| RefNo | HS/19/156 |
| Level | Item |
| Title | Draft unsent letter, from Sir John Frederick William Herschel to the editor of the Times |
| Date | 06 May 1865 |
| Description | Clean draft of a letter related to the trial of Miss Constance Kent for the so-called 'Road Murder' of Francis Saville Kent, her half-brother. Herschel reports his opinion on the testimony of Reverend A[rthur] D. Wagner, who had received confession from Constance Kent and refused to break the seal of confession. Herschel asks "and through you I ask the British Public"whether that amounted to perjury, stating that legally this was not as no question was asked. Herschel continues to point at that it amounts to concealing the truth.
The court-case led to questions at the House of Parliament on an exemption for Roman Catholic Priests which found similarly to Herschel that no exception should be made.
The letter is marked "not send - but richly merited". |
| Language | English |
| Extent | 2 pp. |
| PhysicalDescription | Ink on paper |
| Digital images | View item on Science in the Making |
| AccessStatus | Open |
Fellows associated with this archive
| Code | PersonName | Dates |
| NA8238 | Herschel; Sir; John Frederick William (1792 - 1871); astronomer | 1792 - 1871 |