Part 5

What, then, becomes of the expired carbon? The professional ventilationists say it _ascends_, and they provide mechanically, but not scientifically, accordingly. On the contrary, it finally _descends_; and this is the reason why our beds are always a few feet above the floor. If proof is needed, it may be found by applying a candle to the door, slightly ajar, of a room occupied by a few persons, when it will be found that the flame of the candle will point, when held at the lower part of the door, outwards, and at the upper part of the door inwards, showing how the currents of air pass; and as every one knows carbon to be heavier than air, the lower current is the one charged with carbon. The _Grotto del Cane_ derives its name from the fact, that a dog passing the stream of carbon issuing from the fissure in the rock, dies; whilst a man walking erect, with his mouth above the stream of carbon, escapes. Our lime-kilns furnish a common example of the fact of the density of carbon compared with atmospheric air. Experiments in proof are constantly exhibited in chemical lectures.

The practical inference, _experto crede_, is that holes in the skirting-boards should be made so as to draw off the foul air, whilst the angelic visits of pure air should be sought from above. Bellows, such as are used in diving-bells, with hot or cold air, might be necessary in an extreme case--long debates in the Commons, for example,--which may require extraordinary ventilation.

T. J. BUCKTON.

Lichfield.

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PHOTOGRAPHIC CORRESPONDENCE.

_History of Photographic Discovery._--Without entirely agreeing with the opinion expressed to us a few days since, by an eminent scholar and most original thinker, that photography was destined to change the face of the whole world; we have little doubt it is destined to produce some striking social effects. Its history is, therefore, an interesting one, and the following extract from a paper "On some early Experiments in Photography, being the substance of a Letter addressed to Robert Hunt, Esq., by the Rev. J. B. Reade, M.A., F.R.S.," from the _Philosophical Magazine_ for May, 1854, seems, in that point of view, so important, that we have transferred it to "N. & Q."

"I may assume that you are already aware, from my letter to Mr. Brayley of March 9, 1839, and published in the _British Review_ for August, 1847, that the principal agents I employed, before Mr. Talbot's processes were known, were infusion of galls as an accelerator, and hyposulphite of soda as a fixer.

"I have no doubt, though I have not a distinct recollection of the fact, that I was led to use the infusion of galls from my knowledge of the early experiments by Wedgwood. I was aware that he found _leather_ more sensitive than _paper_; and it is highly probable that the tanning process, which might cause the silver {525} solution to be more readily acted upon when applied to the leather, suggested my application of the tanning solution to paper.

"In your own history of the photographic process," says Mr. Reade, addressing Mr. Hunt, "you say, 'the discovery of the extraordinary property of the gallic acid in increasing the sensibility of the iodide of silver was the most valuable of the numerous contributions which Mr. Talbot has made to the photographic art.' It is nevertheless true, as stated by Sir David Brewster, that 'the first public use of the infusion of nut-galls, which is an _essential element_ in Mr. Talbot's patented process, is due to Mr. Reade;' and in my letter to Mr. Brayley I attribute the sensitiveness of my process to the formation of a gallate or tannate of silver. I need scarcely say, that among various experiments I tried gallic and tannic acid in their pure state, both separately and mixed; but the colour of the pictures thus obtained with the solar microscope was at that time less pleasing to my eye, than the rich warm tone which the same acids produced when in their natural connexion with solutions of vegetable matter in the gall-nut. This organic combination, however, was more effective with the solar microscope than with the camera, though the lenses of my camera were five inches in diameter. It is probable enough that the richer tone was due to the greater energy of direct solar rays. In using the solar microscope, I employed a combination of lenses which produced a convergence of the luminous and photogenic rays, together with a dispersion of the calorific rays, and the consequent absence of all sensible heat enabled me to use Ross's cemented powers, and to make drawings of objects inclosed in Canada balsam, and of living animalcules in single drops of water. The method I employed was communicated to the Royal Society in December, 1836, and a notice of it is contained in the 'Abstracts.'

