96 Mr. Parkes' additional OLservat ions 



site to those which have been avowed by the gentlemen with 

 whom I act, I cannot believe that these Associates, now that 

 they find the facts are against them, are desirous that the 

 manner in which their experiments were conducted should be 

 investigated. 



One of them, however, at page 10, thus proceeds: " I 

 think," says he, " it will excite something more than the sur- 

 prise of the reader when I assert that Mr. Parkes, and others 

 on the same side of the question, were repeatedly invited, 

 and did as repeatedly refuse to make experiments in common 

 for the credit of us all." He adds, " it remains, therefore, for 

 Mr. Parkes to shew, why he refused the repeated invitations 

 which they sent him," &c. 



I know not what these Associates may think, but it is my 

 opinion, that they will not acquire much credit for having ad- 

 verted to this circumstance ; and I shall wonder if it does not 

 " excite not only the surprise," but the indignation of the 

 reader, when I tell him, that they know as well as I do 

 why " Mr. Parkes, and others on the same side of the 

 question," did not attend to witness their experiments; 

 and if it had suited their purpose, they would not have with- 

 held that information from the public. They have thought fit, 

 however, in order to impute to us bad motives, to complain 

 that we would not meet them, and yet have not had the candour 

 to disclose the reasons which we gave for not complying with 

 their invitations. 



The facts are these ; the solicitors for the defendants in- 

 vited two persons on behalf of Messrs. Severn and Co. to meet 

 two others, chosen also by themselves, to make joint experi- 

 ments. The reasons for not acceding to this proposal were, 

 among others, as follow : 



1st. Because all the chemists for the plaintiffs were not in- 

 vited, and we did not see why we alone should be expected to 

 witness a series of experiments, to be detailed by us in court, 

 and thus take upon ourselves a responsibility which we con- 

 ceived ought to be shared alike by all. 



2d. Because of the impossibility of giving our personal at- 



I 



