Falmouth
August 28th 1842
My dear Sir,
ill-health and the unusual pressure of business has prevented my doing anything as yet with the calotype – I was hoping to have the coming week at my disposal – but the death of my Mother has given me several melancholy duties to perform <1> – I thank you for your very beautiful Negative Photograph. <2> I have some notion that poor Havell <3> did something in the application of Photography to Stone <4> – I am not however certain – I know of no one else –
I am Dear Sir Yours respectfully & obediently
Robert Hunt
Hy Fox Talbot Esqr
Notes:
1. Hunt never met his father, a ship's carpenter who died at sea. His mother, Honour Thomas supported herself and her son on a small naval pension. However, he excelled at school and wound up being her source of support.
2. See Doc. No: 04586.
3. William Havell (1782–1857).
4. Probably lithographic reproductions of photographs. Previously, Hunt had referred to the work of a Mr Lewis, a copperplate printer in Liverpool - See Doc. No: 04586.