I remain yours respectfully,
Frederick Tyrell.
To Mr. George Cox.
J. Hodson, Esq., consulting Oculist to the Eye Infirmary, Birmingham, resolved upon coming to London to give me his disclaimer, rather than incur any chance of misrepresentation from an unjustifiable use being made of his signature, he being an entire stranger to me before I addressed him upon this subject.
He authorizes me to state that Mr. —— has no authority or right whatever to make use of his name. About four years since a man came to his surgery, and introducing himself as the inventor of roseate tint preservers and amber spectacles, showed him a pair in silver frames, and, expatiating upon their wonderful properties, mentioned the names of several leading surgeons and oculists who had inserted their signatures in a book which he handed to Mr. Hodson, who, without suspecting the design of the knave, added his to the list, for the same reason, he said, that folks do so at a watering place, a library, or as having visited or seen some particular exhibition—in fact, because it was customary to do so. Four or five days afterwards the same individual called again, apparently in great haste, and requested Mr. H. to lend him two sovereigns, as he had immediate occasion for that sum. He produced a pair of amber spectacles, and said, “I will leave these as security until I return the money.” Mr. H. began now to suspect the fellow, and guessed it to be very unlikely that he would trouble himself to redeem the Spectacles (worth about twelve shillings) if he succeeded in raising two pounds upon them; he therefore referred him to a pawnbroker in the neighbourhood, whose business it was to enter into such arrangements, which were, clearly quite foreign to his, Mr. H.’s practice.
Mr. Hodson has ever since regretted having (though inadvertently) given his signature, which, as the reader will perceive, is solicited as a mere matter of form, and is then made the most unwarrantable use of, involving the parties in many dilemmas, and exposing them to the ridicule and reprehension of every intelligent observer.
The fact is, if one signature of an eminent person can be procured by dint of false representation or plausible pretence, the rest follow as a matter of course; thus Mr. Hodson signed his name, seeing that some of the “heads of colleges” were there inscribed. Mr. Soden, of Bath, gave his signature because Mr. Ledsam had given his; and Mr. Ledsam signed because Mr. Hodson had done so.
Mr. Alexander, Oculist to the Royal Family, was waited upon by one of the crafty crew, whose object was to get his signature at all hazards. The fellow fawned and entreated, but was sternly resisted by Mr. A. who showed him the door, and declared, if he presumed to make use of his name, in his quack advertisements, he would set a solicitor to work immediately.
Copy of a Letter from Robert Keate, Esq., Surgeon in Ordinary to Her Majesty.
Albemarle Street, July 17, 1838.