1900.] Pictorial Historic Becordg. 325 



WEEKLY EVENING MEETING, 



Friday, March 16, 1900. 



Sir James Crichton-Browne, M.D. LL.D. F.E.S., Treasurer 

 and Vice-President, in the Chair. 



Sir Benjamin Stone, M.P. 



Pictorial Historic Becords. 



In historical documents pictorial delineation of events is probably 

 the most valuable means of preserving the truest record of passing 

 and changing scenes. Mauy ancient drawings and engravings of the 

 crudest character have been invaluable to the historian, as conveying 

 more accurately to the mind the subjects of illustration than any 

 amount of literary description could do, and we are indebted to artists 

 of former times for presenting to us scenes which we could not 

 possibly have re-created from merely word description. 



It is true that imagination and artistic instincts have frequently 

 transmitted to us exaggerated and distorted representations of what 

 was actually seen, but, at the same time, it has not infrequently been 

 the case that the most patient efforts have been concentrated on 

 minute details, which are most usefully instructive. In estimating 

 the value of such work, it only provokes the regret that drawings of 

 even this unfinished character are not more generally available. 



In recent years the science of photography has come to the aid of 

 the historian, and this ready means of record is now in evidence in 

 all directions. Since the discovery of permanent processes the value 

 of photographic pictures has been increasingly apparent, and the need 

 of well-directed efforts for securing reliable and trustworthy present- 

 ments of objects and events becomes more and more apparent, especially 

 when one sees around such a wasteful expenditure of effort and realises 

 the need of systematic collection and preservation. 



But a few years since, labour and money devoted to the collection 

 of photographs for historical purposes — owing to their perishable 

 qualities — had a most disappointing return ; this is evidenced in 

 many minor collections made for special reasons, in which the pictures 

 are seen to be fading although possibly in careful keeping. 



It has been only recently that the reproduction of photographs in 

 carbon, in platinotype and by mechanical printing processes, has 

 justified the hope and expectation of comparative per.manency (that 

 is, as permanent as the nature of the paper upon which the pictures 

 are printed will permit), and which would encourage expenditure in 

 forming an important collection. That public opinion is now in 

 favour of making such collections is clearly shown from the interest 



