opinion, and under no circumstances whatever would they stoop to the meanness of attempting to escape the consequences of any errors of judgment by making a scapegoat of the man through whose energy and perseverance the construction of mild cast-steel ships was rendered commercially possible, and whose invention has so greatly benefited the nation generally, and the British Admiralty in particular. Although that great department of the State failed for so long to recognise the merits of my steel, I have received the most ample recognition of the value of my inventions, alike from reigning sovereigns, from the learned societies, and scientific institutions of every State in Europe, all of which I acknowledge with every expression of profound gratitude.