Notices to Correspondents.
W. S. G. is thanked. We have not inserted the two Folk Lore articles he has sent, inasmuch as they are already recorded in Brand.
W. S. D. The saying "God tempers the wind to the shorn lamb," made so popular by its application to Sterne's "Maria," is from a French proverb "A brebis tondue Dieu mesure le vent," which, in a somewhat older form, is to be found in Gruter's Florilegium: Francfort, 1611, p. 353., and in St. Estienne's Premices, published in 1594.—See our 1st Vol., pp. 211. 236. 325. 357. 418.
C. M. I. We propose to insert some articles on Shakspeare in our next or following Number.
M. A. and J. L. S. are referred to our No. 172., p. 157.
Photography. Dr. Diamond's Photographic Notes are preparing for immediate publication in a separate form. We may take this opportunity of explaining that Dr. D. is only an amateur, and has nothing to do with Photography as a profession. We are the more anxious to make this known, since, in consequence of holding an important public office, Dr. Diamond has but little leisure for pursuing his researches.
J. B. S. will find what he requires at p. 277. of our last volume.
C. B. (Birmingham). If the hyposulphite of soda is not thoroughly removed from a Photograph, it will soon become covered with reddish spots, and in a short time the whole picture may disappear. If cyanide of potassium has been used, it is requisite that the greatest care should be used to effect its removal entirely.
W. L. (Liverpool). A meniscus lens of the diameter of four inches should have a focal length of twenty inches, and will produce perfect landscape pictures fourteen inches square. It is said they will cover fifteen inches; but fourteen they do with great definition. We strongly advise W. L. to purchase a good article. It is a bad economy not to go to a first-rate maker at once.
J. M. S. (Manchester). You will find, for a screen to use in the open air, that the white cotton you refer to will be far too light. "Linsey woolsey" forms an admirable screen, and by being left loose upon a stretcher it may be looped up so as to form drapery, &c. If you cannot depend upon the collodion you purchase in your city, pray use your ingenuity, and make some according to the formulary given in Vol. vi., p. 277., and you will be rewarded for your trouble.
C. E. F. The various applications to your bath which you have used have destroyed it in all probability past use. All solutions containing silver will precipitate it in the form of a white powder, upon the addition of common salt; and from this chloride the pure metal is again readily obtained. The collodion of some makers always acts in the manner you describe; and we have known it remedied by the addition of about one drachm of spirits of wine to the ounce of collodion. Spirits of wine also added to the nitrate bath—two drachms of spirits of wine to six ounces of the aqueous solution—is sometimes very beneficial. When collodion is inert, and the colour remains a pale milk and water blue after the immersion, a few drops of saturated solution of iodide of silver may be added, as it indicates a deficiency of the iodide. Should the collodion then be turbid, a small lump of iodide of potassium may be dropped into the bottle, which by agitation will soon effect a clearance; when this is done, the fluid may be poured off from the excess of iodide which remains undissolved.
Alex. Rae (Banff). You shall have a private reply at our earliest leisure. The questions you ask would almost comprise a Treatise on Photography.
H. N. (March 30th). 1st. You will find the opacity you complain of completely removed by the use of the amber varnish, as recommended by Dr. Diamond, unless it proceeds from light having acted generally upon your sensitive collodion in the bath, or during the time of its exposure in the camera; in which case there is no cure for it.—2ndly. A greater intensity in negatives will be produced without the nitric acid, but with an addition of more acetic acid the picture is more brown and never so agreeable as a positive. 3rd. The protonitrate of iron used pure produces a picture as delicate, and having all the brilliancy of a Daguerreotype, without its unpleasant metallic reflexion—the fine metal being deposited of a dead white; and combined with the pyrogallic acid solution in the proportion of one part to six or ten, produces pictures of a most agreeable ivory-like colour.—4th. The protonitrate of iron, when mixed with the pyrogallic acid solution, becomes of a fine violet blue; but after some minutes it darkens. It should only be mixed immediately before using. The colour of the protonitrate of iron will vary, even using the same chemicals. The cheap nitrate of barytes of commerce answers exceedingly well in most cases; but a finer silver surface is obtained by the use of the purified.—5th. We have generally succeeded in obtaining portraits in an ordinary room, the sitter being placed opposite and near the window: of course, a glass-house is much better, the roof of which should be of violet glass, ground on the inner side. This glass can be bought, made especially for the purpose, at 11d. the square foot. It obstructs no chemical rays of light, and is most pleasant to the eyes, causing no fatigue from the great body of light admitted.
A few compete sets of "Notes and Queries," Vols. i. to vi., price Three Guineas, may now be had; for which early application is desirable.
"Notes and Queries" is published at noon on Friday, so that the Country Booksellers may receive Copies in that night's parcels, and deliver them to their Subscribers on the Saturday.
A LITERARY CURIOSITY.—A Fac-simile of a very Remarkably Curious, Interesting, and Droll Newspaper of Charles II.'s Reign. Sent Free by Post on receipt of Three Postage Stamps.
J. H. FENNELL. 1. WARWICK COURT, HOLBORN, LONDON.
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PHOTOGRAPHY.—Collodion (Iodized with the Ammonio-Iodide of Silver).—J. B. HOCKIN & CO., Chemists, 289. Strand, were the first in England who published the application of this agent (see Athenæum, Aug. 14th). Their Collodion (price 9d. per oz.) retains its extraordinary sensitiveness, tenacity, and colour unimpaired for months: it may be exported to any climate, and the Iodizing Compound mixed as required. J. B. HOCKIN & CO. manufacture PURE CHEMICALS and all APPARATUS with the latest Improvements adapted for all the Photographic and Daguerreotype processes. Cameras for Developing in the open Country. GLASS BATHS adapted to any Camera. Lenses from the best Makers. Waxed and Iodized Papers, &c.
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Improved Apparatus for iodizing paper in vacuo, according to Mr. Stewart's instructions.
146. HOLBORN BARS.
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PHOTOGRAPHY.—HORNE & CO.'S Iodized Collodion, for obtaining Instantaneous Views, and Portraits in from three to thirty seconds, according to light.
Portraits obtained by the above, for delicacy of detail rival the choicest Daguerreotypes, specimens of which may be seen at their Establishment.
Also every description of Apparatus, Chemicals, &c. &c. used in this beautiful Art.—123. and 121. Newgate Street.
WESTERN LIFE ASSURANCE AND ANNUITY SOCIETY,
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Founded A.D. 1842.
Directors.
H. E. Bicknell, Esq.
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Specimens of Rates of Premium for Assuring 100l., with a Share in three-fourths of the Profits:—
| Age | £ | s. | d. |
| 17 | 1 | 14 | 4 |
| 22 | 1 | 18 | 8 |
| 27 | 2 | 4 | 5 |
| 32 | 2 | 10 | 8 |
| 37 | 2 | 18 | 6 |
| 42 | 3 | 8 | 2 |
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Now ready, price 10s. 6d., Second Edition, with material additions, INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENT and EMIGRATION; being a TREATISE on BENEFIT BUILDING SOCIETIES, and on the General Principles of Land Investment, exemplified in the Cases of Freehold Land Societies, Building Companies, &c. With a Mathematical Appendix on Compound Interest and Life Assurance. By ARTHUR SCRATCHLEY, M.A., Actuary to the Western Life Assurance Society, 3. Parliament Street, London.
ESTABLISHED 1841.