[The Bath Gas Company Bill, 1837.] Autograph Letter Signed from George Olive to H. J. Mant of Bath, discussing the testimony to a Parliamentary committee of 'Witnesses produced by the Promoters'. With signed autograph receipt from C. H. Capper.

Olive's Letter: 3pp., 4to. Bifolium. Addressed, with postmark, on reverse of second leaf to 'H. J. Mant Esq | 2 Wood St | Queen Square | Bath'. The letter is without place or date. Olive has written the letter on behalf of the Bath attorneys Mant & Bruce (he states at the conclusion that 'Mr Bruce requested me to write to save him the trouble'), who are acting for an interested party (Capper?). The letter is headed 'Bath Gas' and the first half reads: 'The Promoters of this Bill got through their case to day & Mr Bingham gave an outline of his case for the opponents, the old Gas Company. The Witnesses produced by the Promoters before the Committee of the Commons were examined to day with the exception of John Allen, & Edge the London Gas fitter who was there but not called. They also brought forward in addition Finglass the Grocer in the Market Place & Bennett the Tea Dealer, Davis the Chemist in Old Bond St. & & Carter the Pork Butcher adjoining the Walcot Poorhouse - Every witness they examined today, except Carter, are interested & many of them as you are aware belong to the Committee of the new Company - It is not considered that they have upon the whole strengthened their case at all - The additional Witnesses who are considered having gone rather too far - Finglass & Bennett stating that they had not been able frequently to get a flame of an inch in length which must of itself prove that there must be some defect in the fittings - Davis was perhaps the best, he spoke of having a sort of country house in the middle of the Bath Park & of the smell & smoke not being in his opinion at all offensive although he considered the appearance of the works unsightly'. The second half of the letter continues in the same detail, discussing the positions of the committee members ('Lord Portman was Chairman of the Committee - the Bishop of Landaff & Lords Manners & Verulam attended the Committee the whole time - Lords Montford Mansfield & Hawarden were there only a part of the time') and their probable actions, his comments including 'Lord Manners is a man who cannot be depended upon' and 'Mr Bruce saw Lord Bute yesterday & Lords Salisbury & Verulam today & I believe convinced them of the utter falsity of the statement [that 'Lord Powerscourts return for Bath depends on the passing of the Bill']' . The letter concludes: 'I believe I have given you all particulars worth having - at present we seem to stand well but all things are uncertain at least in such matters as this - Mr Bruce request me to write to save him the trouble'. Capper's receipt: 1p., 4to. On bifolium. Addressed, with red wax seal and Birmingham postmark, to 'Messrs. Mant & Bruce | Bath'. It reads: 'Gentlemen | Your favour 15th. Inst enclosing an order in London for £20 . 10 . 0 I received yesterday and have placed the amount to the Ct. of the Bath Gas Compy and am much obliged to you for the same'.