“_Treasury Chambers, 19th October, 1860._
“SIR,
“With reference to your letter of the 13th instant, I
am directed by the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty’s
Treasury to acquaint you that my Lords are pleased to
authorise, in accordance with your recommendation, the grant
of £100 to Mr. Ansell in recognition of his services in
obviating the difficulty of coining gold containing a minute
portion of antimony or arsenic.
(Signed) “GEORGE A. HAMILTON.
“THE MASTER OF THE MINT.
“_Mint Number, 3024, 20th October, 1860._”
Under my advice, the Master addressed a letter to Mr. Pilcher,
conveying to that gentleman the £40, having previously written to me
the following letter:—
THE MASTER OF THE MINT TO G. F. ANSELL, ESQ.
“_Royal Mint, 20th October, 1860._
“DEAR SIR,
“Your success in obviating the difficulty of coining
gold containing a minute portion of antimony or arsenic
is a benefit to this department which calls for my most
grateful thanks. In recognition of your services, I have the
pleasure, with the approbation of the Lords Commissioners
of Her Majesty’s Treasury, to present to you the sum of one
hundred pounds, for which cheque is enclosed.
“I have the honour to remain,
“Dear Sir,
“Most faithfully yours,
(Signed) “THO. GRAHAM.
“GEORGE F. ANSELL, ESQ.
“_Mint Number, 3026, 1860._”
I was not at the time aware that the Master wrote to the Treasury on
the 8th of June, 1860. That he did so, would seem to be proved by the
following letter in reply; but that he should write on the next day
after his letter of the 7th June, 1860, renders it possible that he
made some alteration after that letter left my hand. I have not, my
Lord, seen the letter written on the 8th June and alluded to in the
next.
(EXTRACT.) LETTER FROM THE TREASURY TO THE MASTER OF THE MINT.
“_Treasury Chambers, 25th September, 1861._
“SIR,
“I am commanded by the Lords Commissioners of Her Majesty’s
Treasury to inform you that, having in consideration the
very favourable opinion expressed in your Report of the
8th June, 1860, as to the ability and vigilance displayed
by Messrs. —— and Ansell, and the saving which has been
effected in the processes at the Mint under your direction,
their Lordships are pleased to sanction the increase of £30
a year to the salaries of those gentlemen, to take effect
from the commencement of the present quarter, as recommended
in your letter of the 6th instant.
(Signed) “GEORGE A. HAMILTON.
“THE MASTER OF THE MINT.
“_Mint Number, 454, 26th September, 1861._”
On the introduction to the Mint of Mr. John Graham all was changed,
and it became clear that I was to be sacrificed. Mr. Barton, then
Deputy-Master, therefore advised me to bring the matter to an issue
by applying for the first vacant office. This I did, but my note was
not even acknowledged; the Master, however, obtained a “Minute” from
the Lords of the Treasury to the effect that _extra clerks were not
at liberty to apply for promotion_, and this was conveyed to me by a
messenger. To the office for which I had thus applied, Mr. John Graham
who was then an extra clerk, was subsequently appointed. Upon the
occurrence of the death of Mr. W. T. Brande, whose office had been
specifically promised to me, I spoke to the Master of the Mint; but
he assured me “The Treasury would fill up the vacancy, for they were
dissatisfied with the whole of the Mint appointments.” He, however,
appointed his brother, notwithstanding his acknowledged incompetence
and unfitness. It was on the occurrence of that event that Mr. Barton
strongly “advised me, on the event of the next vacancy to apply for it
over the Master’s head, if you can get an influential person to back
you.”
Finding the ground thus removed from my feet, I sought counsel with my
friends, and determined to renew my studies in chemistry—having, in
consequence of the Master’s promises, relinquished that profession when
I entered the Mint.
It now becomes necessary to show by what occurrences my name was
brought to your Lordship’s notice, and this I will do briefly.
When I had completed my laboratory in Bernard Street, I called on Mr.
Robert Hunt, F. R. S., and asked him what subject would be likely to do
me most service. He at once kindly suggested “a means to find fire-damp
in coal mines—one that will act unerringly, and require no attention
from man.” I at once adopted the subject for study, and Mr. Hunt gave
me many kind letters of introduction that I might “see my enemy at
home,” especially a note to Mr. Oakes of Riddings House, Alfreton,
whose generosity and hospitality were very prominent. I told that
gentleman the object of my visit, and talked with him at considerable
length, for I found in him a man singularly desirous to help his
fellow-men. Mr. Oakes invited his brother to take me to a pit at a
distance of about four miles, where I should be almost sure to find
some fire-damp, and to this pit Mr. Oakes, junior, most kindly took me.
