An address on the necessity for investigating the operation of the Anatomy Act : with a detail of proceedings as to an invention for facilitating its administration / by William Roberts.

  • Roberts, William, Sir, 1830-1899.
Date:
1832-1871
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An address on the necessity for investigating the operation of the Anatomy Act : with a detail of proceedings as to an invention for facilitating its administration / by William Roberts. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    33/44 (page 33)
    «.pon condition that it is a fair and open investigation. In making this offer I do not intend to abandon my claim on the Government, or to accede to anv terms that would give you fresh opportunity of circumventing me. U Allow me to add, that I am determined, whatever further sacrifices I may have to make, for I consider it a duty I owe society as well as myself, never to rest until I obtain a fair and open investigation. Cunning, let it be ever so adriotly managed, will not carry a man honorably through life ; like base coin, it may be made convertible for a time, but eventually its inherent worthlessness will manifest itself to all. (Signed) u Wi. Egberts.” u Februaip 25th, 1853.” College of Surgeons, Feb. 26th, 1853. u Sib, I have to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 25th instant, addressed to the Council of the College, and which I will lay before the Council at its next meeting. (Signed) “Edward Balfour.” “ To Wm. Roberts.” “ To the Right Honorable Sir James Graham, Bt., M.P., Sfc. $c. fyc. “ Manchester, Sep. 12, 1853. Sir, Since I last took the liberty of soliciting your recommendation to Viscount Palmerston to grant a fair, and open investigation into my alle^a- tions on the subject of the Anatomy Bill, and the connection of my invention therewith, I have made numerous applications to his Lordship with repe¬ titions of the same request; but not having been so fortunate as to obtain from him a definite answer, I am again induced to solicit yonr interference. If you have given this matter consideration it must have occurred to you that I have long had the power of putting the whole subject in a position that would ensure its investigation. I have deferred doing so, hoping Government would prefer adopting an equitable course, and thereby make furtner application unnecessary. Ruinous as the treatment I have met with has been to me, I do not want to make a triumph of the strength of m v claim —all I ask is to obtain impartial justice. “You are aware that Government first admitted the importance and utility of my invention for giving legal effect to some of the clauses of the Anatomy Bill, and then obtained from me the secret of my invention, for the alleged pur- pooe of being satisfied that the materials used Were cheap, innocuous, and easy of application I remonstrated against granting the request without the stipu¬ lated payment being made at the time the particulars of the process were gwen—After hesitating, for two months, to comply with the request, I was positively assured that I might rely upon being honorably dealt with. I then, acting under the advice of Sir George Sinclair, gave the Govern¬ ment the whole detail of my invention; I was then told Government were perfectly satisfied, and only required a few days to search into precedents for makmg private grants. From that day to this I have not been naid a shilling I scarcely need inform you that Mr. Henry Warburton, men M.P. for Bndport, acted as the agent of Government in this transation, and that I have before proved his heartless duplicity in the matter. My letter to the College of Surgeons (you have a copy dated 25th Feb., 1853) gives an outline c