ay house." I remember it many years ago,
when it contained a court, in which were galleries approached by stairs,
and leading to the sleeping-rooms of the mansion; such as were formerly in
the court-yard of the Bull and Mouth Inn, London, and are now in the yard
of the New Inn, Gloucester.

P. H. FISHER.

Stroud.

* * * * *

ON THE SIMPLICITY OF THE CALOTYPE PROCESS, BY DR. DIAMOND.

(Read before the Photographic Society, Nov. 3, 1853.)

I feel that some few words are required to explain to the Society the
reasons which have induced me to call their attention to a branch of
photography, which of all others has been dwelt upon most fully, and
practised with such success by so many eminent photographers.

The flourishing state of this Society, which is constantly receiving an
accession of new Members, indicates the great number that have lately
commenced the practice of photography, and to those I hope my observations
will not prove unacceptable, because of all others the calotype process is
undoubtedly the simplest, and the most useful; not only from that
simplicity, but from its being available when other modes could not be
used.[2]

I am also induced to urge on the attention of the Society the advantages of
this, one of the earliest processes, because I think that there has been
lately such an eager desire for something new, that we all have more or
less run away from a steady wish to improve if possible the original
details of Mr. Fox Talbot; and have been tempted to practise new modes,
entailing much more care and trouble, without attaining a correspondingly
favourable result.

Amongst antiquaries I have long noticed, that many who have especially
studied one particular {597} branch of archaeology, think and speak
slightingly of those departments in which they are not much interested. One
fond of research in the early tumuli is esteemed to be a mere "pot and pan
antiquary" by one who, in his turn, is thought to waste his time on
"mediaeval trash;" and this feeling pervades its many sections.

I hope I shall not give offence in saying, that amongst photographers I
have noticed somewhat of a similar spirit, namely, an inclination to value
and praise a production, from the particular mode of operation adopted,
rather than from its intrinsic merits. The collodion, the waxed paper, or
the simple paper processes have merits pertaining to themselves alone; and
those who admire each