The Portsmouth inquirer. [volume] (Portsmouth, O. [Ohio]) 1849-1855, 1851-03-31
THE INQ UIRER
1hsssaay, sIaEch ~. 1854. I I
Al Great Discovery.

- A Great Discovery.
: Considerable excitement prevails just now
among the lovers Of art from a great i'm
pgoSement in daguerreotyping whereby the
different, colors and shades Of objects are fix
ed in the picture. The process is the inven-
ton Of a Mr.. Hill, poor clergyman in the
State Of New York, and in honor to him has
been called Hillotyps. II appears that, in
consequence Of bad health, Mr.. Hill took
up the daguerrean art as a profession, and
having come to the conclusion thatit was
susceptible of improvements he set himself
about endeavoring to discover some method
whereby the various colors exhibited by OBJ
iects could be transferred affixed in the
picture. After trying various metallic and
chemical substances without obtaining the
desired result, and when almost ready to
givesu the attempt in despair, he hit upon
compound which effected the purpose. The
following is a part Of his own account Of
the discovery asa
"The compound above referred to, is, to
me, a non-descript, though have made the
science of chemistry my study for years.
That it is new substance, or combination
of substances, ! am positive; and this is all
know concerning it.. 1t is simply and ea-
silly produced, but not by any law stated in
the large number of chemical works with
which lam familiar. Doubtless, however,
correct and thorough analysis will deter
mine itsnature." as-e
At the date of his communication
4th-Mr. Hill had forty-fve specimens Of
the Hillotype, Of the character Of which
some idea may be formed from his descript-
ion, which we quote as follows:
81. A view, containing red house, green
grass and foliage. the wood color of the trees
several cows Of different shades Of red ant
brindle, colored garments on clothes line
blue sky and the faint blue of the atmos
phere, Intervening between the camera ant
the distant mountains, very delicately sprea
over the picture as if by the Land of fair.
artist, .,@tt.-.-'.
20. A sunset scene, in which the play o
colors upon the clouds is impressed with
truthfulness and gorgeous beauty which
cannot describe" *
"3. Several portraits, in which / have tn
true complexion of the skin, the rosy cheek
and lips, blue and hazel eyes, auburn, brown
and sandy hair, and every color Of the dra
perry. Changeable silk is given in all its fine
.blendings OF colors, and delicate richnesse o
hues. | not only get red, blue, orange, VIC
let, &C., but their various tints. The whole
Impression, including the lights and shades
is far more brilliant, round, an mellow thai
the most superb daguerrean image have eve
seem"
He adds:
'lhave most exquisite type of my littl
girl, one year old, taken in the act of crying
the plate not having been exposed full Sc
cond. At the same time, my ligh
required fifteen seconds for da
guerreotype. This picture has caught the ex
preston exactly, both of the eye and who'll
face. On one cheek is seen bright tear drol
and the color showing through it much bet
ter than the surrounding parts; which latter
suppose is owing to the refractive action o
the fluid"
1t might naturally be supposed from read
ing the above statement that it was exagger
ated, but we find it stated in Philadelphia
paper, that celebrated daguerreotypist Of
that city went to Westkill, the residence o.
the discoverer, and after full examination
asserts that the Hillotypes in all respects
come up to the description. Should thi'
prove to be true it will be most splendit
discovery.