Readers Testimonials for Volume II. The Case for Cordite. |
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John Williams the author has managed to strike the perfect balance between the scientific intricacies of the conception, gestation and final innovation of cordite and the legal case that followed in its wake. As an Industrial Chemist for more years than he cares to remember the author has treated the complexities of pure science in a written form which is readily understandable to the professional and the lay person alike. Even the occasional diagrammatic structures of constituents of the "ingredients" are refreshing. I say ingredients as at no time does the reader think they are reading a scientific text-book. This book is more than excellent as it is in no way confined to the central battle between the Government of the time and Nobel but goes off at welcome tangents to effectively encapsulate a period of time when Victoria still reigned. To that extent it totally succeeds as a social history of the time. Inter alia there is a sadly wonderful story of the man in Penrhyndeudraeth, a small town in North Wales, who tries to blow himself up with Guncotton, failing to understand that it would have a markedly different reaction to ignition when free or constrained. One is treated, when one least expects it, to relevant stories of great interest in the very development of cordite and as importantly the characters involved. It soon becomes apparent that once Nobel has decided to take on the Government, who he claims, are still using his patent for ballistite which he maintains is effectively the same as cordite without payment, and a Petition of Right freely endorsed by the Home Secretary, which we are told is never followed, as Anderson stands in for the Government there is only one winner. Any idea embodied in English constitutional law that "let justice be done" is belied when we have the legal teams drawn up for Alfred Nobel and the Government. On Nobel's side John Moulton Q.C. appears, primarily an English mathematician, followed by being a barrister and Judge; the author rather pungently comments that "his defeats were as memorable as his victories". In fairness Moulton was supported by C.A. Cripps QC and Mr Haldane QC. When we analyse the legal team for the Defendants it comprises The Attorney General; Sir Charles Russell who is to become Lord Chief Justice. In his capacity of Attorney General he is usually a Member of Parliament and Member of the Cabinet. He is supported by Sir Richards Webster Q.C. again destined to become Lord Chief Justice and Robert Cecil an able junior barrister who is to take silk before the turn of the century. For good measure the Defence also employ Mathew Joyce. Junior Equity Counsel to the Treasury who became a Judge and was knighted in 1900. The importance of the Government winning this case is obvious to all but the uninitiated. There is a wonderful piece in the book pertaining to the use of expert witnesses. The Government access and pay the very best brains in chemical expertise and this ultimately guarantees them success. A close read of the evidence in chief from the main witnesses supports the view that Nobel really has no chance of succeeding, whether his protestations that the Government have stolen his ideas, is true or not. Predictably the influential press such as The Times, support the Government and delight in the judgment. Even the Prime Minister of the Day makes patronising remarks after the judgment that Nobel has really done such a lot for the country with his work in explosives. Clearly all those in power rubbed their hands in glee at the result which is hurried through by Mr Justice Romer after 13-14 days. The author deals with the legal case admirably and one would surmise that he has had legal training but he has not Many of the legal arguments are
speculative in the extreme and it is very much doubted if Tom Denning had been the trial judge that the result would have been the same. The message comes across clearly that this is a different age, different protocols pervade and once the Government of the British Empire take you on you had better beware. If a Government of the day is in a corner they will go to pretty well any lengths to protect their position, and in this case especially, should the purse strings of the Treasury need to be to be loosened in the event of Nobel being successful. I experienced this at first hand being appointed by the Gibraltar Bar with a colleague and an Irish contingent of barristers and solicitors to act for the families of the dead IRA " terrorists' in Gibraltar. The British Government and the SAS were represented by the very best and their team was massive. The Government of Margaret Thatcher could not afford to lose the Inquest at the time and everything is done to make sure they won. Subsequently the killings were deemed unlawful and compensation quietly paid. In the legal profession there are occasions when you know you have no chance of winning. The Judiciary should be separate and independent from the Administration and Executive but dearly and more so in the latter part of the Nineteenth Century the Upper Classes embodying the Law Lords and the non paid politicians who mainly comprised upper middle classes or aristocrats could fashion the system or results in a much easier way than today.
Once I started reading John William's latest rendition I was loathe to put it down. Its very size precluded reading it in bed. It reflects the massive amount of research that has been undertaken by John and Gloria his dear wife. It is a total success and should be on the book-shelves of every chemist, lawyer and any of those who have a joy in reading a good factual story and wish their minds to be stimulated by the ardour and even asinine behaviour of some of the leading players. It is a mini education in itself. The explanations of legal concepts throughout the work are a major contribution to anyone's education.
John Ross B.A. (Hons)
Former Member of Gibraltar Bar / Former Solicitor of Supreme Court.
The two Cd’s arrived safe and well. The work looks not only professional but also easy to read. Y.B. Israel.
It's a fantastic resource to have so much information available on 2 CDs. W.C.
I have read with great interest the vast amount of material that you have collected on the cordite case. I am always amazed at what is available from the 19th century if one looks hard enough. I should have been glad to have had your work to hand when I was writing my biography of James Dewar since you make available so many of the primary sources. I look forward to tackling your first volume although the field is not one with which I am so familiar. With again, thanks and best wishes, John.
Sir John Rowlinson. Oxford.
speculative in the extreme and it is very much doubted if Tom Denning had been the trial judge that the result would have been the same. The message comes across clearly that this is a different age, different protocols pervade and once the Government of the British Empire take you on you had better beware. If a Government of the day is in a corner they will go to pretty well any lengths to protect their position, and in this case especially, should the purse strings of the Treasury need to be to be loosened in the event of Nobel being successful. I experienced this at first hand being appointed by the Gibraltar Bar with a colleague and an Irish contingent of barristers and solicitors to act for the families of the dead IRA " terrorists' in Gibraltar. The British Government and the SAS were represented by the very best and their team was massive. The Government of Margaret Thatcher could not afford to lose the Inquest at the time and everything is done to make sure they won. Subsequently the killings were deemed unlawful and compensation quietly paid. In the legal profession there are occasions when you know you have no chance of winning. The Judiciary should be separate and independent from the Administration and Executive but dearly and more so in the latter part of the Nineteenth Century the Upper Classes embodying the Law Lords and the non paid politicians who mainly comprised upper middle classes or aristocrats could fashion the system or results in a much easier way than today.
Once I started reading John William's latest rendition I was loathe to put it down. Its very size precluded reading it in bed. It reflects the massive amount of research that has been undertaken by John and Gloria his dear wife. It is a total success and should be on the book-shelves of every chemist, lawyer and any of those who have a joy in reading a good factual story and wish their minds to be stimulated by the ardour and even asinine behaviour of some of the leading players. It is a mini education in itself. The explanations of legal concepts throughout the work are a major contribution to anyone's education.
John Ross B.A. (Hons)
Former Member of Gibraltar Bar / Former Solicitor of Supreme Court.
The two Cd’s arrived safe and well. The work looks not only professional but also easy to read. Y.B. Israel.
It's a fantastic resource to have so much information available on 2 CDs. W.C.
I have read with great interest the vast amount of material that you have collected on the cordite case. I am always amazed at what is available from the 19th century if one looks hard enough. I should have been glad to have had your work to hand when I was writing my biography of James Dewar since you make available so many of the primary sources. I look forward to tackling your first volume although the field is not one with which I am so familiar. With again, thanks and best wishes, John.
Sir John Rowlinson. Oxford.