[Correspondence between Dr J.Y. Simpson, Dr Robert Christison, Professor James Miller, and others].

  • Miller James, 1812-1864.
Date:
[1852]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: [Correspondence between Dr J.Y. Simpson, Dr Robert Christison, Professor James Miller, and others]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    k; mised to write it, at the time when Dr Simpson (irst saw liim. Tiiat on Iiis second visit to Dr Simpson (Dr Simpson having sent for him, because he had not received the promised letter), lie stated the particulars, and asked Dr Simpson to peti the letter, as he was not himself a good hand at the pen,— and that the letter was read by Dr Simpson to Mr Hardie, and carefully read, before Mr Hardie signed it. That Mr Hardie stated the circumstances to Dr Duncan, casually,* at his first visit; and that what occurred at the second visit was this,—that Professor Miller and Dr Duncan came to his shop, as they said, to wait for the omnibus, and that Professor Miller simply asked him. What was the size of the stain on the mattress ? Mr H. described the size,—Professor Miller being, according to his belief, previously cognizant of the facts communi- cated by Mr H. to Dr Duncan. In witness whereof, the preceding statement, written by John Robert- son, solicitor, Edinburgh, on the date foresaid—[15th April 1852]—and is subscribed by Alexander Hardie, son of Mr Hardie, and the said John Robertson, and William Hardie also. (Signed) A. Hakdie. Wm, Hahdie. John Robertson. * Mr Robertson drew up this minute with the words, stated the circumstances to Dr Duncan voluntarily.'' But Mr Hardie, when it was taken to him to sign, made Mr R. change the word from voluntarily to casually,^' as he did not voluntarily give the information. In the postscript of iny last note to you, it was stated, lam quite aware that Dr Duncan has drawn up a document for Mr Hardie, and which, I believe, he has induced Mr Hardie to copy and sign. You say this is untrue. I stated it on the following authority. Mr Robertson drew out at home, on Thursday forenoon, a clean copy of the above report of our meeting, which he had taken in scroll. He subsequently carried this clean copy for Mr Hardie and his son to read and sign. In transmitting this copy to me in the course*of the afternoon, he accompanied it with the following note:— I enclose Hardie's statement, fair copied and signed. Hardie showed me the copy of a document, which, 1 suspect, he signed, and may have written out himself. I said, the copy was in Dr Duncan's handwriting; and he said, it was. It was in three paragraphs, to the effect,—1st, That Hardie had not intended, and did not intend, what was said in the letter cir- culated by you; 2dly, That you had not taken down all the things—that you had omitted what told against you; 3dly, A denial of the imputation against the two medical gentlemen. Only one paragraph in your yesterday's letter to me seems to re- quire any reply, if indeed it is not already replied to, in the document drawn up by Mr Robertson. You say, That the communication from hira (Mr Hardie), which you have en- grossed in your first letter to Dr Christison, conveys an inaccurate expres- sion of his meaning in the answers made to your questions. That, although he