TALBOT7005

<repoussé stamp>

The Athenæum

London

Sat^y Ev^g June 24^th

My Dear Constance

I have had a long day with the lawyers and chemists, which prevented my going to Lacock by the afternoon express, so I think I shall take the 2 oclock train tomorrow – The result of the lawyers conference was a resolution to put off the trial till next term i.e. till November.

The reason was that we had been unable to obtain from the defendant’s attorney the particulars of objection on which he relies in order to show that my patent is not valid. These particulars the law requires him to furnish, but he did not. He even resisted a judge’s order to deliver them. A second order was obtain’d from the judge today, which he has promised to obey and to deliver the particulars on Monday evening.

But today is the last day on which we can give him notice of trial, so as to try the cause before the long vacation, therefore the particulars will arrive too late, which is what he probably intended.

I have no time for more at present so adieu

Your aff^te

Henry