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the photographic news Vol. VI. No. 190.—April 25, 1862. Norris informed us tl undertaken by the London Stereoscopic Company. We hope that some modification of the original conditions has been obtained. free nitrate, and that the quality of the plates was improved. We may state, however, in reference to the keeping properties of dry plates containing free nitrate, that Dr. Diamond in formed us the other day, that he had just opened a packet of dry plates which had been prepared by Messrs. Bland and Co. four or five years ago, and were found to be perfectly good. Mr. Bland has subsequently informed us, when speak ing of the fact, that the plates in question received no wash ing at all; but were coated with the preservative solution, consisting of gelatine with citric, acid, direct from the nitrate bath. Without offering further comment, we proceed to make some extracts from recent 'numbers of the Notes, in which Mr. Sutton develops his ideas of the correct principle upon which rapidity in dry processes should be based, and ex plains the details of formula: and manipulations :— “ The principle which we have followed in preparing these rapid dry plates, is that of a double coating, similar in character to albumenized collodion, but differing in some important points. For instance, in the process of Dr. Taupenot you are obliged to use a very thin collodion, greatly reduced by the his recent rapid dry plates. Nearly twelve months ago, Dr. hat he had succeeded in eliminating all MR. SUTTON ON RAPID DRY PROCESSES. Mb. Sutton has recently been giving considerable attention to the maturing of a rapid dry process ; the principle upon which he is working being somewhat similar to that announced by M. Roman last summer, in which a certain amount of free nitrate of silver was to be left in the film of a collodio-albumen plate. Unlike M. Roman, however, Mr. Sutton discards hot development. He says :—“ Whilst others have been varying the preservative, or using dry collodion without a preservative, or availing themselves of the assist ance of heat in development, we have been endeavouring to apply the principle of retaining some free nitrate in the film without allowing it to produce stains, or eat away the iodide, and the result is that our experiments have been crowned with success; and we have prepared rapid dry plates which have yielded excellent negatives with the same exposure as the best wet collodion.” As to the quality of the negatives he further desires to place on record that— “ We have succeeded in preparing rapid dry plates as sensi tive as the best wet collodion,—that these plates yield excellent. printing negatives, having clean lights and red blacks—that the film will bear the ordinary rough treatment of washing without being protected by varnished edges ; that it does not wrinkle or produce blisters; that the picture is quickly de veloped by means of a cold developer, consisting of pyrogallic acid with acetic acid and a few drops of nitrate of silver added; and that the principle on which these plates have been pre pared consists in using a suitable iodized collodion, in washing the excited film thoroughly from the silver bath in order to prevent stains, and in restoring the sensitiveness by means of fresh silver added to a suitable preservative, which never becomes absolutely dry and hard.” The only point upon which Mr. Sutton expresses any doubt is the keeping qualities of the plates, but bases a conviction that they will keep, upon the fact that the plates of Dr. Hill Norris keep well, and that they contain free nitrate of silver. This, however, Dr. Hill Norris denies of THE PHOTOGRAPHIC DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION. So far as we arc able to judge at the present moment, there will be no startling novelty in the English Photographic department at South Kensington. A respectable display of good photography, such as may usually be seen at the annual exhibition of the Society, will unquestionably be presented; but nothing more. Already, without the guidance of a catalogue, we recognise without difficulty the presence of many old favourites, in whose productions wet collodion and dry plates divide the honours. In the latter, 4s might be anticipated, the Manchester men take high rank ; and we recognise with pleasure, already well hung, the magnificent results obtained on collodio-albumen plates, by ch men as Mudd, Sidebotham, and Wardley. In wet follodion, nothing we have yet seen hung, surpasses the indscapes of Mr. Vernon Heath. Leiut.-Col. Stuart . ortley has some exquisite instantaneous views of the Bay of Naples, and Vesuvius in eruption, very similar in deli cacy of style to Mr. Vernon Heath’s pictures. Mr. Dixon riper exhibits some very perfect large pictures, amongst which are some very fine atmospheric effects. In portraiture the fine studies of Mr. D. 0. Hill, will attract much atten tion, as will also the subject pieces and genre pictures of Rejlander and Robinson. So far as we can judge at present the contributions of life-size pictures are not so numerous as might have been anticipated; as the hanging was but slightly advanced, however, on our last visit, it is impossible to speak with certainty. In the classification and arrangement on the walls, every care possible under the circumstances, is taken to give the best pictures the best positions, but as every foot of hanging space must be made available, it follows that some pictures must hang far above the line, and others below, whilst others must be used as they will best fit in or fill up. A staff of efficient and active operatives, accustomed to hanging, are engaged upon the work, under the superintendence of the Committee, who attend from eight in the morning to six in the evening, working with more than the energy of paid abourers. Since our last, some modification in the arrangements as 188Ards jurors in this department has been made. Of those "e before mentioned as appointed to that duty, two remain RDr, Diamond and M. Claudet. To these are added the lAmes of Professor Tyndall, Mr. Thurston Thompson, and Lord H. G. Lennox. Sir David Brewster now takes office m another department. Regarding the additional names we have little comment to make. No name stands higher 1,1 science, or will command more confidence and respect, plan that of Professor Tyndall. Mr. Thurston Thompson is one of the most accomplished photographers of the day, and although a professional photographer, is not engaged in any competitive relation to the majority of other pro fessional photographers; nevertheless, as he is a contributor to the Exhibition, we cannot but think there is some lack of propriety in the appointment. Of Lord Lennox’s photo graphic accomplishments we know nothing beyond the fact that he was a pupil of Mr. Thurston Thompson. A jury of five, however constituted, is necessarily more likely to give satisfaction than one of three; and although we cannot but think some men in whom photographers would have had more confidence might have been appointed, we trust that, on the whole, justice will be done. Ihe contract for photography in the building has been ones 1 a mod nstead 5 s colour mes. inquire, o as soot' ions artic e appeal* ■e to let* veral cau‘ obable ca" nth theP iade for}-' hite var used in" eans ofi» i benzol X varnis), y methol y. You ttle trou 3 Of civ se. 1M roductiot, • my P rtained en22g stion 1 e, and. lecided’ ■ corres? e '.lie decomp ' underp be albu 10 clear,, immer8 1>1>. 2172 riling w 2 (No." justa” would • i । r du ' that a Ct - ofpril e coll< not, 20 * th be fg ■pose, 23 f a posil. of protl of wate, ontinu} taking, he sho® i follo", ir, 1 00 devel0g for tlW» 1 wheP) insity"' discol) tthe^ I we 5 ves,a0 , wherel/ ‘nd mo .he a Ear - is stantad” j r,c2 ' 1 sei 1 sonr । rrdedv", argip*/ ative, eture"A iandcdf I
