, 1872-10-22

We have1ecelVed the following note from Pro-
fessor Aiken, of Baltimore, the chemist who
made the analysis in the case Of the. lady sup,
posed to have been poisoned by DR.. schoeppe-
and, later, in the case Of the person supposed to
have been poisoned BY Mrs. Wharton:
BALTIMORE, s31p., Oct. 10, 1872.
70 The Editor Of TIN Chicago Tribune:
OF your issue Of the 18th ult, containing comments On
the echoeppe case. These comments, feel sure,
would NJ not may neen q + t1s ~fgr @ naa ] heen
interested parties to misrepresen for very long
time and, in the absence, Of I'LL explanation my
part 1t iB not strange that those who do not know me
should have accepted such misrepresentation aa
truths. In Baltimore paper Of the 4st nlt., have
given brief statement Of tacts tn relation to This
to your sense OF Justice to relieve from the faIaa
posontn which {innocontly On your part} 1hare been
spoctfully, youra, ETC., ". L. AIKEN.
The TRIBUNE commented upon the case as
presented inthe current news OF the day publish
cd in the Maryland and PeungyIEanis papers, and
certainly from no purpose to do DR.. Aiken any in
Justice, personal or professional For thirty
years he has been eminent in science, nor waa
his learning or ability ever questioned until
the 6choeppe and Wharton cases, when be had
the misfortune, Justly or hnjust1y, Of being
severely handled by other scientists and by the
legal profession. Men Of sciance do not seem
to be above the jealousieH and riva1ries OF less
learned men, and the acquittaIs Of Dr.. schoeppe
and Mrs. Wharton hare given those opposed to
him triumph which, to the public, who do not
undertake to decide the scientific questions in
VolEed, may have an undue weight in determin-
ing the merits Of the controversy. We 'disclaim
any purpose to do Dr.. Aiken any injustice; and
1ogret that, following the current publications
concerning him, which were uncontradicted, TIE
hare even seemed to misrepresent him.
Tho State Librarian Of Connecticut, Mr.. Hoad-
ley, is doing work for that State which, it ia to
be wished, somebody would do for every other. |
He is publishing, in 3 series OF volumes, the
public records OF Connecticut Colony, taken
from the manuscripts that have been hidden
away for many years in New Haven and Hart
ford, and in London. The Public Record Office,
in the latter city is rich in manuscripts relating
to American colonial history. So, also, are such
Of the French archives as have escaped the touch
Of Time mud Communists. These archives teen
with facts concerning the early history Of Hi
noie. The Spanish records OF the eighteenth
century must be studied, too, by the man who
would write that history well. 1t is curious
fact that these two alien nations across the sea
have taken far more care to preserve the history
OF Illinois than the State hersslf has. No Legis-
1ature has ever deemed it worth while to appro-
pirate few hundred dolarB either to collect Of
iginals or copies Of these old manuscripts or to
take sufficient care Of the new manuscripts with
which its session filed the Office Of the Secretary
Of State. The public records OF the State are in
very imperfect condition. Valuable papers
hare been borrowed and then forgotten, and Of
ten stolen outright. More emphatically than al |
most any other community do re need the ser
vices Of some such man as A1r. Hoadley, to save
Of Illinois as Colony, Territory, and a State. |
Ruskin will find fresh opportunities for his ele-
CANT and scholarly grumbling in the projected |
plans Of some capitalists to maize Rome q plece
Of fashionable reaort. IT, is now intended to
build whole quarter in the latest and grand
est style of>architecture to accomplish which,
soma of the most notable ruins sill have to be
removed Or destroyed. Two canals are also to