TEE well-known French writer, A. Davanne, for a long while the president of that highly distinguished society, the " Soci6t6 Franqaise de Photographic" in Paris said in an address : " The world will never forget that to France is due the invention of photography and the promulgation of its method."
In August, 19o9, seven decades had elapsed since the French scientists, Arago and Gay Lussac, after a searching investigation of the process of painter Daguerre and cavalry officer Niepce, by which pictures could be taken by light, recommended the purchase of the rights thereto by the French government. The purchase was made and through the liberality of the government, Arago was able on August 29, 1839, to make known the methods at a public session of the Academy of Sciences.
Arago's foresight was sufficient to indicate to him the value of the method in connection with the preparation of maps and charts, but he did not foresee its use in connection with balloon work. The lattel ~ application originated with a Frenchman named Andraud, who in an essay,--" Line derni6re annexe au Palais de l'Industrie," expressed some views on balloon photography, in which, indeed, he allowed his fancy to play in almost the style of Jules Verne. The merit of taking the first balloon photograph belongs to a Paris photographer and aeronaut, Nadar senior. His experiments showed, as was to be expected, that the photographic procedure of that day,--wet plates and prompt development,--involved serious difficulties. Nadar installed a dark room in the basket of the balloon in the form of a tent of otTange stuff with black lining. It appears however, that the carbon disulphide in the gas affected'his plates. He did not lose hope. At " Petit Bic6tre" a hamlet consisting 3oi