[blind stamp:]
Lower Mall
Hammersmith <1>
Jany 12th 1852
My dear Sir
I have no objection to make the affidavit <2> in the general terms you mention; but it appears to me that it would be necessary to show that the parties against whom you proceed have actually infringed the processes described in your patents; in this case it would be much better to have the affidavits of practical chemists who are accustomed to patent trials as Prof Brande, <3> Prof. Miller <4> of King’s College or Prof. Graham. <5> I shall be at the Atheneum <6> on Wednesday next at 5 o’clock, perhaps I may see you there.
Yours very truly
C. Wheatstone
H. F. Talbot Esqr
Notes:
1. London
2. This was an affidavit in the trial of the calotype patent, Talbot v. LaRoche. WHFT called on a number of friends and colleagues to supply such affidavits, but in the end printed the ones from Sir David Brewster and Sir John Herschel.
3. William Thomas Brande (1788–1866), chemist & author
4. Professor William Allen Miller (b. 1817), physician & chemist
5. Thomas Graham (1805–1869) was professor of chemistry at University College London from 1837–1855.
6. The Athenaeum Club, Pall Mall, London; WHFT was also a member.