"You inform me that some persons doubt whether I really obtain _gallate of silver_ when using an infusion of gall-nuts, and that one of Mr. Talbot's friends raises the question. It is sufficient to reply, that though gallic acid is largely formed by a long exposure of an infusion of gall-nuts to the atmosphere, as first proposed by Scheele, yet this acid does exist in the gall-nut in its natural state, and in a sufficient quantity to form gallate of silver as a photogenic agent; for M. Deyeux observes, that 'when heat is very slowly applied to powdered gall-nuts, gallic acid sublimes from them, a part of which, when the process is conducted with great care, appears in the form of small white crystals.' M. Fiedler also obtained gallic acid by mixing together a solution of gall-nuts and pure alumina, which latter combines with the tannin and leaves the gallic acid free in the solution; and this solution is found, on experiment, to produce very admirable pictures. But what is more to the point, Mr. Brayley, in explaining my process in his lectures, showed experimentally how gallate of silver was formed, and confirmed my view of the sensitiveness of the preparation. It is therefore certain that the use of gallate of silver as a photogenic agent had been made public in two lectures by Mr. Brayley at least two years before Mr. Talbot's patent was sealed.

"I employed hyposulphite of soda as a fixer. Mr. Hodgson, an able practical chemist at Apothecaries' Hall, assisted me in the preparation of this salt, which at that time was probably not be found, as an article of sale, in any chemist's shop in London. Sir John Herschel had previously announced the peculiar action of this preparation of soda on salts of silver, but I believe that I was the first to use it in the processes of photography. I also used iodide of potassium, as appears from my letter, as a fixer, and I employed it as well to form iodide of lead on glazed cards as an accelerator. Iodide of lead has of itself, as I form it, considerable photographic properties, and receives very fair impressions of plants, lace, and drawings when placed upon it, but with the addition of nitrate of silver and the infusion of galls the operation is perfect and instantaneous. Pictures thus taken were exhibited at the Royal Society before Mr. Talbot proposed his iodized paper. The microscopic photographs exhibited at Lord Northampton's in 1839 remained in his lordship's possession. I subsequently made drawings of sections of teeth; and one of them, a longitudinal section of a tooth of the _Lamna_, was copied on zinc by Mr. Lens Aldous for Owen's 'Odontography.' I may say this much as to my own approximation to an art, which has deservedly and by universal consent obtained the name of Talbotype."

_Photographic Cautions._--Diffused light being one of the most common causes of photographic failures, I beg to call the attention of your readers to the construction of their cameras. Working with a friend, and taking the same localities, using the same paper and chemicals, his pictures have proved comparative failures, a general browning pervading the whole, evidently the effect of light. Every inspection failed to discover it, until the mode was adopted of putting one of the paper-holders in its position as for taking a picture, then removing the lens, and, with the aid of the focussing-bag, looking through the hole where the lens is applied, when light became visible in many spaces, entirely accounting for these failures. As many such cameras are now becoming made upon the same sliding construction, every one should test his apparatus before he commences, for such a one is entirely useless. Lately also the glass corners for collodion plate-holders in the dark slides, have been by some makers replaced by a sort of silver _looking_ wire, but possessing little of that metal. The most minute portion of the copper in this wire coming in contact with the excited collodion, produces a decomposition sufficient to spoil any picture. These may appear trivial things to "make a note of," but as they have caused much vexation to one who has had some photographic experience, they may still more perplex a novice; and as you have done so much towards making the science plain, I hope you will give them space in your forthcoming Number.

LUX IN CAMERA.

_A Query respecting Collodion._--I have been making some collodion by Mr. Tery's process, and have iodized it with a very sensitive medium. The collodion is very clear and properly diluted. The ether I used had a very powerful smell of sulphur, and was likewise very strong and volatile. I diluted it with an equal {526} volume of alcohol. The ether was then still very strong. The cotton dissolved freely. On mixing the iodizing medium, the colour of the collodion turns immediately to nearly a port-wine colour, but still remains very clear. I obtain a very good film of iodide of silver from the bath, but cannot produce a picture under five or seven minutes, whereas with the same lens, and the same iodizing medium, viz.

Alcohol 8 drms. Iodide of potassium 8 grs. Iodide of ammonium 4 grs. Iodide of silver ½ gr.

