I 455 ] 

 LXXVII. Intelligence and Miscellaneov; Articles. 



SEVERN, KING AND CO. VerSVS THK FHCEMX FIRE OFFICE. 



To Mr. Tlllocii. 

 " Who shall decide when Doctors disagree ?" 

 rj\ Dec. 23, 1820. 



Sir, — X HE trial of Messrs. Severn, King and Co. v. the In- 

 fiurance Companies is now concluded ; and, whatever opinion 

 may have been formed as to the real justice of the case, no one, 

 excepting the parties immediatelv concerned, can regret that it 

 has terminated as it has done ; it would have been hard, that, 

 when clearly proved no fraud was intended, the omission of giv- 

 ing information to the Insurance Companies, where .lo informa- 

 tion was thought necessary, should have subjected the parties to 

 so heavy a loss as 70,000/. This determination, however, docs 

 not alter the view of the scientific part of the question, — the dis- 

 cordant opinions which have been advanced concerning the na- 

 ture and properties of oil, and its combustibility compared with 

 that of sugar, are now before the public ; and though the question 

 at issue is no longer a legal, yet as a scientific ^)ne, it cannot rest 

 here ; the decision of a Jury may settle a legal, but it cannot 

 settle a scientific point ; and it remains for those who have ad- 

 vanced certain strong opinions on either side, to prove such 

 opinions correct, unbiassed by those feelings which party gene- 

 rally engenders. The Forum Scientics is a different tribunal from 

 a Court of Law, and assertions that may be listened to in the 

 one would be scouted in the other. As a bystander, who has 

 taken no part in the above proceedings, and only interested in 

 them as a scientific subject, I have listened attentively to what 

 has been advanced on both sides, and have placed on record, 

 through the medium of your Magazine, the different opinions 

 that have been given on this question. I have forborne any 

 coinmcnts, though I may perhaps be inclined on some future oc- 

 casion to enter more fully into the subject. 



I am vnur obedient servant, M. R. 



JFiineiacii examined on the xcicn- fCHncniia.': examine'! on th:' ,9',/;'!i- 

 tifii: part of the question for tlic t'tfic part of tlw rjucxtiu/i for the 



Pi, A 1 NTI F FS, Dk F i. K DAMS. 



Mr. Wilson. Dr. Thomson. Mr. Farraday. Dr. Bostnck. 



— Brande. — Davy. -^ — J. Tavior. Mr. P. Tay!nr. 

 . — Farkes, Mr. Accum. — Children. — Aikiu. 



— Booth. — (hooper. — Garden. — I'hillips. 



— Coxwcll. — Dalton. — J. Martincau. — D.inii'l. 

 Dr. Paris. — Bramah. -— Riclitcr, ■ — Tiiloch. 

 . — Henry. — Deville. 



. — .(onc^, . — Allen. 



— I'caibon. — Svhcbtcr, The 



