you approve – & have written it large to enable you to make any corrections or emendations.
Any repetition of words merely, I can correct myself in writing it out; & can send the printed letter or not, as you chuse. I shd think it best to send it to Col Grey – If you think so, please send me another copy to keep.
Yr affte Sister in haste to save the Post as there is none tomorrow –
Caroline
[Enclosed draft letter to Colonel Grey:]
Allow me to trouble you upon a Subject which interests me very much – You are aware that my Brother Mr Talbot is the Inventor of the Talbotype, or Art of Photography upon paper. He has two Patents for it – one of which has 3 years, the other 5 years still unexpired;<4> & which may on their expiration be renewed by the Privy Council for 14 years more, if the Judges of the Privy Council shall deem the invention worthy of a renewal
My Brother has however lately received a letter <5> in the name of several Scientific Artists & leading Men of Science & numerous Amateurs of the Art stating their opinion that it would be a great public advantage if the right to exercise the Art were thrown open to the world. To do so would be on his part certainly some pecuniary sacrifice – possibly a very great one – greater than he could possibly receive compensation for.
He is however not unwilling to to [sic] make it, provided he had 1st Good evidence to shew that the opinion was really entertained by those best able to judge, & that the Public, by his doing so, would receive advantage – & 2ndly that his undoubted right to claim the honour of being the Inventor of the Art should be clearly acknowledged.
Now as no opinion upon both these subjects would command such deference as that of Prince Albert, <6> you would oblige me very much by ascertaining whether H.R.H. wd consent to put his name to any document expressing such opinions. Although H.R.H. might possibly object to do so in his Individual capacity, he might possibly be willing to add his name as a member of some Scientific body – as, if I mistake not, several such Institutions have the honour of having H.R.H. name enrolled among them.
I venture to enclose for H.R.H. perusal a printed copy of the letter <7> proposed to be addressed to my Brother.
It wd be immaterial to Mr Talbot whether such a document preceded or followed his throwing open the Patent – provided he were certain of eventually receiving it. If that certainly existed, he wd prefer to receive it in the shape of acknowledgement rather than recommendation.
Notes:
1. Mt Edgecumbe, near Plymouth: seat of the Earl of Mt Edgcumbe.
2. Lt General Charles Grey (1804–1870), MP, Private Secretary to the Queen.
3. Ernest Augustus Edgcumbe, Lord Valletort, 3rd Earl of Mt Edgcumbe (1797–1861), WHFT’s brother-in-law.
4. WHFT's patents, first for the Calotype, titled ‘Photographic Pictures’, no. 8428, February 1841, and patent o. 9753, 'Improvements in Photography', enrolled 1 December 1843.
5. Letter not located. [See also Doc. No: 06632].
6. Prince Albert of Saxe–Coburg–Gotha (1819–1861).
7. Not attached to this document.