eard, of
London, in patenting and working the invention in England. Up to
February, 1840, but few friends had been made acquainted with the
progress of the art in the hands of Mr. Wolcott and myself. From time
to time reports reached us from various sources of the success of
others, and specimens of landscapes, etc., were exhibited at Dr. James
R. Chilton's laboratory, in Broadway, much to the gratification of the
numerous visitors and anxious expectants for this most wonderful
discovery. Dr. Chilton, Professor J. J. Mapes, Professor J. W. Draper.
Professor S. F. B. Morse, all of this city; Mr. Cornelius, Dr. Goddard
and others of Philadelphia; Mr. Southworth, Professor Plumbe, and
numerous others were early in the field; all, however, using the same
description of camera as that of Daguerre, with modification for light,
either by enlargement by lens and aperture for light, or by shortening
the focal distance.

At a conversational meeting of the Mechanics' Institute, Professor J.
J. Mapes being present, a question was asked if any one present could
give information relative to portraiture from life by the
Daguerreotype. Mr. Kells, a friend of Mr. Wolcott and a scientific and
practical man (since deceased), at once marked out upon the
black-board, the whole as contrived by Mr. Wolcott. This gave
publicity to the invention of Mr. Wolcott. Shortly after, Professor
Mapes, Dr. Chilton, and many others, sat for their portraits, and were
highly gratified. Professor Morse also came and proposed to Mr.
Wolcott to join him in the working of the invention, etc.

From this time much interest was manifested by our friends in our
progress. Rooms were obtained in the Granite Buildings, corner of
Broadway and Chambers street, and fitted for business. The rooms being
small, it was soon found impracticable to use the arrangement of
looking-glass, as previously spoken of; a new plan became necessary, to
introduce which, the sashes were removed, {199} and two large
looking-glasses were mounted in proper frames, thus:--

[Illustration: Fig. 13 (amdg_13.gif)]

Just in front, and between the sitter and {200} the reflector, upon a
proper stand, were used those paper muslin screen before described;
also screens of tissue paper. These screens, however, when they were
used, required so much time for a sitting, that some other medium, as a
protection to the eyes, became absolutely necessary. The most
plausible thing that suggested