I have obtained beautiful pictures in less than one second with collodion prepared by the same (Archer's) process. As I have made a quantity of it, and am unwilling it should be wasted, I have taken the liberty of asking your opinion on the subject. Do you think the collodion is too new, or the ether not good? On pouring the developing solution on the plate (protosulphate of iron), the plate has the appearance of having ink poured on it; but this appearance is removed on the application of the hyposulphite of soda, and the plate remains as clear as when it was taken from the nitrate of silver bath.

J. COOK.

_The Céroléine Process._--Have any of your photographic correspondents made such experiments on the céroléine process as to enable them to communicate the results to "N. & Q."?

Is Mr. Crooke's process for preserving the sensitiveness of collodion applicable to all collodions? If not, what collodion is best suited for it?

SILEX.

_Mr. Fox Talbot's Patents._---The injunction moved for by Mr. Fox Talbot, as reported in _The Times_ of Saturday last, reminds us of a Query which we have been sometimes asked, and which may just now be brought forward with advantage, namely: If Mr. Talbot's patents extend to the collodion process, how comes it that the earliest practisers of the collodion art had to make their own researches? We know one skilful photographer whose experiments were so extensive before he made any tolerable pictures, that his spoiled glass and cuttings were more than a man could lift.

* * * * *

Replies to Minor Queries.

_The Olympic Plain_ (Vol. ix., p. 270.).--I have just seen, in examining the contents of a German periodical, that in May, 1853, a proposal was submitted to the public by Professor Ross, of the University of Halle, for setting on foot a subscription to defray the expense of making excavations in Olympia, thus anticipating, by nearly a year, a recent suggestion to the same effect in "N. & Q." Professor Ross expatiates at considerable length (see _Jahrbücher für Philologie und Pädagogik_, vol. lxviii. p. 203.) on the advantages to be derived, as regards the arts, the literature, and the history of Greece, from the exploration of so celebrated a spot; but, notwithstanding all his arguments and eloquence, the amount of the subscriptions, after the lapse of nine months, only amounted, in February, 1854, to about 38l. As this sum was so utterly inadequate for the object intended, it was resolved to devote it to excavations in Mykenæ. Professor Ross takes occasion to pay a high tribute of praise to Lord Aberdeen, for the service rendered by his Lordship in discovering the treasury at Mykenæ. The facilities at Olympia for carrying on excavations are stated by Professor Ross to be very great. It is but a few miles distant from the sea, on the banks of a navigable river, and opposite to the very populous island of Zante; so that workmen, and means, and helps of all kinds can easily be procured. It was intended to give the superintendence of the excavations to Professor Alexander Rizo Rangabe, of the University of Athens, who was to be supplied with an adequate staff of artists, &c. Whatever discoveries might be made, were to become the property of the Greek nation. Travellers were to be permitted to visit the excavations during their progress, and to see all that was going on; and it was thought that a considerable number might be attracted to the spot, as the Austrian steamers convey passengers weekly in three or four days from Trieste to the western coast of the Morea.

J. MACRAY.

_Encyclopædia of Indexes, or Table of Contents_ (Vol. ix., p. 371.).--Your correspondent THINKS I TO MYSELF inquires respecting the desirableness and practicability of forming an "Encyclopædia of Indexes, or Tables of Contents." It was to meet this want (which is very commonly felt) that the publication of the _Cyclopædia Bibliographica_ was undertaken. The work has met your approval, and I have the pleasure of announcing that the volume will be completed on June 1. I think it will meet the desire of your correspondent and many others, who, "in reading up on any subject, wish to know whether any author treats upon it, without being obliged to examine his works, at a great expense of time and labour."

JAMES DARLING.

"_One New Year's Day_" (Vol. ix., p. 467.).--The lines quoted by MR. SKYRING are the opening lines of an old ballad, entitled "Richard of Taunton Dean, or Dumble Dum Deary." It may be found in _Ancient Poems, Ballads, and Songs of the Peasantry of England_, edited (for the Percy Society) by J. H. Dixon, Esq., who says:

"This song is very popular with the country people in every part of England, but more particularly so with the inhabitants of Somerset, Devon, and Cornwall. There are many different versions."

In the notes to his volume, Mr. Dixon mentions two Irish versions of this ballad, communicated to him by T. C. Croker, Esq., one of which, entitled "Last New Year's Day," is almost _verbatim_ with {527} the English ballad. The other version (which is given by Mr. D.) is entitled "Dicky of Ballyman."

