adapted at that day to the taking of
portraits from life, than any other instruments. After carefully
examining the camera described by Daguerre, and the time stated as
necessary to produce action for an image, it became evident to the mind
of Mr. Wolcott at once, that more light could be obtained (as the field
of view required was not large) by employing a reflector of short focus
and wide aperture, than from a lens arrangement, owing to spherical
aberration and other causes. Many experiments having been tried with
the small instrument figured (p. 199), a reflector for taking portraits
from life was determined on, having eight inches diameter, with twelve
inches focal distance for parallel rays; this was to admit plates of
two inches wide by two and a half long Mr. Wolcott having on hand
reflectors of the right diameter, for Newtonian telescopes, of eight
feet focal distance, resolved (as it was a matter of experiment) to
grind down or increase the curve for the focal distance before
named--this required time. In the mean time, many plans were pursued
for making good plates, and the means of finishing, them. As the
completion of the large reflector drew to a close, our mutual friend,
Henry Fitz, Jr., returned from England, whither he had been on a visit,
and when he heard what we were about, kindly offered his assistance; he
being well versed in optics, and having been before engaged with Mr.
Wolcott, in that and other business is offer was gladly accepted--Mr.
Wolcott himself having frequent engagement; to fill as operator in the
details of mechanical dentistry. Thus, by the aid of Mr. Fitz, the
reflector was polished, and experiments soon after tried on plates of
two by tow and a half inches, with tolerable success. Illness on my
part quite suspended further trial for nearly four weeks.

On my recovery, early in January, 1840, our experiments were again
resumed with improved results, so much so as to induce Mr. Wolcott and
myself to entertain serious thoughts of making a business of the taking
of likenesses from life, intending to use the reflecting apparatus
invented by Mr. Wolcott, and for which he obtained Letters Patent, on
the 8th day of May, 1840. Up to January 1st, 1840, all experiments had
been tried on an economical scale, and the apparatus then made, was
unfit for public exhibition; we resolved to make the instruments as
perfect as possible while they were in progress of manufacture.
Experiments were