JAMES SHANKS 219 



the works under his management, for, as we 

 have previously remarked, Elliott was in his 

 employ, and he would be thoroughly ac- 

 quainted with all improvements that were 

 taking place. He would never have 

 authorised the award of honour to Shanks 

 had he not known if not of the absolute 

 originality of the idea, at least of the per- 

 fection of its application that Shanks was 

 fully entitled to it. On the authority of Mr. 

 Brock we can state : " Mr. Shanks did not 

 patent them (the vats, &c.), but I have 

 frequently heard him express regret at not 

 having done so." 



If James Shanks had not been perfectly 

 convinced that he was the inventor of his 

 vats he would never have expressed regret 

 that he did not adopt and patent as his own 

 the invention of another. Probity and 

 sterling uprightness were strong traits in his 

 character ; he was not the man to accept 

 honours and awards which he knew belonged 

 to others ; and if Hofmann or Gossage were 

 mistaken, Shanks would have corrected their 

 error, and given the honour to whom it was 

 due. 



Professor Buffs suggestions and experi- 

 ments, to which Lunge refers, do not appear 