J. K. R. W.

[This reference renders it unnecessary to insert the versions kindly supplied by E. L. H. and J. A.]

_Unregistered Proverbs_ (Vol. ix., p. 235.).--The following I find among the poor parishioners of Tor-Mohun in Devonshire, and they were new to me. In answer to some remarks of mine on the necessary infirmities of old age, one of them replied, "You cannot have two forenoons in the same day." And on another occasion, in answer to my saying that something _ought_ to be done, although it was not, there came, "_Oughts_ are nothings unless they've strokes to them."

WM. FRASER, B.C.L.

_Orange Blossoms_ (Vol. viii., p. 341.; Vol. ix., p. 386.).--I have seen it stated that the use of these flowers at bridals was derived from the Saracens, or at least from the East, and that they were thus employed as emblems of fecundity.

WM. FRASER, B.C.L.

_Peculiar Use of the Word "Pure"_ (Vol. viii., p. 125.).--Your correspondent is evidently not a Gloucestershire man. The word _pure_ is commonly used in that county to express being in good health. I remember an amusing instance, which occurred many years ago. A gentleman, a friend of mine, who resided in an establishment where young ladies were educated, was met one day by an honest farmer; who, after inquiring kindly for his own health, said with equal good nature and simplicity, "I hope, Zur, the ladies be all _pure_."

GLOUCESTRENSIS.

_Worm in Books_ (Vol. viii., p. 412.).--ALETHIS is presented with the following recipe from a very curious old French book of receipts and secrets for everything connected with arts and trades. Put some powdered colocynth into a phial, and cover the mouth with parchment pierced with holes. With this the books should be powdered, and from time to time beaten to drive out the powder, when the same process must be repeated.

F. C. H.

_Chapel Sunday_ (Vol. vii., p. 527.).--Not having received an answer to my Query of the origin of the celebration of Chapel Sunday in the Lake district, I would venture a surmise which some Cumbrian antiquary will perhaps correct, if wrong. I take it to be the day in honour of the patron saint of the chapel: and now, when such festivals are little observed, it has been changed to the nearest Sunday. In this thinly populated district, and where, from its mountainous and rugged character, travelling before the formation of the present good roads was neither agreeable nor (probably) safe, "at chapel" was the only time many of the inhabitants saw each other. Meeting, therefore, on so auspicious a day as that of the patron saint, might in "merrie time" of old induce a little festivity.

PRESTONIENSIS.

_Bishop Inglis of Nova Scotia_ (Vol. vii., p. 263.).--According to a short biography in the _Documentary History of New York_, vol. iii. p. 1066., this prelate was born A.D. 1734. His birth-place is not mentioned. Some letters and other writings by him may be found in the fourth volume of the same work.

UNEDA.

Philadelphia.

_Gutta Percha made soluble_ (Vol. ix., p. 350.).--E. B. can procure at any chemist's establishment a solution of gutta percha in chloroform, which may answer the purpose required by him. It is used by medical men as a dressing for abrasion in the skin of bed-ridden persons, and is applied with a camel's-hair brush. It hardens on being applied, and produces an artificial skin, which saves the patient from farther suffering in the place to which it has been applied.

EXPERTO CREDE.

Naphtha will render gutta percha soluble; and if needed to be used as a varnish, it is only necessary to make a solution in a closed vessel, and apply it with a brush. The naphtha will evaporate and leave a thin coating of firmly-adhering gutta percha behind.

SHIRLEY HIBBERD.

_Impe_ (Vol. viii., pp. 443. 623.).--This epithet has been much discussed, but I think that no reference has been made to the following remarkable instances of its application.

In the Beauchamp Chapel at St. Mary's Warwick is the altar-tomb and effigy of the infant son of Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, with a long inscription, which begins:

"Heere resteth the body of the noble impe Robert of Dudley, Baronet of Denbigh, sonne of Robert, Erle of Leycester, nephew and heire unto Ambrose, Erle of Warwike."

