Reading <1>
21 September 1844
Sir
I have seen Mr Malone <2> and he should like very much to make an engagement with Mr Claudet. <3> I have inquired about his character and abilities in Chemistry and received the highest recommendations and from wath I have seen of him myself I think Mr Claudet could not have a fitter person as you are going to town tomorrow you could speak to Mr Ct about him and let me kno on tuesday when you cal for me for he will be here to hear the answer about the wages I think 30/ a week with a promise to rayse it to two pound if he gives satisfaction and Mr Claudet should go on doing wel with it I am confident he will make some improvements in it if Mr C <4> let him have wath he wants–
Please to bring the wooden paper holder with you to take with us.
Your Obd Sevt
N Henneman
Notes:
1. Nicolaas Henneman (1813–1898), born in Holland and trained in Paris, was WHFT’s valet who emerged as his assistant in photography. Henneman set up his Calotype works at 8 Russell Terrace, Reading. Commencing operations at the start of 1844, it functioned both as a photographic studio and as a photographic printing works and continued through late 1846, at which time Henneman transferred his operations to London. Although Talbot supported Henneman through custom, such as printing the plates for The Pencil of Nature, and loans, it was always Henneman's operation. His business cards made no mention of "The Reading Establishment," the designation that it is popularly given today; the only contemporary use of that title seemed to be by Benjamin Cowderoy - see Doc. No: 05690 - and in Henneman's initial correspondence with WHFT.
2. Thomas Augustine Malone (1823-1867), chemist, partner with Nicolaas Henneman, photographer.
3. Antoine Françoise Jean Claudet (1797–1867), London; French-born scientist, merchant & photographer, resident in London.
4. Possibly Henry Collen (1800–1879), miniature painter, calotypist & spiritualist, London, [See for example Doc. No: 05118].