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MARCII 6, 1863.] THE PHOTOGRAPHIC NEWS 117 nitrate bath is no unimportant matter in experiments—one abounding with acetate of silver and alcohol, &c., is the least desirable. The only one admissible is a pure, unadulterated bath, having had a little careful working. As t lie question of fused and recrystallized nitrate of silver is still in an unsatisfactory condition, the best salt from reputable dealers will answer; and as regards organic matter in water, let the liquid bo cleared by light and oxide, and we shall have a good stable working bath, rectified with nitric acid and oxide.” And lower down, in the same letter, I have again alluded to the nitric acid bath. No whore have I made mention of any other bath. Nothing can be plainer than this, and than the principles I have con tended for in comparative experiments. I am not the first to consider a nitric acid bath anything but fatal to iodized collodion. Mr. Thomas, of Pall Mall, years ago enunciated the superiority of the nitric acid bath over every other, and ho made no distinction between any iodized and bromo-iodized collodion. To this day his collodion bottles have printed wrappers describing the construction of his normal bath. Another able advocate for nitric acid baths is Mr. Hockin. Viik bis Photographic Treatise. My experience of the several baths is ns follows ; and it is in the power of anybody to satisfy himself of its thorough correct ness. A nitric acid bath answers the best with cadmium collodion, or collodion containing cadmium as one of the salts. But the bath must wait for the ripening of the collodion, whether iodized or bromo-iodized, when it will give exquisite negatives free from spots and stains ; but not more rapid results than those attain able with the same collodion in acetic acid, acetate of soda, or carbonate of soda baths, when these are in their sensitive con ditions. But the nitric acid bath is supreme in stability, i.e., it is rectifiable and comparatively under control. It deteriorates slowly. I do not, however, concur in the use of the nitric acid bath with ammonium and potassium collodions, newly iodized and bromo-iodized with those salts, or in their sensitive conditions. The other baths will then give by far the bettor negative. When, however, the said collodion is deteriorating, the nitric acid bath Will give a finer detailed negative, and in a shorter time.® THE FRENCH PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITION. Sia,—My attention has just been directed to a letter in the PHOTOGRAPIIO News of the 13th February, which contains a charge against the French Photographic Society, or rather against its secretary, to which the approach of the exhibition at Paris gives special importance. I am confident, that, as a gentleman, Mr. Vernon Heath will, after reading the explanation, experience a regret equal to my astonishment, and he will admit, that if we had had the good fortune as to speak the same language and to do without the aid of an interpreter, we should have both been spared a very disagreeable affair. In fact, if I had not waited for his return, he would have received at once the explanation to which I am now obliged to give the publicity he has given to his note. When last month Mr. Vernon Heath did me the honour to visit mo at the French Society’s establishment, with the gentlemen he had been so fortunate as to meet at Paris, ho had, I was informed, two objects : first, the wish to present some specimens to the Society at their next meeting, and next, to reclaim some frames sent by him to the Exhibition of 18G1. I gave to the first proposition, naturally, the flattering reception that it merited, and recollecting the frames exhibited by Mr. Vernon Heath in 1861, 1 said that if they had not been sent back at the close of the exhibition they had certainly been kept carefully at the Palais de VIndustrie, whether by error or for some other reason, which it was not possible, after the lapse of two years, for me to re collect at once ; I promised, however, to go myself and see to the matter. The following day, I believe Mr. Vernon Heath came again with the same gentleman to say that he was obliged to leave sooner than he expected, and could not be present at the meeting of the Society. Being much occupied by * The remainder of Mr. Webb’s letter in our next. business rendered urgent by my long absence in London for the exhibition, and not thinking that the departure of Mr. Heath would have been so precipitate, I had not gone to the Palais d’ Industrie to make inquiries. I said 1 would go the same day, and did not doubt to find the frames if they had not been sent, and I could easily after his departure send them to London or elsewhere. I proposed at the same time to make in his name, the presentation, he regretted not being able to make himself. The answer returned to me was, that this would be use less, as Mr. V. Heath’s absence would be very short, and on his return he would certainly call on me. The day after, I went myself to the Palais d’Industrie, and found that, in fact, the frames of Mr. Vernon Heath were placed with care among others for which, for their despatch, orders had not been received, or for which we had received contrary orders. Mr. Vernon Heath, in his note, admits that I had informed him of the prolongation of the Exhibition, and asked him if he wished his frames at once, or with the others sent by France to the Internation Exhibition. He admits, also, telling me not to send them, as he had an agent at Paris. Now, did Mr. Vernon Heath, or did he not, give the order to his agent to fetch the frames, or were the frames to be sent to his agent? 1 cannot affirm positively, but, in either case, there could be nothing worse than a simple error. Having understood seriously the answer that was made me, I waited innocently his return to give him these expla nations. As regards Mr. Robinson, the answer is still more peremptory. When Mr. Vernon Heath and his friend spoke of Mr. Robinson’s reclamation, and assured me that he had sent at the same time as Mr. Heath some photographs for the Exhibition of 1861, I answered that I did not recollect, and that he was probably mistaken. I recollected very well certain subjects and studies after nature, of which Mr. Robinson was the author, and which had figured in former exhibitions, but that he had not since exhibited at Paris. Despite the assertions to the contrary I find that I was right, for the catalogue of 1861 does not mention Mr. Robinson, but that of 1859 docs mention him. Notwithstanding the time that has elapsed, I succeeded in getting traces of this affair, and here is what passed in 1859 on the subject of Mr. Robinson. To be agreeable I put him in communication with a gentleman engaged especially in the sale of photographs. 1 knew nothing of him personally, but I had heard of Mr. Rarrere, 59, Rue Richelieu, and to him I mentioned the matter. He wrote to Mr. Robinson to send him direct the prices of his photographs. I had no reason to take further steps which might appear officious, so delivered to Mr. Rarrere the photographs of Mr. Robinson on his account, with the exception of two that were to be left with the Society as specimens. It is then to Mr. Rarrere that he should address himself, for it is no longer an affair of exhi bition, but of commerce, to which, thank goodness, I am entirely a stranger. If there is negligence, Mr. Robinson has only himself to blame. You see, Mr. Editor, how an uncharitable interpretation can alter and distort the most simple facts. I believed it right to enter into these details because, I repeat it, the cir cumstances give particular importance to a charge calculated to deter your countrymen from exhibiting at Paris. The French Society, which counts amongst its members a great many foreigners of every country, has always shown in its actions the most liberal intentions, and has always shown and proved its good sentiments towards the Photo graphic Society of London. As for me, its Secretary, I have certainly not the preten sion to be perfect and infallible, nor yet to satisfy everyone, but I certainly do my best, so that the number of those who render me justice is sufficient to compensate for the annoy-