The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-05-01
rom the NJ u Ces@s'
THE DAGUERROTIPE.

The following is an extract from p'"o
letter of Prof ssor s. +. b. Morse 70 no
tor OF the Observer. dated Paris, Ma'ch ''".
.You have perhaps heard o. Inc p' n Ia.
tipe, so called from the u's1o .'.,;cJ A.
guerre II is one OF the ms, oea - -,
eovar;as of the ape. l don't know y you re-
.o,,.., son,a experiments Of mine IN New Hat
ssn n,,ny wears ago, when had my painting
800, ,ns.t 10 Professor Sillinan's-experi-
menis 10 ascertain lift were possible TO fix the
IMAGE ofihe Camera Obscura. ! was able to
produce different degrees of shade on paper,
dioped into solution of nitrate Of silver, by
means Of different degrees Of light; but iind-
ing that light produced dark, and dark light,
presumed the production OF true image to be
impracticable. and gave up the attempt. M.
Daguerre has realized in the most exquisite
manner this idea.
A few days ago addressed note TO MIR.
ID. requesting, as a stranger, the favor to see
his results, and inviting him in turn TO see my
Telegraph. / was politely invited TO see them
under these circumstances, for he had deter
mined not 10 show them again, until the
Chambers had passed defntively on propo-
si,ion for the Government to purchase The Sc
cret of the discovery, and make it public
on Nj. Daguerre, at his rooms in the Diorama,
10 see these admirable results.
They are produced on metallic surface,
the principal pieces about inches by 5, and
they resemble aquatint engravings; for they
are simple chiaro oscur0, and not IN colors.
But the exquisite minuteness OF the delnea-
ton cannot be conceived. No painting or
engraving ever approached it. For example:
ih1.S ar l..tn N
be perceived, and the eye could just discern
that there were lines Of letters upon il, but SO
minute as not to be rend with the naked eye.
BY the assistance of a powerful lens, which
magniied fifty times, applied to the dellnea-
ton, every letter was clearly and distinctly
legible, and so also were the mnutest breaks
and lines in the walls of the buildings and
the payements Of the streets. The effect Of
the lens upon the picture was in great de-
gre like thai Of the telescope in nature.
"Objects moving are moi impressed The
Boulevard, SO constantly filed with moving
,hrong Of pedestrians and carriages, WINS per-
fecty solitary, except an individual who was
having his boots brushed. His feet were
compelled, Of course, to be stationary for
some time, one berg on the box OF the boot
black, and the other on the ground. Conse-
quenly his boots and legs we're well defined,
but he is without body or head because these
were in motion.
"The impressions Of interior views are
Rembrandt perfected. One of Mr. DIS plates
is an impression Of spider. The spider was
not bigger than the head of large pin. hut the
image, mag liiicd by the solar microscope to
the size of the plam of the hand, having been
impressed on the plate, and examined through
flrfh E.l obn cd
minuteness Of organization hitherto not seen
to exist. You perceive how this discovery is,
therefore, about to open field Of research in
the depth Of microscopic nature. We are soon
10 see # the minute has dscoverable limits.
The naturalist is to have new kingdom to ex-
plore, as much beyond the microscope as the
microscope is beyond the naked eye.
But am near the end Of my paper, and
have unhappily to give melancholy close TO
my account of this ingenious discovery. M.
Dagurre appointed yesterday at noon to see
my telegraph. He came, and passed more
Than an hour, with me, expressing himself
highly gratIfied at its operation. But while he
was thus employed, the great building of the
Diorama, with his own house, all his beautiful
works, his valuable notesa and papers, the labor
Of years of experiment, were, unknown to
flames. His secret indeed Is still safe with
him, but the steps Of his progress in the dis
covery and his valuable researches in science
are lost to the scientific world. learn that
his Diorama was insured, but to what extent
know not. am sure all friends of science
and improveme nj will unite in expressing the
deepest sympathy in NJ. Daguerres loss, and
the sincere hope that such liberal sum will
ha lad b,, ~ ILL
enable him, in some degree at least, to recover
from his loss"
In the same vessel which brought the above
letter, the writer himself arrived From him
we have received some additional information
respecting this very Interesting discovery,
winch we cannot mt present communicate
We have only room to say, that we are even
more impressed with the value of the inven-
ton as means Of procuring, without labor or
expense perfect and satisfactory panoramas
OIL all the most interesting places and scenery
on the glooc' and II we apprehend its power
correctly, perfect representations Of the hui
man countenance, than with lis power to re-
veal the secrets OF microscopic nature -
With what delight will the eye dwell on the
ranoramas OF Jerusalem, Thebes, Constan.
tinople, Rome, and other cities of the old
world, delineated with the unerring fidelity Of
the Daguerrotipe With what interest shall
we visit the gallery of portraits Of distinguish
ed men Of all countries, drawn, not with mans
feeble, false, and ha,tering pencil, but with
the power and truth Of light from Heaven, 1t
may not be long before we shall witness in
this city the exhibition Of such panoramas and
such portraits.
Domestic Medicine. The casters IN +,
dinner table, are said, by late London work,
TO be kind OF medicine chest containing drugs
oil great virtues. /. Salt his is a decided