The coal pit was itself a very remarkable one, and contained singular
evidences in the history of the past. It will ever be associated with
the invention of my “Fire-damp Indicator,” for it was in this pit
that the idea for its formation occurred to me. If, therefore, this
instrument should fortunately be the means of saving life, that benefit
will have arisen from the kindness of Mr. Oakes. When I had made my
instruments, I took them to the Mint, and showed them to Mr. Graham.
Diffusion being fitly styled GRAHAM’S LAW, I took it for granted he
would be pleased to find that force applied practically. I said to him,
“I have proposed, Mr. Graham, to indicate the existence of fire-damp in
coal mines.” He replied, “Ah, yes; that subject comes up every seven
years.” I placed an instrument on his table, and asked if he would look
at it, saying, “I propose to use your law of diffusion.” Before I had
finished the word _diffusion_ he cut in upon me with an exclamation of
great force, “Good God! what would I have given for that thought!” I
said, “God gave it to me.” To which he said, “I was on the Coal Mines
Commission, and I did all I could to find a means of discovering the
presence of that dreadful gas.” He refused to examine my apparatus, on
the ground that he objected to the smell of gas, but said, “the honour
of being associated with you in it would be so great that I shall be
glad if you will allow me to pay all expenses, and you can make your
experiments in my laboratory; the apparatus shall be left there.” I,
however, declined his offer.
I exhibited the apparatus, as was but natural, in the first instance
to Mr. Robert Hunt, at his residence, and afterwards to many other
scientific men. It was subsequently noticed in the _Times_, in very
high terms. A few days after that event, I received a note from Dr.
Angus Smith, F.R.S., asking if I could “exhibit my experiments to
Lord Kinnaird at 2 P.M. to-morrow.” I gladly accepted the proposed
appointment, and suggested whether “his Lordship could obligingly come
to me at 27, Bernard Street,” which he courteously did, accompanied
by Mr. P. H. Holland and Dr. Angus R. Smith. I then found that Lord
Kinnaird was Chairman, and Mr. Holland a Commissioner, of the Royal
Commission of Mines. Your Lordship, as you may remember, honoured me by
remaining in company with Mr. Holland and Dr. A. Smith for more than
two hours, examining minutely every detail. From that day you have
spared neither time nor labour to induce coal owners to adopt and use
my “Indicator,”—which your Lordship also brought under the notice of
Her Majesty, who deputed H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh to examine it on
her behalf. This His Royal Highness graciously did at my residence.
It has also been distinguished by mention in the Preface to the last
edition of Ure’s Dictionary, in which work it is fully described. In
practical operation it has proved to be entirely successful even in
the hands of working colliers, who have, on more than one occasion,
said to me, “When men’s lives are as valuable as those of horses, your
instruments will be used; but, you see, they buy horses, and men they
get for nothing.”
I took occasion to speak with your Lordship about my troubled position
at the Mint, and asked permission to make known to you all the
circumstances. You having thus heard from me a statement of my views,
advised me to await the arrival of the proper time, and stated that
then you would assist me. I have already said that Mr. Barton advised
me to apply over Mr. Graham’s head for promotion when a vacancy should
occur, and I therefore waited that event. Unfortunately for me, Mr.
Barton was the first to be removed by death, he having died on the 25th
August, 1868. I had, therefore, no powerful friend left in the Mint.
It was amidst such circumstances that I sought the assistance of your
Lordship; which commenced with the following correspondence:—
FROM THE RIGHT HON. LORD KINNAIRD, K.T.,
TO THE RIGHT HON. B. DISRAELI.
“_Rossie Priory, Inchture, N.B._,
“_August 28th, 1868._
“DEAR SIR,
“May I ask you to read the enclosed—I cannot, of course,
ask you as from myself to attend to the application
therein—but having become acquainted with Mr. Ansell during
the time I was Chairman of the Mines Commission, I was so
struck with his intelligence and ingenuity, combined with
a great knowledge of chemistry, that I felt he was a very
valuable public servant. Mr. Ansell has invented a machine
for the discovery of fire-damp in mines, which, if generally
adopted, would be the means of preventing great loss of
life from explosions in coal mines, and I am convinced that
if you could find time you would be much interested in
witnessing his experiments.
“Mr. Ansell has no friends in high quarters to bring his
claims under your notice; I venture therefore to do so,
however unwillingly, because I feel that he is deserving,
and especially well fitted for the appointment. With many
apologies for troubling you,
“I remain,
“Yours faithfully,
(Signed) “KINNAIRD.
“THE RIGHT HON. B. DISRAELI.”