Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-04-02

shade on paper dipped into a solution of nj
trate OF silver by means of different de-
grees OF light; but finding that light pro-
duced dark and dark light presumed the
production Of true image to be imp-acti-
cable and gave up the attempt. M. Da-
guerre has realized in the most exquisite
manner this idea.
"A few days ago addressed note to M.
ID. requesting, as stranger, the favor to
see his results, and inviting him in return
to see my telegraph. / was politely invited
to see them under these circumstances, for
he had determined not to show them again
until the chambers had passed definitely
on the proposition for the government to
purchase the secret of the discovery and
the It'll. 1 called on M. Daguerre. at his
rooms in the Diorama. to see these admir-
able results.
They are produced on metallic surface,
hve. and they resemble aqua tint engrav-
ing, for they are in simple chiara oscuro,
and not in colors. But the exquisite minute
ness of the delineation cannot be conceived.
NO printing or engraving ever approached
It, For example: In a view up the street
a distant sign would be perceived, and the
eye could just discern that there were Inns
OF letters upon it, but so minute as not to
be read with the naked eye. By the assist
ance of powerful lens, which ma entitled
nifty times, applied to the delineation, every
letter was clearly and distinctly legible,
and so also were the minutest breaks and
lines In the walls of the buildings and the
paVements of the street. The effect of the
lens upon the picture was in great DE- gree
like that of the telescope in nature.
OBJECTS moving are not impressed. The
boulevard, so constantly filled with NOV
ing throng of pedestrians and carriages,
was perfectly solitary, except an individ-
ual who was having his boots brushed. His
feet were compelled, of course, to be sta
tionary for some time. one being on ths
box of the bootblack. ard the other on the
ground: Consequently. his boots and legs
are well defined, but he is without body or
head, because these were in motion.
The impressions Of interior views are
Rembrandt perfected. One of NJ. DIS
plates is an impression of a spider. The
spider was not bigger than thu head Of a
large pin; but the image, magnified by the
solar microscope to the size of the palm of
the hand, having been impressed on the
plate and examined through a lens, was
further magnified, and showed minute
ness Of organization hitherto not seen to
exist. You perceive how this discovery is.
therefore, about to open Few field of re-
search in the depths of microscopic ma
ture. We are soon to see if the minute
has discovered limits. The naturalist is to
have a new kingdom to explore, as much
beyond the microscope as the microscope
is beyond the naked eye.
But am near the end of my paper,
and 1 have unhappily to give a melan-
choiy close to my account Of this ingenious
discovery. M. Daguerre appointed yester-
day at noon to see my telegraph. He came
and passed more than an hour with me,
expressing himself highly gratified at its
operati ton. But while he was thus en-
pioyed. the great building of the Diorama,
with his own house, all his beautiful
works, his valuable notes and papers, the
labors of years of experiment, were, I'M
known to him, at that moment becoming
the pray of the flames. His secret, indeed.
is still safe with him, but the steps of his
progress in the discovery and his valu-
able researches in science are lost to the
scientific world. 1 learn that the Diorama
was insured, but to what extent 1 know
not. 1 am sure all friends of science and
Improvement will unite in expressing the
deepest sympathy in NJ. Daguerre's loss,
and the sincere hore that such a liberal
sum will be awarded him by his govern
nient shall enable him, in some degree,
at least, to recover from his loss