When you did me the honor of asserting to Gov. Stanford your confidence in my ability to take a photograph of ‘Occident’ while he was trotting at full speed—provided I could be induced to devote my attention to the subject — I will candidly admit I was perfectly amazed at the boldness and originality of your proposition. Having, however, given my patient devotion to the task the Governor imposed on me, and instituted an exhaustive series of experiments with chemicals and apparatus, it affords me pleasure to submit to you proof that your flattering confidence in the result of my endeavors was not altogether erroneous, and I herewith enclose you a photograph made from a negative, which I believe to have been more rapidly executed than any ever made hitherto.