Rome.
May 11. 1846.
My dear Sir,
We arrived here on Monday last and though the weather has not been very propitious, I have managed to do some beautiful and very interesting views. My principal object in writing is to say, that as I find I have now some 60 sheets of paper left; we have changed our route and mean to go from hence to Venice (stopping at Florence for a few days) in order to accomplish what I have so long wished, <1> the Photographic deliniation [sic] of my favourite subjects; which I trust to be enabled to do.
I shall write to the Milan Postmaster to send my letter to Venice, so hope to hear whether we have any chance on meeting on the way.
The present intention is to stay at Venice 10 days, which wd bring our departure from Venice to the 6th<2> of June, then to go by the Splugen on to Basle, where I shall hope to arrive by the 16th then by Railway to Manheim [sic], and by Rhine to Cologne, where I shd be very glad of some paper to do the Low Country towns, if I have time.
I am extremely annoyed at having used all of a small bottle of Gallic acid which I brought from England, and cannot procure a grain in Italy, I got some Tannic acid at Naples, and have done a few impressions but it gives very red results, it is all that I now have for a few at Florence; however a person has written to Paris, for some Gallic acid for me, which I trust to find at Venice.
I only wish that I had paper, chemicals and leisure among the splendid subjects which surround us.
There is a man here who does Talbotype <3> portraits, which are pretty good, but all touched, he is a Frenchman, and tells me that he does the large Camera specimens in 15 seconds but of course makes a secret of his acceleration I only wish that you wd manage the same time, as the additional period which I now leave it in the Camera is very inconvenient. With 1. Nit. silv. 2 Acet: acid; 10 gall: acid <4> in a bright light. I always leave it 6 minutes, and on dark days 20: and I am sure you will not find them too much done.
The artists and others here to whom I have shewn your invention are amazingly delighted with it. I am anxious to hear how your Portrait establishment <5> proceeds; and, with hopes of recieving [sic] a letter with your plans, and a notice where I shall find any paper; I am with our united kind regards
yours very truly
Calvert R Jones.
Notes:
1. See Doc. No: 04264.
2. Overwritten and indistinct, but a single digit.
3. Although WHFT modestly used the term calotype, Jones and other loyal supporters honoured him by calling these Talbotypes, in parallel with the term Daguerreotype.
4. 1 part silver nitrate, 2 parts acetic acid and 10 parts gallic acid.
5. 122 Regent Street, London: base of Nicolaas Hennemans’ Talbotype or Sun Picture Rooms, later the firm of Henneman & Malone, photographers to the Queen.