The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-03-30

Considering his discovery under all its aspects, Niepce
thought that by applying the art OF engraving 10 ms re-
snlts he should render his invention more useful and
give il a serious development His attempts IN ,nis new
direction were crowned with success. IA at'acnns us
plates by weak acid he into the meta the parts pro
tected by the resDous coat remaining untouched tie
formed thus plates for the use OF engIavefs
Meantime the same epoch when Nlepce saw ms
first photographic experiments successful, there
Paris a man whose peculiar knowledge and the nature
of whose habitual employments had led to occupy him
self with similar researches, This was nj. Daguene.
As skiful painter he had long been known to artists
but he had as yet been only employed on decorations for
the theatre. The remarkable he had composed
for the Anbgu theatre and the opera had given him IN
this way sort of celebrity. He had especially estab-
shed reputation by the invention of the dioama II
is well known how successful he had been in producing
the same canvass two different scenes which appear
in succession before the eyes OF the spectators oy
articles in lighting The Midnight Mass 81 n ne
Mary" and some other pictures which were consumed
In the burning of the dorama IN 1882 are very Pedsay
remembered By artists hs 1 i ss had sa Brought
basuerre TO undertake to fix the images IN the camera
obscura Notwithstanding Perseverng efforts, however
certain he haa as ye a Corner Of the
PROVINCES man had resolved this difficult problem.
II was in the month of January. 1926, that M
Daguerre received. in the shop of Paris opcan, the
friend and conidant of Niepce the OF this unexpec
ed discovery. He wrote Immediately TO the inventor TO
request him TO put himself in connexion with HIN, and
from that moment active correspondence was estab
lshed between the two philosophers 1t lasted four years
At the end OF that time, seducel by the promises OF M
DagpeTe. and thinking SIDES that his process had
could go beyond Niepce proposed to NJ Daguere to
associate himself with him. that they might occupy them
selves in common with perecng his invention treaty
was concluded between them at Chalons, the 18th
day OF December, 1929, and after the signature OF the
papers, Niepce communicated to M. Daguerre all the
facts relating to his photograph proceedings.
Once initiated into the secret of the discovery of
Niepce, NJ Daguee applied himself without relaxation
to bring it to perfection He used instead OF the asphate
the resin which obtained by disling the essence OF
lavender, material which has certain luminous sensl
bity. Instead Of washing the plate in an essential oil
he exposed to the action OF the furnished by this
at the ordinary temperature The vapor left I'M
touched the parts of the resinous plaster which was
struck by the light condensed the parts which
remained in in, shadow Thus the metal was nowhere I'M
covered The lights represented by the white resln
the shades by the which had been dissolved by the
essential OIL and which formed transparent bed on the
surface OF the metal The opposition of tnts between
the roughness Of the white particles and the transparency
of the other parts OF the plate produced of themselves
the effects OF drawing Still this modification OF the pro-
OF exposure in the camera obscua-irom seven to eight
hours were still necessary to take view. This method
had also another serious Inconvenience at the end OF
certain tine, the image was in part ettaced.
Happily, chance, which had played an important part
in the first Photographic experiments introduced this time
the the w hSTs spss na'
vored to give vgor to his drawings by deepening
the black lines by of suphurous vapors yapos
mistake on plate Of iodized silver lett its impression
upon it, under the influence of the surrounding light
This lesson not lost Instead OF resinous sub
stances iodine used which to the silver plates
exquisite luminous sensibty. 1t was the first step
towards the entire solution of problem which had cost
twenty years Of assduous research But It was not re-
served for the inventor to enjoy the denitve triumph IN
which he had placed the hopes OF his life Nepce then
the age of sNyhree years, died at Chalons, the
author of the interesting discovery of age passed
away without fame forgotten by his fellow citizens,
with the desoatng thought that ne had ostweny years
of his laborous career disspated his pamony, and
dangered his amly's future prospects In the pursuit OF
Left alone, NJ Daguerre continued his researches with
ardor Five years after the death Of Nlepce, he had
thought out entirely the admirable process which has
gained for him the honor OF attaching his to
science.
The discovery OF Niepce and OF Dagueue known
for the first time by the public announcement OF il made
by M Arago at the sitting OF the Academy OF Sciences,
January 7, 1880. Every recolecs the extraordi-
nary impression produced in France and, soon after,
throughout Europe The name OF Dagpere acquired, IN
short time, an immense celebrity All the voices OF
the press celebrated this name, before almost unknown
But, it is known, not word said OF the modest
and unfortunate Nepce. In the concert OF enthusiastic
acclamatons there was not cry oil gratitude Tor the
poor inventor, who died at his task
In his communication 10 the academy NJ Arago con-
fined himself to making known the principle OF the dscov
cry, and presenting specimens OF the new art He
thought it right keep silence the methods used by
the skilful artist Meantime such discovery could not
remain secret Concentrated in the hands OF an indvd-
ual would long have remained stationary made public,
would, the contrary, increase and improve by the
assistance of every 1t then necessary that ii
should become pubic property. AL the sitting OF June
18th, 1892 the government presented to the Chamber OF
Deputies proet of law, asking for national recon-
pense be granted to the inventors Of photography. who
willing to make their discoveries public. In
quenoe of the remarkable rep of NJ Arago the Cham
Der of Deputies and M g Lussac the Chamber of PEERS
the provisonaTy agreement entered into between the Min
lister of the Interior with M Daguerre and the OF M
Nepce was converted into a law. A yearly pension of
5000 francs granted TO NJ Daguerre, and pension
OF 1000 francs to M Niepce, the SON. The ewhat
meagre Of this remuneration is evidently eiaced by
the thought which dctaedit No either in the gov
eminent the chambers, imagined he was paying the
true value OF the discovery The title of National Repdrd
shows sufficiently that il solemn homage of the
gratitude OF the country to the dsnereedness and genius
OF the inventors
The writer in the Revue goes on to describe the differ
en steps taken by Daguere to perfect his process and
also gives history of Photographic experiments on
paper and even on glass. He says:
''Besdes photography me tai and paper, there is also
photography glass M Niepce de Saint Victor proposed
months since, put in place OF the metallic plates
plate of glass thin lie ble leaf surface
operation used that OF Talbot Tor proofs paper The
plate and the polish Of the face makes it
possible obtain proofs which may be avoraby
barred with those formed MEAL and they combine all the
common advantages OF the proofs on paper"
The Reviewer mentions the following which have
been made of the discoveries arising from researches
nected with photography:
Photogrn phic proceedings have used register
continuous the indications oil meteorological in
strumen such the barometer, magnetic needle, NC AT
European observatories the meteorological instruments
register their observations. The indicating hs md OF
the instrument paints itself the surface OF cylinder
turnng on Its axis with uniform motion, and executing
being prepared like daguerfcoype plate, preserves in
sort OF continued line the track of indicator and pre-