TALBOT6976

Sir J. Herschel

Ath^m Club ¹
Tuesday
May 23/54

D^r Sir

I am much obliged by your note received this morning.

My opponents ² only filed their affidavits this morning (having undertaken to do so last Thursday) – The principal affidavit is by M^r Robert Hunt, ³ and as you will see, he introduces your name.

I have therefore thought it right to send you a copy of it, and at the same time to ask you for a short affidavit in reply to that part only of M^r H’s affidavit which names yourself (not noticing any other part of it). I have followed partly the wording of the note I received from you this morning. The rest I have drawn up in words that I thought you would likely to adopt, but if not, pray alter them to others. I find that I need not trouble you to call at Lincolns Inn, for as soon as the words of the affidavit are settled, and you appoint a time, I can call on you with a solicitor either in Harley S^t of an evening, or at the Mint, at an earlier period of the day. I have just now taken down the Trans^ns of the Royal Society for 1840, and carefully reperused your paper ⁴ and can find no other mention of gallic acid than that at page 8, which therefore I conclude to be the passage referred to my M^r Hunt. I think the Vice Chancellor will hear the cause on Friday, therefore tomorrow or Thursday are the days on which I could call on you with a solicitor empowered to take an affidavit. (This is a new arrangement, very convenient for persons engaged in legal proceedings).

Yours very truly
H. F. Talbot