[illegible] nr heath
Decbr 4 [illegible]
My dr Sir,
Your letter reached me the day before we left Cardiff when I was so busy that I cd not answer it properly. The Nos which I brought away to touch (besides the Pump) were 7. 13. 21. 45. 50. 72. 86. of the last series <1> of large views which I sent: and I was very much pleased to see how a careful dark wash of sepia will cure the most faulty sky, and between Sepia and Cyanide an immense deal may be done to any copies, (I do not mean by way of artistical addition but fair reparation, and you need not be alarmed at my doing any more to any negatives which I may take in hand.
As I had only a very hurried review of your Reading establishment, <2> I do not feel competent to give a very full opinion on the manner of its working; but it certainly struck me that Mr Harrison <3> and his assistants were operating in a most steady and businesslike way, and I was much gratified at hearing how many copies they cd produce on an average in a day. Henneman <4> always appears active and clever, and I am sure wants no zeal in your service. Mr Cowderoy <5> has evidently throughout behaved very ill to you, and seems to have erred in almost every thing which he has touched; and I shd certainly pack him off unreservedly –
I fear that during the next 2 or 3 months I can do but few negatives but if I shd be able, wd you like me to take some? I have not your letter before me as it is packed in a Camera box, so am not sure whether I have anything else to answer if I find anything, I will do so; please to direct to Veranda <6>
yours very truly
Calvert R Jones.
Notes:
1. The second series. [See Doc. No: 05685].
2. 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.
3. Probably Alfred Edwin Harrison, bookkeeper for Henneman in London.
4. Nicolaas Henneman (1813–1898), Dutch, active in England; WHFT’s valet, then assistant; photographer.
5. Benjamin Cowderoy (1812–1904), land agent in Reading; business manager for WHFT; later a politician in Australia.
6. Jones’ home near Swansea in Wales.