218 JAMES SHANKS 



Mr. Gundelach now informed Mr. Sheurer 

 Kestner that the original idea had been 

 given to him by the well-known physicist, 

 Professor Buff, of Giessen, who a few years 

 before had made a few experiments with it 

 at Kestner's works at Thann, to which no 

 further development was given ; on the 

 strength of these Mr. Gundelach had given 

 that advice to Mr. Dunlop." 



This explanation by Lunge would appear 

 to prove that to Shanks did not belong the 

 honour of priority of invention. 



In the report of the Juries, page 22, there 

 is a note which says: "The reporter makes 

 this statement upon the authority of his friend 

 and brother juror, Mr. William Gossage, who 

 had most attentively watched the develop- 

 ment of the soda manufacture. It deserves, 

 however, to be noticed, that the honour of 

 invention is claimed by others." Notwith- 

 standing Lunge's explanation, we are not 

 prepared to deny to Shanks the originality, if 

 not the absolute priority, of his vats. 



The claim of Dunlop was not unknown to 

 Gossage when he asserted Shanks' right to 

 the place of honour; neither is it likely that 

 he could have been ignorant of the fact that 

 Elliott had also introduced similar vats into 



