AN IMPROVED METHOD OF PRESERVING MEAT
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Arthur Charles Henderson, of 31, Charing Cross
in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "AN
IMPROVED METHOD OF PRESERVING MEAT,"-A communication from abroad
by Hubert Felix Méressart, ainé, of Paris, in the Empire of France.
Sealed the 18th July 1865, and dated the 8th March 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Arthur Charles Henderson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
8th March 1865.
I, ARTHUR CHARLES HENDERSON, of 31, Charing Cross, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF PRESERVING MEAT," and that it has been com-
municated to me from abroad by Hubert Felix Méressart, ainé, of Paris,
in the Empire of France, to be as follows:-
My improved method of preserving is more spécially adapted for game,
although it may be employed with advantage for the ordinary kinds of
meat.
The plan hitherto adopted of enclosing the meat to be preserved in a metal
case without other protection is objectionable, as prepared in this manner
it has always a more or less disagreeable flavour detrimental to the delicacy
of the viand. This is entirely avoided by my method, which consists of

page_text: enclosing the meat previously seasoned in a crust, made of flour, butter, and
eggs, with a slight quantity of salt, which is then placed in a suitable metal
case and subjected to the action of heat in an oven, the case being unclosed.
When sufficiently cooked it is withdrawn and a small quantity of good brandy
is introduced into the pasty, the metal cover is then soldered down, and
the whole is subjected to about two hours' boiling in a water bath.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Arthur Charles Henderson in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 4th September 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ARTHUR
CHARLES HENDERSON, of No. 31, Charing Cross, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-ninth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Arthur Charles Henderson, Her special licence that I, the said Arthur
Charles Henderson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Arthur Charles Henderson, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to
time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should
and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention] for "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF PRESERVING MEAT," a communica-
tion to me from abroad by Hubert Felix Méressart, ainé, of Paris, in the
Empire of France, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Arthur Charles Henderson, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Arthur Charles Henderson, do hereby
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, that is to say :-

page_text: My improved method of preserving is more especially adapted for game,
at the same time it may with advantage be employed for ordinary meat.
The system hitherto adopted of enclosing the meat to be preserved simply
in a metal case is open to considerable objection, for prepared in this manner
it retains always a more or less disagreeable flavour, detrimental to the
delicacy of the viand. This is entirely avoided by my method, which will be
fully understood from the following short description.
My modus operandi is as follows:-Having chosen suitably shaped pieces
of meat previously seasoned, they are placed in a crust, made of flour, a
little water, butter and eggs, and salt; the crust and its contents are now
placed in a suitable metal case and subjected to the heat of an oven for a
sufficient time to completely cook them; this is usually effected in about two
hours. On withdrawing them from the oven a small quantity of good brandy
is introduced into what may be termed the pasty, the metal cover of the case
is then soldered down, and the whole is subjected to the water bath for two
hours' boiling.
In spicing the meat to be preserved, I employ salt, black pepper, thyme,
laurel, or bay leaves, and various other spices, making use of a sufficient
quantity to render it agreeable to the palate.
In making the crust which forms the first covering of the meat I take care
that it shall be tolerably stiff although very smooth, this can best be obtained
by a thorough kneading.
In preserving game I cause it to be carefully drawn and singed, then larded
and afterwards carefully filled with a stuffing, which must depend on the
nature of the game. Grouse, pheasants, snipe, partridges, and ducks thus
preserved retain their full flavour for a considerable length of time.
Having thus described my Invention, what I claim and desire to secure by
Letters Patent is the peculiar method of preserving herein-before described,
and by which all the delicacy of the viands are effectually retained.
In witness whereof, I, the said Arthur Charles Henderson, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Fourth day of September, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.
A. C. HENDERSON. (L.S.)