rk.
Investigating, the cause of this difference occupied the remainder of
that day. However, another attempt was agreed upon, and the
instruments, plates, etc., prepared and taken up into an attic room, in
a position most favorable for light. Having duly arranged the camera,
I sat for five minutes, and the result was a profile miniature (a
miniature in reality,) or a plate not quite three-eighths of an inch
square. Thus, with much deliberation and study, passed the first day
in Daguerreotype--little dreaming or knowing into what a labyrinth such
a beginning was hastening us.

[Description of apparatus represented on pages 192 and 199:]

A.--The Box--about 4 inches long by about 2 outside diameter.
B.--The Reflector soldered to a brass screw, and mounted in the
rear of the box.
c.--The slide to regulate the focus to the plate holder.
d.--The standard to the plate holder screwed to the slide.
f.--The plate-holder frame having two small ledges, * *, for the
plate to rest upon.

{192}

g.--The plate resting upon the ledge., * *, and kept against the
frame by the spring h. The plates used were about 3/8 of an inch
square.
A.--The window with the sashes removed.

B and C (p. 199) are large looking-glasses mounted as plain reflectors,
the lower one C having rotary motion upon the saddle, resting upon the
sill of the window in order to direct the rays of the sun upon the
reflector B, at any hour of the day--the vertical motion of the
reflector C being necessary, the sun varying in altitude so much during
the hours most favorable to the production of portraits. The reflector
C was {193} kept up to the required position by the handle lever,
upright post and bolts. Reflector B was hinged at its upper end at the
top of the window frame, the only motion being necessary was that which
would reflect upon the sitter the incident rays from reflector C--the
reflector B being kept at the required angle by the connecting lever m,
etc. Suitable back-grounds were placed behind the sitter.

[Illustration: Fig. 12 (amdg_12.gif)]

The reflector B and C, had frequently to be renewed, the heat of the
sun soon destroying their brilliance or power of reflecting, light,
before renewing them, however, we resorted to the springing of them, by
which means their power was increased for a period.

The camera or reflecting apparatus, invented by Mr. Wolcott, was, from
the nature of the case, better