In a letter from Edinburgh, dated 5th November, 1578, John Aleyn to the Bishop of Carlisle, writes of "the goodly young Imp their King," who was afterwards our James I.; and the Earl of Shrewsbury in 1585 writes of "my wife and her imps," the lady being his energetic Countess Elizabeth Hardwick, widow of Sir William Cavendish. (See Lodge's _Illustrations of British History_, vol. ii. pp. 135. 275.)

R. A.

Melford.

"_Bothy_" (Vol. ix., p. 305.).--For a very complete account of "the Bothy system" in Scotland, see the able and interesting pamphlet of the Rev. Harry Stuart: _Agricultural Labourers as they were, are, and should be_ (Blackwood).

W. C. TREVELYAN.

{528}

_Work on Ants_ (Vol. ix., p. 303.).--I presume that the work for which [Sigma]. inquires is, _Recherches sur les Moeurs des Fourmis indigènes_, par P. Huber, Paris, 1810.[7]

[Greek: Halieus.]

Dublin.

[Footnote 7: [Our correspondent [Sigma]. begs us to acknowledge the favour of the communication of [Greek: Halieus], but his inquiry "on the habits of ants" is by an author, a M. Hauhart, and of a much later date than Huber's. He is informed it is to be found in the Transactions of the University of Basle in Switzerland, published with this title, _Die Zeitschrift der Basler Hochschule_, 1825, p. 62; but he has not been successful in obtaining a sight of that work.]]

_Jacobite Garters_ (Vol. viii., p. 586.).--I have lately seen a watch-ribbon, or perhaps garter, with a Jacobite inscription in white letters somewhat like that described by E. L. J., but only about half the length. The middle stripe was red between two blue ones, and yellow edges; there was no attempt at a plaid. The owner had no tradition about it, as connected with any particular incident in Prince Charles' career.

P. P.

"_The Three Pigeons_" (Vol. ix., p. 423.).--I think Washington Irving, in his _Life of Goldsmith_, satisfactorily explains the origin of the song in _She Stoops to Conquer_, which your correspondent G. TAYLOR supposes was suggested by the inn at Brentford, mentioned by DR. RIMBAULT. The American biographer says that Goldsmith and his companion Bryanton

"Got up a country club at the inn at Ballymahon, of which Goldsmith soon became the oracle and prime wit; astonishing his unlettered associates by his learning, and being considered capital at a song and story. From the rustic conviviality of the inn at Ballymahon, and the company which used to assemble there, it is surmised that he took some hints in afterlife for his picturing of Tony Lumpkin and his associates, 'Dick Muggins the exciseman, Jack Slang the horse doctor, Little Aminadab that grinds the music-box, and Tom Twist that spins the pewter-platter.' Nay, it is thought that Tony's drinking-song at the 'Three Jolly Pigeons' was but a revival of one of the convivial catches at Ballymahon."

And the author farther remarks, that

"Though Goldsmith ultimately rose to associate with birds of a finer feather, his heart would still yearn in secret after the 'Three Jolly Pigeons.'"

If this be correct, as it most likely is, the song referred to, and the scene it illustrates, were not suggested by the inn at Brentford.

B. M.

Philadelphia.

The alehouse situate at Lishoy in Ireland, where Goldsmith's father was vicar, was, no doubt, "The Three Pigeons" of _She Stoops to Conquer_. There is a sketch of it in the _Tourist's Handbook for Ireland_, p. 175. The author refers to Mr. John Forster's _Life of Goldsmith_, which I have not at hand.

THOMPSON COOPER.

Cambridge.

_Corporation Enactments_ (Vol. ix., p. 300.).--It is an easy, but generally an unsafe thing to quote from quotations. ABHBA should have referred to _The Dublin Penny Journal_, vol. i. p. 226., for his extracts from the Town Books of the Corporation of Youghal, co. Cork; and, even then, might have made farther reference to Crofton Croker's _Researches in the South of Ireland_, p. 160., whence the paragraph (unacknowledged) was introduced into _The Dublin Penny Journal_. Mr. Croker, moreover, fell into error with respect to the dates of these curious enactments, which were long antecedent to 1680 and 1703. I have seen them in the original (Book A), and vouch for the accuracy of the subjoined:

"1613-14. Thomas Geoffry made a freeman (being a barber), on condition that he should trim every freeman for sixpence per ann.

"1622. John Bayly made free, on condition to dress the dinners of the several Mayors."