As in all cases of great and valuable inventions in science and art
the English lay claim to the honor of having first discovered
that of Photogenic drawing. But we shall see in the progress
of this history, that like many other assumptions of their authors,
priority in this is no more due them, then the invention of steamboats,
or the cotton gin.

This claim is founded upon the fact that in 1802 Mr. Wedgwood
recorded an experiment in the Journal of the Royal Institution
of the following nature.

"A piece of paper, or other convenient material, was placed upon
a frame and sponged over with a solution of nitrate of silver;
it was then placed behind a painting on glass and the light traversing
the painting produced a kind of copy upon the prepared paper,
those parts in which the rays were least intercepted being
of the darkest hues. Here, however, terminated the experiment;
for although both Mr. Wedgwood and Sir Humphry Davey experimented
carefully, for the purpose of endeavoring to fix the drawings
thus obtained, yet the object could not be accomplished,
and the whole ended in failure."

This, by their own showing, was the earliest attempt of the English savans.
But this much of the principle was known to the Alchemists at an early date--
although practically produced in another way--as the following experiment,
to be found in old books, amply proves.

"Dissolve chalk in aquafortis to the consistence of milk, and add to it
a strong solution of silver; keep this liquor in a glass bottle well stopped;
then cutting out from a piece of paper the letters you would have appear,