15 Castle Gate.
28 Sept 1844
Dear Sir,
I have just received a packet from Edinburgh which encloses your most obliging letter of the 24th. I have again to return you an expression of the sincere thanks of Mr Adamson and myself for your liberality to us in permitting us to Calotype in York. I trust that our efforts here will add some new interest to your beautiful art. I have written the editor of the Liverpool Standard and have put him right both as to the Discoverer and the period of the discovery of the Calotype. I have requested him to forward to you a copy of the paper in which he inserts my remarks. I have told him to address to you at the British Association, York.
I hope I may have the pleasure of seeing you again before your [illegible] for Scotland. If there are any of your scientific friends here you would wish us to Calotype we will be most happy to do it.
I remain Dear Sir Your obliged Servt
D. O. Hill
H Fox Talbot Esquire
&c &c
[enclosed press cutting of above-mentioned letter:]
THE CALOTYPE ART.
to the editor of the liverpool standard.
Sir, – In your paper of the 10th current, a copy of which has just reached me at this place, where it has followed me from Edinburgh, I observe, in a flattering editorial notice of the exhibition at Mr. Grundy’s, of a collection of sketches by means of the photogenic process called the calotype, that you have made the mistake of attributing the discovery of this art to Mr. Adamson, of St. Andrew’s, by whose chemical manupulations [sic], under my artistic superintendence, these sketches have been produced. The discovery of this very beautiful and most valuable art the world owes to an English gentleman – an eminent and well-known prosecutor of science – namely, Henry Fox Talbot, Esq., of Lacock Abbey. the discovery, though yet very little known, is not so recent as you infer, being coeval with the sister art discovered in France by Daguerre. The art is secured to Mr. Talbot by patent, with whose approval it was first introduced into Edinburgh about a year and a half ago, by Mr. Adamson, who, for some time previously as an amateur, had laboured, with some success, in improving its processes. Mr. Adamson and myself will feel obliged if, in your next paper, you will correct the mistake which I have thus taken the liberty to direct your attention. – Yours, &c.,
D. O. HILL.
British Association, York,
Sept. 28, 1844