The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-03-15
From he Pkitadsiphss North .Amsrtcan
The Hillotvp0.

Hill, giving somewhat more extended account
Of his discovery than that which we quoted
from the Daguerrean Journal. AS the dis
cOvery is in all respects a wonderful one, des-
tined, as may be judged, to produce profound
impression, equal to that originally excited by
Daguerre's first exhibition of his sun-pictures,
the public will read with interest everything
calculated to throw further light on the subject
And, first, us we learn, Mr. l.. l.. HILL the dis
coverer-who resides i'm the secluded village of
Westkill, behind the Catskill mountains in
Greene county, New York-is, or was, a cler-
gyman, who was compelled, some years since,
like Headley, the author, TO abandon the pulpit
in consequence of some severe bronchial affec-
ton by which he was incapacitated. Seeing at
first amusement in the daguerreotype art, he af-
forwards adopted it as profession, pursuing it
principally or altogether in the rural districts Of
the Empire State, and only making himself
known to the world by " Treatise on the Da-
guerreotype," of which he is the author This
with the facts already mentioned, that he COM
menced experimenting for colored daguerreo-
types some two years ago, and obtained his first
successful results only few months since; and
the further circumstance very frankly mentioned
by him in his communication to the Daguer-
rian Art Journal, that he is "A poor man." who
needs the compensation, which he is certain to
obtain for his brilliant discovery--is all we have
been able to learn personally Of man whose
name is hereafter destined TO attract unusual
attention.
In regard to the secret of his discovery, it is
not to be supposed we can CLEAN any informa-
ton from his published letters, or that the world
will be favored with any, until he has taken all
the steps requisite to secure the enjoyment of
his invention. "My wife and myself alone"
says he, "know the process, and not scrap or
item shall ever be communicated until | am
made perfectly sure of a suitable compensation
All that he has divulged is that the mystery is
dependent on the new and singular com
pound" which he, one day, unexpectedly formed,
and as unexpectedly found to be the grand ar
canum and philosophers stone, of which he had
been so long in quest. OF this he gives the
following account:
aThe compound above referred to, is, to me,
nondescript, though have made the science
of chemistry my study for years. That it is a
new substance, or combination of substances,
am positive; and this is all know concerning
it. tits simply and easily produced, but not by
any law stated in the large number of chemical
works with which am familiar Doubtless,
however, a correct and thorough analysis will
determine its nature"
At the date of his communication-Feb 4th
MIR. Hill had forty five specimens of the Hill.
otype, of the character of which some idea NAV
be formed from his description, which we quote,
as follows
81. A view, containing a red house, green
grass and foliage, the wood color of the trees,
several cows of different shades of red and
brindle, colored garments on a clothes.line, blue
sky and the faint blue of the atmosphere, inter-
vening between the camera and the distant
mountains, very delicately spread over the pic
ture as if by the hand of a fairy artist
80. A sunset scene, in which the play of
colors upon the clouds is impressed with a
truthfulness and gorgeous beauty which can
not describe"
SO. Several portraits, in which | have the
true complexion of the skin, the rosy cheeks
and lips, blue and hazel eyes, auburn, brown,
and sandy hair, and every color Of the drapery
Changeable silk is given in all its fine blendings
of colors, and delicate richness of hues. not
only get red, blue, orange, violet, &C., but their
various tints. The whole impression, including
the lights and shades, is far more brilliant, round
and mellow than the most superb daguerrean
image have ever SEEN"
He adds:
81 have most exquisite type Of my little girl
Zone year old taken in the act of crving, the
plate not having been exposed full second
At the same time, my light required fifteen sec
onds for a daguerreotype. This picture has
caught the expression perfectly, both of the eye
and whole face. On one cheek is seen bright
tear drop, and the color showing through it much
better than the surrounding parts which latter
suppose, is owing to the refractive action of
the fluid"
In reading these very striking and bewitching
descriptions, one feels n natural scepticism, re-
membering that they come from the discoverer
himself; nor is the doubt entirely dspelled by
the remembrance of his clerical character We
can appreciate the force and binding power of
enthusiasm, without suspecting the truth of the
enthusiast. Such sceptism We must confess to
having ourselves felt being rather disposed to
fancy that Dir. Hill had been deluded to some
unusual irdescent effects on his plates than thai
he had discovered mode, by intervention of any
one chemical reagent, single or compound, old
or new, of fixing upon them the fleeing and I'M
substantial hues of nature. Scientific men can
best understand the truly wonderful character
of such an invention. Considering all our pre-
conceived knowledge and ideas, it is marvel far
beyond the miracles of photograph and the da-
guerreotype. II happens, however, that there is
corroborative testimony in the case; and we
learnfrom distinguished daguerreotypist of this
city, who has visited WestlSil and seen the spe-
cimens, that there is no exaggeraton in Mr..
Hills account, and that the IIiotypes in all re-
spects come up to his descriptions. They are
such pictures as we see, full of natures own
magic beauty, on the ground glass of the camera.
We must add that Mr.. Hill has experienced,
and still EXPERIENCES one dffcuty-itis the only
one-in the management the pure yellop tints,
which, he says, do not comport with the other
rays. yellow appears on the plate as a buff
color. This, we must believe, cannot but reduce
the brillancy of the green's, oranges, and other
bues which are compounded of yellow. Bright
yellow pigments, however, are very sparingy
used, and often entirely discarded, by the best
painters in their pictures, which gain rather than
lose by their absence; and we are informed by
the intelligent daguerreotypist referred to, that
the defect is not felt, scarcely thought of, in the
Hillotypes. According to him, no one can look
l.. T. n