26 Lange, Bessemer, Goransson and Musket. 



deny the fact that Mushet's patent, as far as it concerned 

 the Bessemer process, was as bad as it could be. From 

 the technical point of view, also, Bessemer's efforts to create 

 the manufacture of a commercial high-percentage alloy of 

 manganese were of far greater service to the steel industry 

 than Mushet's patent, even had it been a good one. 



Secure in the belief that Mushet's patent could not 

 affect him, Bessemer used spiegel-iron for two and a half 

 years (1857-60) after the date of that patent, when he was 

 approached by a Mr. Clare, on behalf of Mushet, asking 

 for an acknowledgment of the latter's rights, and offering 

 a licence for the same for a nominal sum."° Bessemer, in 

 reply, said that he did not acknowledge that Mushet had 

 acquired the rights which he claimed, and invited legal 

 proceedings, which, however, were never taken, nor did 

 Bessemer ever hear again from Mushet. In December, 

 1866, Bessemer was visited by a young lady giving the 

 name of Mushet. She said that grave misfortune had 

 overtaken her father, and that without immediate help 

 their home would be taken from them. She said : " They 

 tell me that you use my father's invention, and are 

 indebted to him for your success." Bessemer replied by 

 saying that he used what her father had no right to claim, 

 and that the only result of her father's patents was tO' 

 point out to him some rights which he then already pos- 

 sessed, but of which he was not availing himself This 

 interview, however, ended, as might be expected by those 

 who knew him, by Bessemer paying Mushet's debt — an 

 amount of £,177 odd. Bessemer's partners did not quite 

 appreciate his generosity, thinking that capital would be 

 made out of it. This did, in fact, follow, for, in the follow- 

 ing year, a relative of Mushet approached Bessemer with 



^'This was shortly before the third year's stamp duly of /50 fell due, 

 a matter to which I have already referred. 



