Niépce correspondance et papiers

N IEPCE 1121 «The impressions of interior views are Rembrandt perfected. One of Mr. D.’s plates is an impression of a spider. The spider was not bigger than the head of a large pin, but the image, magnified by the solar microscope to the size of the palm of the palm of the hand, having been impressed on the plate, and examined through a lens, was further magnified, and showed a minuteness of organization hitherto not seen to exist. You perceive how this discovery is, therefore, about to open a new field of research in the depths of microscopic nature. We are soon to see if the minute has discoverable limits. The naturalist is to have a new kingdom to explore, as much beyond the miscroscope as the microscope is beyond the naked eye. «But I am near the end of my paper, and I have unhappily to give a melancholy close to my account of this ingenious discovery. M. Daguerre appointed yesterday at noon to see my telegraph. He came, and passed more than an hour with me, expressing himself highly gratified at its operation. But while he was thus employed, the great building of the Diorama, with his own house, all his beautiful works, his valuable notes and papers, the labor of years of experiment, were, unknown to him 1 , at that moment becoming the prey of the flames. His secret indeed is still safe with him, but the steps of his progress in the discovery, and his valuable researches in science are lost to the scientific world. I learn that his Diorama was insured, but to what extent I know not. I am sure all friends of science and improvement will unite in expressing the deepest sympathy in M. Daguerre’s loss, and the sincere hope that such a liberal sum will be awarded him by his Government, as shall enable him in some degree a least, to recover from his loss.» In the same vessel which brought the above letter, the writer himself arrived. From him we have received some additional information respecting this very interesting disco- very, which we cannot at present communicate. We have only room to say that we are even more impressed with the value of the invention as a means of procuring, without labor or expense, perfect and satisfactory panoramas of all the most interesting places and scenery on the globe, and, if apprehend its power correctly, perfect representations of the human countenance, than with its power to reveal the secrets of «microscopic nature». With what delight will the eye dwell on the panoramas of Jerusalem, Thebes, Constantinople, Rome, and other cities of the old world, delineated with the unerring fidelity of the Daguerrotipe ! With what interest shall we visit the galery of portraits of distinguished men of all coun- tries, drawn, not with man’s feeble, false, and flattering pencil, but with the power and truth of light from heaven ! It may not be long before we shall witness in this city the exhi- bition of such panoramas and such portraits. [...] 1. Trente-cinq ans après les faits, sera publiée une « Note sur l’incendie du Diorama en 1839, par l’officier des sapeurs-pompiers qui dirigeait les secours ». Nous en extrayons ce qui suit à titre de curiosité. « [...] En 1839, dans les premiers jours de mars [une note en bas de page précise « le 3 mars », alors que l’événement eut lieu le 8], vers midi [heure à laquelle Daguerre arriva chez Morse], l’officier des sapeurs-pompiers qui com- mandait la compagnie casernée faubourg Saint-Martin, fut informé que le feu venait d’éclater au Diorama [...].En y arrivant, et lorsque déjà il désignait les emplacements sur lesquels il convenait d’établir les pompes pour attaquer le feu à son foyer, Daguerre accourut près de lui, en s’écriant :“Pour Dieu ! Monsieur l’officier ! laissez brûler le Diorama, j’en ai fait le sacrifice ; mais je vous en conjure, je vous en supplie, faites tous vos efforts pour empêcher la flamme d’arriver jusqu’au cinquième étage de cette maison ; vous me rendrez, vous rendrez au pays, peut-être, un immense service !... Vous en aurez bientôt la preuve… Ah ! de grâce, tâchez que je ne fasse pas naufrage au port [...] » (M.P. 15/10/1874). 605 1833 1839