The Rodney telegraph. (Rodney, Miss.) 1838-1840, 1839-04-06

u
and optical discovery, is probably one Of the
most curious and startling in the records of
modern science:
From the Paris Constitutional
"At the last sitting ofthe Academy of Sci
cnces, M. Arrago announced one of the
most important discoveries ia the fine arts
that have distinguished the prese century,
the author OF which has already acquired
universal reputation by his miraculous do
rama-M. Daguerre. 1t is wei! known that
certain chemical substances, such as chic
rate of silver, have the property ofc hanging
their colour by the mere contact of light; *
it is by a combination of this nature that NJ.
Daguerre has succeeded in fixing upon pa
per prepared With it the rays that are drec-
ted on the table of the camera obscura, and
RENDERING the optical tableau permanent
The exact representation of whatever OBJ
lects this instrument is directed TO is, as ev-
cry body is aware, thrown down with vivid
colours upon the white prepared to receive
them, and the rays OF light That are thus re-
| fiected have the power of acting in the way
above alluded to on chiorate of silver, or Ger
tain preparations 9: it. In this manner an
exact representation of light and shade of
whatever object may be wished to be view
ed, is obtained with the precise accuracy of
nature herself, and it is stated 10 have all
the soitness of a fine aqatint engraving
NJ. Daguerre had made this discovery some
years ago, but he had not then succeeded in
making the alteration of colour permanent
OH the chemical substance. This main de-
sideratum he has now accomplished, and in
this manner has been able, among other in
stances, to make permanent chemical rep
resentation of the Louvre, taken from the
Pont DIES Arts. nj Arrago, in commenting
upon this r,ost extraordinary discovery, OBJ
served, that a patent would be by no means
d able to preserve the rights Of the discoyerer
sufficiently to reward him for his efforts, s.
he therefore urged the propriety of an appli
cation being made to the Legislature for a
grant of public money as a recompense.-
! NJ Blot, on the same occasion, compared NJ
| Daguerre's discovery to the retina of the eve
! the objects being represented on one ant
the other surface with alalost equal accu
E racy.
e "What is the secret of the invention?-
What is the substance endowed with sucl
t astonishing sensibllity to the rays of light
: that it not only peneTates itself with them
It but preserves their impression; performs q
e once the function of the eye and the opti
n nerve-the material instrument of sensation
and the sensation itself? In good sooth W
know nothing about it. Figure to yourself
a mirror which after having received you
: image, gives you back your portrait, indel
BILE as a picture, a much more exact reseu
;. lblance. Such is the miracle invented b
!, : M Duguerre. His pictures do not produc
colour, but only outlne-the lights and sh;
- dows of the model. They are not pain
II ings, but drawings, pushed to degree
- perfection that art never can reach.
eel zone has heard of writing by steam, b
VI drauing By sunshine Tor INCONSISTENCY is
novelty for which the world is indebted
M Duguerre of Paris, the dioransa paints
I'M Arago and M Blot, who have made j
ports to theeAcaden,y of Sciences on I