“Admiralty, 11th April, 1812.
“Sir,– I have received your letter of the 9th instant, enclosing a meat satisfactory one from the late Lord Nelson, and I shall be happy to receive any communication you may have to make on the subject of your experiments on timber.
(Signed)“Melville.”
“To Captain Layman.”
“April 18th, 1812.
“My Lord,– I was honored with your lordship’s letter on the 14th instant, inviting me to communicate my experiments on encreasing the strength and duration of timber, and in consequence beg leave to enclose a Prospectus[1], containing the heads of the information I shall be enabled to lay before your lordship.
“This subject has been the principal object of my research, both at home and abroad, for many years, and all the knowledge I have acquired, from observation and study, of a matter so closely combined with the maritime strength and finances of the United Kingdom, I am ready to communicate freely for the benefit of my country; and which I should prefer to any gain I might derive from an exclusive patent, or by imparting the invention to other nations. But as every one has a fair and just claim to expect that his talents or his industry should be rewarded, in proportion to the advantages which the public or individuals derive from them, I trust it will not be considered by your lordship as improper on my part to premise, that before I make any disclosure of this discovery, I shall hope to receive some assurance, that if the principle of the plan proposed is approved, I may rely upon receiving public recompense by promotion, and such suitable employment, as under the direction of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, may successfully effect the great and desirable object of extricating the country from dependence on foreign powers for the means of supporting our navy, by reducing the consumption of timber to the least possible expenditure, and by increasing its duration, &c.; as well as providing within ourselves a future permanent supply, equal to such expenditure.
(Signed)“W. Layman.”
“To Robert Vscount Melville.”
“Admiralty, 21st April, 1812.
“Sir,– I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 18th instant, enclosing a Prospectus on the improvement of Forest Trees.
“I am much obliged to you for laying before me the general outline of your plan, and perfectly agree with you, that every individual is entitled to reward, in proportion to the advantage which the public may derive from his talents or industry; but as I do not feel myself at liberty to hold out to you any expectations of promotion or employment, as a recompense- ↑ The substance of this Prospectus is inserted in Nicholson’s Philosophical Journal, for May, 1813.
