Sir
I noticed two years ago an address delivered by you before the Royal Society <1> describing your invention, which you denominated the Calotype, almost day by day, since then have I been trying to effect the same as per your directions.
My first and second trials I succeeded in getting clear primrose papers, and very fair transfers, from an ingraving [sic]; since then I have never had a single instance of a delineation free from speckles; and marked with the brush, in the Gall. Nitrate application.
By the Camera it takes me 7 Minutes exposure and 1 minute for a transfer before my object can be brought out, and there each stroke with the Gallo-Nitrate Brush leaves its mark and defaces the picture. –
The A & B mixture in the proportion you give in your address I found with me when mixed spoild [sic] in the space of 2 Minutes or less precipitating a dark powder and the liquid in consequence becomes muddy and discolours the paper giving it a greenish shade.
My first success [as] encouraged me so far to persevere so far in trying to gain a knowledge of this beautifull [sic] art, but my utter ignorance of chimical [sic] changes, and the limited means I possess of gaining that requisite knowledge, as [sic] debar’d me of that success I have so much at heart.
Perceiving in the Mechanics Magazine you have made additional improvements and that you have been at the expence of Patients [sic]<2> which till lately I was not aware off [sic] I have made bold to ask what remuneration you would require for instruction, to be used solely for private amusement not for sale or in any manner for my own agrandisement [sic]. Waiting your kind reply I beg to subscribe myself
Yours Most Respectfully
M. Suggett<3>
Manchester
Aug. 9th 1843.
N.B. Please direct to me at
Messrs Gruner Schmidt & Co <4>
No 1 Loyd Street
Manchester
Henry Fox Talbot Esqre
Locock [sic] Abbey
Wilts
paid
Notes:
1. WHFT, ‘Fine Arts. Calotype (Photogenic) Drawing,’, The Literary Gazette and Journal of belles lettres, science and art, n.1273, 12 June 1841, p. 379. This was a synopsis of the paper that WHFT had read before the Royal Society on 10 June, ‘An account of some recent improvements in Photography’. Only an abstract was published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society, v.4 n.48, 1841, pp. 312–315. WHFT reprinted the full text of his article in leaflets, first as The Process of Calotype Photogenic Drawing in 1841, and again in 1845 under the title The Process of Talbotype (formerly called Calotype) Photogenic Drawing.
2. The writer was possibly alerted by the letter signed 'F.R.S.' [presumably, a Fellow of the Royal Society], "The Calotype Patent," Mechanic's Magazine, Museum, Register, Journal, and Gazette, v. 38 no. 1019, 18 February 1843, pp. 127-128. 3. The only likely candidate for the author traced thus far was through the 1841 census for Manchester: Mary A. Suggett (b. ca. 1821), was the wife of a painter. 4. Gruner, Schmidt, & Co., Merchants, Lloyd Street. The partners were Carl Otto Gruner and Johann Jakob Schmidt - upon the death of Schmidt in 1861, the firm was liquidated to their partner W. F. Higson.