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50. John William Draper, "Remarks on the Daguerreotype," American Repertory 1 (July 1840): 403. Draper also stated that he experimented with a three inch lens at about this same time.

51. Draper, "Process," 222-23. Exact dates students attended are given in Theodore Frelinghuysen, "Annual Report to the Council, 30 October 1839," Chancellors Records. As an additional burdensome task, Draper inherited the job of secretary of the faculty--probably an odious duty reserved for the victim with least seniority. Faculty minutes, fall and winter 1839, New York University Archives.

52. Samuel F. B. Morse, "Memoranda of Daguerreotype," Journal: 3 January-14 February 1840, Morse Papers.

53. Morse to Root, 10 February 1855. Morse's daguerreian work with both portraits and landscapes appeared to have largely halted after the beginning of October. On 16 November 1839 Morse wrote again to Daguerre complaining:
I have been experimenting, but with indifferent success, mostly, I believe, for the want of a proper lens. I hoped to be able to send you by this opportunity a result, but I have not one which I dare send you. You shall have the first that is in any degree perfect. Will you allow me so far to trespass on your kindness as to request you to choose for me two lenses, such as you can recommend.
Prime, Life of Morse, 407-408; see also Taft, Photography, 25. Photographic historian Robert Taft believed this letter proved that "any success that Morse obtained must have come after November 19, 1839." Historical sources previously quoted argue otherwise. Carlton Mabee was more likely correct when he interpreted this letter to mean Morse was "merely expressing himself with French modesty in writing to the inventor of the new art." Mabee, American Leonardo, 233.

Morse revealed frustration and dissatisfaction with the degree of success he had obtained by November. It may be most accurate to interpret this letter in light of Morse's awareness of Draper's achievement. It is interesting to note in respect to what Draper had accomplished that Morse focused upon the lack of a suitable lens as his major problem.

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