Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1839-05-16
MISCELLANY.
THE DAGUERROTIPE.
From the Few York Observer.

from 'he lew fork Observer.
The following is AN extract from private
letter OF Professor +. S b. Morse to the
editor OF The Observer, dated Paris, March
9th
Z" You have perhaps heard of the Daguer-
fotIpe,s so called from the discoverer, Nj. Da.
guerre. u 10 one OF the most beautiful dis.
coVeries OF the age l don't know if you
| iecoiiect some experiments Of mine in New
Haven, many years ago, when | had nv
painting room next TO Professor SiIliman' 5
experiments 10 ascertain if il were possibJs
to Tx The image Of the Camera Obscure. Il
was able 10 produce different de erees of
shade on paper, dipped into solution of nj
'ta!e OF SILVER, by means OF different degrees
OF light but finding that light produced
dark and dark light, | presumed the intro
AUCTION Oh true image 10 be impracticable.
and gave up the attempt M. Daeuerre Ina 8
realized IN the most exquisite manner this
idea.
few days ago addressed II note TO Mr..
~. requesting, as a stranger, the favor to see
his results, and inviting him in turn TO see
my Telegraph. l was politely invited TO
see them under these circumstances, for he
had determined not to show them again, I'M
TIL the Chambers had passed definiliveiy on a
proposition for the Government to purchase
The secret Of The discovery, and make il pub
nc. The day be fore yesterday, the 7lh,
called on Nj. Daguerre, a, his rooms in the
OIorama, 10 see these admirable results.
They are produced on metallic sur face
The principal pieces about inches by S, and
they resemble aquatint engravings; for they
are IN simple chiaro obscure, aud not in col
ors. But the exquisite minuleness OF the de.
iineation cannot be conceived. No painting
or engraving ever approached il. For ex,
ample 10 view up The street, a distant
sign could be perceived, and the eye could
just discern that there were lines of letters
upon IT, but 80 minute as not TO be read with
The naked eye. BY the assistance of a cow.
eriui lens, which magnlfed fifty times, ap.
pied 10 the delineatioD, every letter was
clearly and distinctly legible, and so xlso
were the miButest breaks and lines in the
walls OF the buildings; and the payemenis
OF the streets. The effect Of the lens upon
me picture was in great degree like that OF
Inc telescope in nature.
r, ooJects moving are not impressed. The
boulevard so constantly filled with moving
'hrong OF pedestrians and carriages, was
perfectly solitary, except an individual who
was having bis boots brushed His feet
were compelled, OF course, TO be stationary
LOT some time, one being on the box. OF the
ooot oiack, and the other on the ground
consequently his boots and legs were well
aehned, but he is without body or head, be-
cause these were IN motion.
, me impression OF interior views are
nemorandt perfected. One Of Mr.. DIS
pa,es IS an impression OF a spider. The
,,p'uer was not bigger than the head OF
.a,ge Pie' but the image, msgnified 6y the
spar microscope 10 the size of the palm OF
'ne hano, having been impressed on The plate,
and examined through lens was further
magnhed, and showed minuteness of or
gsDizat'on hitherto not seen 10 exist. You