PICTURES DRAWN BY THE SUN. 50 



light and shade, and every line of the scene, is 

 exhibited with an accuracy to which no painter 

 has, nor can attain. This invention is called 

 the Talbotype. Thus the researches of modern 

 science have enabled us to press the sunbeam 

 into our service as an artist more speedy in 

 execution, and more admirably accurate in its 

 productions than the most skilful of men. 

 Nature's own pencil is now employed to depict 

 itself the fairest landscape imprints its own 

 image upon the enduring surfaces of metal or 

 paper ; the most minute points of detail are 

 thus indelibly preserved to us, and the wanderer 

 in foreign climes needs little exertion of his own 

 to store his portfolio with pictures drawn by 

 the sun, which on his return may often serve to 

 bring to his recollection scenes and objects far 

 distant then. An important improvement has 

 recently taken place in the photographic art, in 

 the substitution of plates of glass for sheets of 

 paper. The pictures thus obtained are ex- 

 tremely beautiful. At Greenwich a great num- 

 ber of the various observations are self-regis- 

 tered by employing the actinic power of light. 

 The details are too complicated to be easily 

 undetood ; this application, however, is chiefly 

 made in the case of the magnetical observations 

 by little mirrors placed upon the needles, which 

 reflect the light of a lamp on to a sheet of pre- 



