[William Benjamin Carpenter, biologist.] Autograph Letter Signed ('William B. Carpenter') to Professor William Alison of Edinburgh University, addressing an accusation of plagiarism laid against him by fellow-student John Hughes Bennett.

Author: 
William Benjamin Carpenter (1813-1885), biologist and administrator at the University of London [William Pulteney Alison, Professor of Medicine, University of Edinburgh; John Hughes Bennett]
Publication details: 
22 Park Street, Bristol; 8 November 1837.
£400.00
SKU: 21574

According to his entry in the Oxford DNB, 'Carpenter studied initially at the Bristol medical school and then in London, and in 1835–7 and again in 1839 in Edinburgh, where he took the MD degree.' The present letter dates from the hiatus in Carpenter's Scottish studies, to Professor William Pulteney Alison (1790-1859) of Edinburgh University, addressing an allegation that he has plagiarised from fellow-student John Hughes Bennett. 4pp, 4to. Bifolium. In fair condition, lightly aged and worn, with thin strip of paper from mount adhering to reverse of second leaf, which is addressed, with postmarks and broken seal in red wax, to 'Dr Alison | University | Edinburgh'. Folded four times. Seventy-three lines of text. Carpenter begins by apologising to Alison for asking his opinion 'on a subject on which I am anxious to obtain the best information I can from those most qualified to judge'. The question Carpenter asks is: 'Do you think that there is any valid foundation afforded by pathology to the belief in the independent functions of the circuitous and medullary portions of the nervous system, as maintained by Foville, Bouillard and others. I am well aware that on anatomical grounds you have expressed your hesitation in according with it (Physiology, p.107); but so much stress has been laid on the pathological arguments which appear to support it, that, as it now becomes rather an important question from its connections with others (Grainger on the Spinal Cord. Ch. II) it seems desirable that it should be fairly sifted.' Carpenter states that he is himself 'at present engaged in a course of reading on the functions of the nervous system, in continuation of the subject of my paper in the Ed. Med. J. Surg. Journal, and as my pathological knowledge is too limited to make me feel competent to decide upon it myself, I shall feel extremely obliged by our opinion, and by any sources of information which you may point out to me'. The following paragraph concerns the 'very kind testimonial' with which Alison favoured Carpenter on his leaving Edinburgh. The next paragraph discusses 'a paper of mine on Vegetable Physiology in the July No. of Dr Forbes's Review'. There follows: 'I have been very sorry to hear that Dr Bennet [John Hughes Bennett (1812-1875), who had graduated from Edinburgh with the highest honours] has accused me to some of my friends in Edinburgh of having plagiarised from him in my paper on the Nervous System – Those who know its history (and I may particularly refer to Dr J. Reid) will, I am sure, exonerate me from any such charge; and those who know me would, I hope, believe me to be incapable of it.' He describes the 'only foundation' of the charge', which he dismisses, 'as any one who compares the two may perceive, at least if Dr B. has printed what he read at the Medical Society'. (Hughes had read and published in 1837 the 'Inaugural Dissertation on the Physiology and Pathology of the Brain; being an Attempt to ascertain what Portions of that Organ are more immediately connected with Motion, Sensation, and Intelligence. Submitted to the Medical Faculty of the University of Edinburgh'.) He has, he explains, 'troubled' Alison 'with this explanation in case Dr B's statement should have reached your ears – If he had printed it, as I understand he at one time intended to do, I should have replied to it – I care little about priority of publication; but I am anxious to vindicate myself from the charge of dishonesty, especially amongst those whose esteem I so much value.' From the distinguished autograph collection of the psychiatrist Richard Alfred Hunter (1923-1981), whose collection of 7000 works relating to psychiatry is now in Cambridge University Library. Hunter and his mother Ida Macalpine had a particular interest in the illness of King George III, and their book 'George III and the Mad Business' (1969) suggested the diagnosis of porphyria popularised by Alan Bennett in his play 'The Madness of George III'.