Preparing biographies

Major Tytler exhibited a most interesting and valuable collection of Calotype negatives, forming perhaps the finest series that has ever been exhibited to the Society. Major Tytler took occasion to observe that he is quite a novice in Photography, having only been working at it about six months altogether. He commenced in 1858 at Delhi, after the siege, in hopes of assisting Mrs Tytler in a splendid panorama, which she was then painting in oils, of the palace. Major Tytler’s photographs were much admired, not only as being very fine specimens of the Calotype process, but also for the happy selection of his subjects, which clearly shewed the eye of the artist. He wished it to be understood that the full merit of his photographs did not lie with himself; that Mrs Tytler, who is a most successful photographer, not only selected most of the subjects, but even developed the pictures herself. The splendid picture of the Kootub Minar was an example of this. The Lucknow photographs were particularly interesting; the view of the Residency was much superior to any that has yet been seen in Calcutta. The collection included views of most places rendered notable during the mutiny, and were taken at Delhi, Mussoorie, Landour, Meerut, Roorkie, Cawnpore, Lucknow, Benares and Agra, in all nearly five hundred negatives. Major Tytler took occasion to express how much he was indebted for assistance to the kindness of Dr. Murray and M. Beato: he has used the subjoined formula, which he received from Dr. Murray. Mbr> 
Float the paper (Hollingsworth’s) on a 12 grain solution of Nitrate of Silver for two minutes; hang up and dry
. Immerse for 10 minutes in a solution of
3 oz. iodide of Potassium.
1 oz. Bromide of ditto.
6 gr. of Iodine.
3 qts. of distilled water.
 
Whilst wet, immerse for two minutes in a bath of 2 grains of Ferro-cyanide of Potassium to one quart of common water. Wash in 8 changes of water, and soak for 24 hours.
 
Sensitise with Aceto-nitrate of silver, and develope wit the same, using also a saturated solution of Gallic Acid. The time of exposure varies from 15 to 30 minutes in sunshine. The fixing solution is 1 part of Hypo to 8 of water. After all the yellow is removed, wash for 24 hours.
 
...The chairman proposed a vote of thanks to the exhibitors for the very pleasing collection of photographs laid before the meeting, and more particularly to Major Tytler, for his choice collection of negatives.

Major Tytler then proceeded to exhibit a small portion of the remarkably fine collection of photographs taken by himself and Mrs Tytler in the North-West. The collection is unquestionably the finest ever exhibited in Calcutta; it embraces every scene of the mutiny of 1857, from the cavalry lines at Meerut to the Residency at Lucknow. The negatives, it may be remembered, were exhibited at the last meeting, two months since, at which time, Major Tytler knew nothing of positive printing. Since then, assisted by Mrs Tytler, he has produced a collection of positive prints which do ample justice to his admirable negatives. The following are a few of the more remarkable.
 
A panoramic view of the Kootub Minar at Delhi, measuring 39 inches by 17; also a smaller view of the same building, shewing the carving, etc. These were both remarkably fine pictures.
 
The Church at Delhi, built by the late Colonel Skinner. It was outside this building that the officers of the 54th N.I. [Native Infantry] were murdered by their men on the 11th of May, 1857. The Lahore gate of the palace [i.e. Red Fort], Delhi, shewing the quarters of Captain Douglas, in which Mr Jennings, the chaplain, and his daughter were murdered; also the steps on which Captain Douglas and the Commissioner were murdered.
 
A Panoramic view of the Motee Musjid, at Agra, taken in three pieces. Major Tytler is the first who has taken this building in a single panorama.’
 
The Taj at Agra, in several views, shewing all the most interesting portions of this beautiful building.
 
The Residency at Lucknow, shewing the room in which Sir Henry Lawrence was wounded. This is the best view of the Residency that has been seen in Calcutta; it embraces the whole extent of the building.
 
The tombs of Lawrence and Neil, with the ruins of the Residency Church.
 
A series of views including the most interesting places at Lucknow; the Kaiserbaugh, taken from several points; the Bailie Guard gate; the marble bridge in the interior of the Kaiserbaugh; the tomb of Sahadutt, now the English Church; the little Emambarra; the mosque of the same, with Jumma Musjid in the distance.
 
A number of painfully interesting views of Cawnpore; the Ghaut at which the boats were attacked; the well; and the side of the house in which the ladies and children were murdered.
 
Homaion’s [Humayun’s] tomb at Delhi, where the king was murdered.
 
... The President, in proposing a vote of thanks to the exhibitors, drew particular attention to Major Tytler’s very beautiful collection, - the finest that had ever been laid before the Society. He said that Mrs Tytler should be included in the vote of thanks, as many of the photographs she had taken herself, and at all of them she had more or less assisted. He hoped that Major Tytler would be persuaded to sell his photographs, as he knew that many persons in Calcutta would gladly purchase copies of some of the more interesting, and the expense of printing such large pictures was so great that Major Tytler could not be expected to give them without payment; and added that the Society would be glad to act as agents for the sale of any he felt inclined to dispose of in Calcutta..
 
Major Tytler expressed for Mrs Tytler as well as himself, their thanks for the handsome manner in which the Society had marked its appreciation of their photographic efforts, and added that he would gladly make some such arrangement as Dr. Mouat had been kind enough to suggest, for the sale of his pictures in Calcutta; and that he would be happy to avail himself of the Society’s generous offer to undertake the agency for the sale.
 
A portfolio of Major Tytler’s views may be seen at his own house, 13, Loudon Street; or at 15, Writer’s Buildings, Tank Square, at the Office of the Secretary to the Society, who will receive orders for them.

Major Tytler’s photographs of the scenes of the Mutiny, etc., etc., etc.
These beautiful photographs are to be seen daily, at No. 15 Tank Square, at the office of the Honorary Secretary of the Photographic Society, who will receive orders for single copies or the whole collection.