17^ 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



[No. 252. 



Although I have not j^et had the theory put into prac- 

 tice, I have consulted a maker of cameras of great expe- 

 rience (Mr. Ottewill), who has pointed out a way of 

 getting over one or two mechanical difficulties in the 

 ■way of making the body of the camera a folding one ; 

 and the onh' serious objection which I have heard from 

 any practical photographic friend, namely, that the slides 

 •will be exposed all day to the action of light and heat, 

 ■which may affect the paper contained in them, may 

 readily be got over by having a small covering of white 

 satin or flannel to throw over the body of the camera. 

 This form of camera is clearly best calculated for a long- 

 focus lens; but it is obvious the sides may be longer than 

 the focus of the camera, provided the groove for the in- 

 sertion of the focussing glass and dark frame be suitably 

 adjusted. There is no reason why this should be at the 

 extreme end of the camera ; it may be at twe-thirds of 

 its length, or any other point best suited to the lens. 



I should not have thrown out this idea until it had been 

 brought into practice, but that I felt, if it was likely to 

 prove useful, the sooner it was published the better, for 

 the sake of those who, like myself, were dissatisfied with 

 the present mode of shifting papers, and for the sake of 

 eliciting any hints calculated to improve it. 



William J. Thoms. 



Photographic Queries, with Replies. — 1. Would you 

 kindly tell me how much of the amber varnish Dk. 

 Diamond puts into his collodion ? It is a great improve- 

 ment, but I want to know the best proportion. 



2. I have tried Dk. Diamond's last formula for iodizing 

 collodion, but cannot get the iodide of potassium to dis- 

 solve in sufficient quantity in my spirit of wine. I have 

 tried all the spirit to be had in Bombay, but the result is 

 the same. Can you tell me the proper degree over proof 

 required? Mine may be too strong, it is about 50°. 



3. Can the pyro-galiic solution for collodion negatives 

 be used over and over again, or must it be fresh for each 

 plate? 



4. I send a piece of wax paper, to ask if you can tell 

 the cause of these immovable brown spots coming over it? 

 I have done hundreds of negatives, many of them beauti- 

 ful in other respects, but spoiled from this defect alone. 

 I think the wax paper iodide does not keep well, and 

 that the only plan is to prepare it for one's self. What 

 recipe do you approve of most? Crook's is very simple, 

 but I cannot keep the light clear. Besides the spots, 

 what else is the matter with the negative on the paper I 

 Bend ? A Constant Reader. 



Bombay, June 30, 1854. 



[1. About five drops to the ounce. More is apt to 

 make the collodion tender. 



2. In all probability you are right in supposing the 

 spirit to be too strong. However, it is a rare thing not 

 to be able to obtain a sufficientlj' strong iodide of potas- 

 sium. In making the collodion, it should be tested by 

 dipping a plate of glass, coated with it, into the nitrate of 

 silver bath, so as to ascertain the quantity of iodide. 



3. The pyrogallic solution must always be fresh. It is 

 always better when fresh made. 



4. 'Probably the heat of the climate has affected the 

 ■wax paper. We have seen some admirable results of the 

 process recommended by Mr. Howe in "N. & Q." — 

 Ed. «N. &Q."] 



HejiItcS to fSiiwat cauerfcj*. 



Mr. Jehjlland the " Tears of the Cruets" (Vol. x., 

 p. 125.). — I find that I copied this squib from the 

 Morning Chronicle, at the time it -was published. 



I have not the date ; but from the reference to 

 Lord Melville, and Mr. Trotter, and the " Tenth 

 Report," it must have been about 1806. If your 

 readers enjoy fun as much as I do, although a 

 sexagenarian, they ■will thank me for sending you 

 a copy. 



"the tears of the orewets, 



On. taxing Salt and Vinegar. 



Two sulky Salt-cellars contriv'd to meet 



A pensive Pepper-box in Downing Street, 



And these conven'd in factious consultation 



The motley Crewtts of administration. 



Old Melville's Mustard-pot refus'd to come, 



Haggis and Trotters kept him safe at home j 



Pitt's peevish Vinegar made no delay, 



Nor the smooth, tasteless Oil of Casllereagh ; 



The Sugar-caster Wilberforce supplied. 



And preach'd, like Pollux, by his Castor's side ; 



Much Salt complain'd, much Vinegar depior'd 



The tax that forc'd them from the pauper's board, 



Much curs'd the country gentlemen, whose bags 



Shrunk at the taxing of the farmers' nags; 



Who left poor Vinegar, like Mum and Malt, 



To share the grievances endur'd by Salt — 



Not Attic Salt; — for Billy Pitt they knew 



Had not an ounce of that 'mong all his crew ; 



Curs'd old George Rose, who stated from his book 



How little salt his Hampshire bacon took; 



Salt to his porridge George had got before. 



Nor car'd what suff 'rings public porridge bore. 



'What honest, humble Sauce can long enjoy 



His fair security? ' cried gloomy Soi/ ; 



' Catsup may chance escape the luckless hour, 



So many Mushrooms now have place and power; 



Finance's petty-fogging, pickling ydan 



May strike at'Onions and excise Kian, 



While stamos and annual licence must be got 



For all who relish garlick and chalot. 



Poor Bario Vallel melancholy Burgess! 



Victims of Pitt, of Huskisson, and Sturges! 



Ah ! look not sour, for Pitt, serene and placid. 



May tax sour looks, that universal acid ; 



Ah ! drop no tear, for Billy wo'n't relax, 



And tears are salt, and liable to tax.' 



So wail'd the Crewets till the meeting clos'd ; 



This resolution Salt at last propos'd. 



That Vinegar and he should jointly sport 



A new sauce piquante for the ' Tenth Report.' " 



D. S. 



''Coaches'' (Vol. vi., p. 98.; Vol. x., p.52.).— 

 The song referred to will be found in Fairburn's 

 Universal Songster (Lond. 1826), vol. ii. p. 215. 

 It was composed by Collins, is entitled "Paddy 

 Bull's Expedition," and is sung to the tune of the 

 Irish melody Old Langolee. F. 



Patrick Carey (Vol. viii., p. 406.). — In a letter 

 from Jolm Ashburnham to a l.idy of title (whose 

 name does not occur), which is preserved amongst 

 Thurloe's papers in the Bodleian Library, vol. ii. 

 f. 503., but not printed in Birch's collection, there 

 is the following notice of this little-known member 

 of the Falkland family. The letter is dated No- 

 vember 27, 1652 : 



« What vou finde in Mr. Harvey his letter concerning 

 Mr. Patrick Carey (the late Lord Falkland's brother) is 



