9 



commenced, and that it was constructed with special regard to 

 the adaptation of this appendage for waved line ruling- The 

 slide with joints of peculiar construction was wanted only for 

 that purpose, and was not known or used in any other ruling ma- 

 chine. 



In your reply, two certificates are brought forward to show 

 that no ground of complaint exists on my part — the first under 

 my own signature, and the second, that of Mr. Mason. 



In my communication I admitted 

 Gobrecht was the first to discover the mode of ruling medals by 

 a machine; or in other words, that he was the first to discover, 

 that the appendage which I suggested and prepared for his ma- 

 chine, for ruling waved lines, was equally capable of ruling med- 

 als. I do not see that my certificate admits more than this, and 

 nothing more was intended by it. Nothing more was due. It 

 was drawn from me much against my will, during a newspaper 

 discussion, which arose without my knowledge, advice or sug- 



gestion. I felt extreme reluctance to be dragged into public con- 



Mr 



troversy, for which I lacked time, inclination and ability, and it 

 would, moreover, have been very disagreeable to those with 

 whom I was connected in business. And I was willing thus to 

 terminate the dispute. The first part of Mr. Mason's certificate 

 agrees with my statement. The difference which appears in the 

 other parts is unessential, or is reconcilable therewith, without an 

 imputation in the least degree unfavorable to any one. Mr. Ma- 

 son himself is well known to me, and is justly respected by all 

 who know him for his integrity and professional skill. The only 

 discrepancy which I can perceive, is in that portion of his certifi- 

 cate where it is said, that u when the machine was constructing, 

 Mr. Gobrecht explained to me a plan he had invent ed.to copy, by 

 a ruling machine, medals, and surfaces slightly or deeply undula- 

 ted." The plan here spoken of is undoubtedly the one suggest- 

 ed and furnished by me to Mr. Gobrecht. Although Mr. G. was 

 in possession of this plan before the machine was commenced, it 

 is not easy to suppose that Mr. G. more than myself, anticipated 

 medal ruling from it. The supposition is not unreasonable, nor 

 altogether improbable, that when Mr. G. made his confidential 

 disclosure to Mr. Mason, it being new to him, he supposed, of 

 course, that it was Mr. Gobrecht's invention, and if at this time 



he 



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