304 PATENT RIGHTS. 



was in this trial the counsel for the opposing side, The 

 verdict was in favour of Mr. Harvey, or Trevithick's side. 

 A former chapter 1 speaks of promises to pay certain 

 savings by the use of Trevithick's inventions prior to 

 his leaving for America. The United Mines refused to 

 continue the payment, and on Mrs. Trevithick's appli- 

 cation to Mr. Davies Gilbert for advice he kindly wrote 

 to the Williamses, who managed those mines, and re- 

 ceived the following reply : 



" DEAK SlK, " SCORRIER HOUSE, November 14^, 1820. 



"... with regard to Mrs. Trevithick's claims for savings 

 on engines at the United Mines, there is much to be said. 



" Before Mr. Trevithick went abroad he sold half the patent 

 right to William Sims, our engineer, who very strongly recom- 

 mended that two of the engines at the United Mines should be 

 altered to what he considered his patent principle, but ^the 

 alterations proved very inferior to his expectations, and to this 

 circumstance I attribute much of the objections in question. 

 Mr. Henry Harvey has perhaps told you who the partners are 

 in the patent, and when you next come into this county I shall 

 be much pleased to wait on you at Tredrea that you may hear 

 the whole of the case; and though the United Mines adven- 

 turers are far from being a united body, I am very sure my 

 sons, who are their managers, are desirous to recommend what 

 appears to them right, and they will with myself be obliged for 

 your opinion after you have heard the whole matter on both sides. 

 " Dear Sir, 



" Yours very sincerely, 



" JNO. WILLIAMS. 



" DAVIES GILBERT, Esq., M.P." 



The opinion of Mr. Williams' elder son, Michael, has 

 been given. 2 Some of the family were quakers. No 

 further money payment for the saving of fuel followed 

 this carefully civil note, until Trevithick, on his return 



1 See vol. ii., p. 108. 



2 See letter from Mr. Michael Williams, vol. ii., p. 109. 



