Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1839-05-30
TuR New Arr From the Europe
an Correspondence Of the ~ Y. Ameri-
can "

II The NEW ART l. rom inc Europe
an Correspondence Of the N. Y. Ameri-
cam .-
will pass to another strife Of q very
different nature, which occupies por-
ton of the Paris public. You may re-
collect what | have written to you of
Dagucrrc's admirable copies Of objects
and scenes, by the simple action T
light upon paper chemically prepared
for the purpose. A competitor for the
honor of this beautiful and important
discovery has appeared in England
Henry For Talbot eminent in natural
philosophy. You have probably remark
ed in the British journal, the Athcnpum,
and the London Literary Gazette, the
Memoir on his Phoiogtnic Drawings,
which he read to the Royal Society
His statements and pretcnsions have
been earnestly canvassed ut nearly eve
ry weekly meeting ofthe French Acade-
my of Sciences, since they were re-
ceived. Arago has been the chief aud
very able champion of both the priority
and superiority of Daguerrc's process
es and the subject has drawn larger
number of auditors to each sitting, than
any other had done for long time
National scnsibility is particularly ex-
cited. You will find in the London
Literary Gazette of the Sd inst, under
the head The .Ntw a,f, some fresh and
| interesting representations, which GER
tainly throw Mr.. Talbot out Of the lists
1t is established, think, by the discus
sions on both sides Of the Channel, that
il Dagucrrc did not first conceive hell
ography, or make the first progress in
the art, he took up the design when it
was no longer pursued, and, with full
scientific intelligence and practical
skill, gradually achieved the present
wonderful and pregnant results.
II The French assert for their Dens
| Passin the credit of Steam Navigation
yet, they claim, and justly, for Da-
gucrrc, that Of Photogenic Drawing,
upon the same grounds as we use in
behalf of Fulton for the other achieve
ment "The man of genius. the vir-
tual discoveror," do they argue, SIS
not he who merely has prolific idea,
but he who makes himself master Of it
who follows it out underslandngly and
pcrscvcringly who realizes it in COM
pIcte, material action for the lasting
iruition of the world"
On the Sd instant, by special favor,
| was admitted to M. Daguerre's Ia
boratory, and passed an hour in con-
templating his drawings. 1t would be
impossible for me to express the admi-
ration which they produced. lean con-
Vey to you no idea Of the exquisite per-
lection of the copies of objects and
scenes, effected in ten minutes by the
action of simple solar light upon his
papiers sensibies. There is one view Of
the river Sienc, bridges, quays, great
&C., taken under rainy sky,
the graphic truth of which astonishcd
and delighted me beyond measure. No
human hand ever did or could trace
such copy. The time required for
this work was nearly al hour-that is,
proportionablc to the difference of light
Dasucrre is a gentleman of middle
stature, robust frame, and highly en-
prcssivc countcnance. He explained
the progression of his experiments, and
vindicated his exclusive property in the
development and successful apple atom
of the idea, with voIuble and clear
detail Of facts and arguments. To the
suggestion, that the exhibition in the
United States, of a collection of his
drawings, might yield handsome
sum-" he answered that the French
Government would soon, probably, buy
his secret from him, and thus crafty
his chief wish-thc unlimited diffusion
and employment of his discovery. The
sum which the Academy Of Sciences
ask for him, is 2OO, 900 francs. He had
already acquired great fame as the pain
ter of the Diorama.