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338 THE PHOTOGRAPHIC NEWS. [July 18,1862. cessful perseverance in the path of photographic discovery, invention, and application to the arts, should claim a fore most place. M. Joubert, whose name is honourably familiar to photographers, in connection with his process of photo graphic enamelling on glass, and with his method of carbon printing, known as the phototype process, exhibits fine specimens of both these inventions, as well as some excellent portrait photographs; but his name is not referred to in the award at all, neither with a medal nor honourable mention! It may be suggested that the jurors have perhaps avoided honouring secret or patented processes; but this is not the fact, since numbers of such receive medals. We could point to many more omissions, and to many which receive ho nourable mention only, which, not our opinion only, but that of the photographic public generally, would place in the very highest position. The task would be, however, an invidious one, and we forbear. In other departments, we believe still more injustice has been done, and protest has been followed by a rectification upon the score, alleged, of misprint in the list of awards ! It is possible that some in Class XIV. may be in that position, and may yet be set right. We turn with pleasure from this part of the subject to glance at that in which we can cordially endorse the decision of the jurors. We notice that good instantaneous photo graphy has in all cases obtained recognition. The London Stereoscopic Company a medal for Mr. England’s beautiful instantaneous stereoscopic slides, those of Paris receiving especial mention; Mr. Wilson a medal for his charming pictures of clouds, waves, shipping, &c.; Mr. Breese, a medal for his exquisite transparencies; M. Warnod a medal for his large and unsurpassed cloud, water, and shipping scenes. Mr. Blanchard’s instantaneous slides have obtained honourable mention : these we consider more worthy of a medal than some which have obtained it; but, as implying a distinction between the instantaneous productions of a younger experimentalist in this interesting branch of the art, and those of veterans in its practice, we do not complain of the award. We feel especial pleasure in Mr. Breese’s medal, inasmuch as it endorses our strongly expressed con viction of the very great excellence of his pictures generally, when we first called public attention to them twelve months ago, and it also tacitly accepts as a fact the moonlight photo graphy about which so much cavil has been made. We may mention here a statement by the superintendent of the de partment, that the enquiries made regarding these pictures by the public, are forty to one more numerous than about any others. The names of the majority of the established and recognised favourites of the photographic public appear cither amongst the medalists, orthose obtaining honourable mention, although, as we have said, wo regret to miss some, and are surprised to see the name of one or two amongst their superiors. We may here mention that, in many instances, we have heard much dissatisfaction expressed with the award of " honourable mention” as being worse than nothing, im plying comparison, and confessed inferiority, being in short “ second best.” It should be borne in mind, however, that, as but one class of medals existed, and all could not receive them, honourable mention was the only further distinction available, and does imply superiority ; so far as the awards are valuable at all, honourable mention is worth having, and implies that the contributions had too much merit to be passed without recognition. The distribution of medals is yet to come, and may be expected in about six weeks we believe, when it is not improbable it will be the subject of another ceremony. The medals are of bronze, about two inches and a half in dia meter, and are fitted with a morocco case. In about the same time we believe, as the distribution, or shortly after, the Reports of jurors will be published. These, it is pro bable, will be more interesting than the awards, and may possibly do something to dispel the anomalies which now appear to exist. We shall look with interest for that relating to photography, as we know it is in able and honour able hands. In the ceremonial of. last Friday, photography "8 represented by Dr. Diamond, M. Claudet, and Mr. Thurston Thompson, as jurors; and by Messrs. R. Fenton, T. E Williams, II. White, and H. P. Robinson, as a committee to receive the awards. The names of the Lord Chief Barol as chairman, and of Mr. Bedford and Mr. Kater, as members of the committee, were also mentioned in the programme of the ceremonial, but only the gentlemen we have named were present. THE AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHIC ASSOCIATION- We have pleasure in calling the attention of our readers to the fact recorded in another column, that His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales has recently consented to become president of this association. We are glad to record an act which indicates that the Prince is treading in the steps of his lamented royal father, not only as a patron of science and art generally, but of our own art especially. We rejoice, moreover, that his countenance is given to an association which will, we believe, do good work in photo graphy. As our readers may remember when we first called attention to this organization, a little more than twelve months ago, we were not very enthusiastic as to its success- We knew many of the difficulties in the way, and we were, moreover, somewhat jealous of anything which might easily become a trading scheme, under the guise of a society or association. We are glad to say, however, that so far as we have been able to observe, and we have kep* our eye on its movements, the association has not only been successful, but in every way trustworthy and praiseworthy in its operations. The object with which it was established, appears to have been thoroughly accomplished. An addi tional impetus has been given to the operations of a large number of amateurs, the first love revived, and the waning zeal of many being quickened, by finding a public fortheir productions, and an extensive system of exchange estab lished. And all this has been effected, we arc happy to believe, without any interference with the progress or success of the regular trade and professional practice of photo- graphy. ■ Of the excellence of many of the pictures brought out by the association we have before spoken; many of them are to be seen at the International Exhibition, where we are happl to announce, they have secured the highest honour, having obtained a medal. We cannot conclude this very brid notice of the meritorious progress of the association, withow referring to the untiring activity, uniform courtesy, and uD flagging zeal of its secretary, Mr. Arthur Melhuish, who bos succeeded in a manner worthy of the highest acknowledge ment in separating a trade connection with the association, in being a member of the firm to whom is secured its printing, from that of the ever-ready and valuable honorary secretary, in which capacity he has contributed largely to the success ot the undertaking. ON THE EXPENDITURE OF SILVER AND GOLD IN PHOTOGRAPHIC OPERATIONS. BY JOHN SPILLER, P.C.S., SECOND ASSISTANT CHEMIST TO THE WAS DEPARTMENT. When the practice of photography is undertaken on a extensive or manufacturing scale, it must always be deemed an object of interest and importance to inquire into the legitimate expenditure of silver and gold salts in the various stages of the photographic processes. To reduce the consumption of the precious metals to the lowest limit cot sistent with the production of a first-rate result, ms assuredly be a chief endeavour on the part of the professionat photographer; and very exact information has no dou been acquired by those who find it necessary to be PrePare with an estimate of cost for materials and labour in eve y