THE 



EDINBURGH NEW 

 PHILOSOPHICAL JOURNAL. 



OnBagtierreotype* By Andrew Fyfe, M.D.,F.R.S.E.,F.S.A., 

 &c. Communicated by the Society of Arts of Scotland. 



The intense degree of interest excited, a few months ago, 

 by the accounts of the different photographic processes, has 

 now given ^vay to that raised by the disclosure of Daguerreo- 

 type. Though by photography beautiful representations may 

 be obtained, yet, I believe, it is now generally allowed, that 

 it does not come up to our expectations in giving delineations 

 by the camera, with that degree of clearness and delicacy that 

 was anticipated. In this country, at least, I have never seen 

 designs taken by the camera of any value. This remark does 

 not, however, apply to Daguerreotype. High as our expecta- 

 tions were raised by the first accounts of it, now that the se- 

 cret is divulged, and that we have had opportunity of inspect- 

 ing specimens, 1 would say that the accounts given of it were 

 far from exaggerated— nay, that the delineations possess a 

 richness and delicacy beyond what the most sanguine had an- 

 ticipated. 



My object in making a few remarks on this interesting pro- 

 cess, is chiefly with the view of illustrating its rationale. 

 The subject is as yet in its infancy. No doubt numerous 

 improvements will, ere long, be suggested ; and nothing, I 

 conceive, is more likely to conduce to this than an accurate 

 knowledge of the rationale of every stage of the process. It 



* Delivered before the Society of Arts for Scotland on 15th January 1840- 

 VOL. XXVIir. NO. LVI, MAUCH 1840. P 



