To Simon Thompson, of Great Yarmouth, in the county of Norfolk, mariner's compass maker, for his having invented or found out certain improvements in piano. fortes. 27th Feb.-6 months.

To William Howard, of Rotherhithe, in the county of Surrey, iron manufacturer, being one of the people called Quakers, for his having invented certain improvements in the construction of wheels for carriages. 27th Feb.6 months.

To Philip Chilwell De da Garde, of the city of Exeter, gentleman, for his having invented certain improvements in apparatus for fidding and unfidding masts, and in masting and rigging of vessels. 27th Feb.-6 months.

Thomas Prosser, of the city of Worcester, architect for his having invented or found out certain improvements in the construction of window sashes, and in the mode of hanging the same. 6th March.-6 months.

To Thomas Richard Guppy, of the city of Bristol, sugar refiner, for his having invented a new apparatus for granulating sugar. 6th March.-6 months.

To Ralph Stevenson, of Colridge, Stafford, potter, for his having invented improvements in machinery for making from clay or other suitable materials, quarries, bricks, tiles and other articles. 6th March.—6 months.

To James Ramsay and Andrew Ramsay, both of Greenoch, in North Britain, cordage and sail cloth-manufacturers, and Matthew Orr, of Greenoch aforesaid, sail maker, for their having invented or found out an improvement in the manufacture of canvas and sail cloth for the making of sails. 20th March.-6 months.

To George Scott, of Water Lane, in the city of London, engineer, for his having invented certain improvements on or additions to windlasses, and relative machinery applicable to naval purposes. 20th March.-6 months.

To John Alexander Fulton, of Lawrence Poultney Lane, Cannon Street, in the city of London, merchant for his having invented an improvement in the preparation of pepper. 20th March.-6 months.

To William Erskine Cochrane, Esq. of Regent Street, in the county of Middlesex, for his having invented an im provement or improvements on his patent cooking apparatus. 20th March.-6 months.

To Benjamin Rotch, of Furnivals Inn, in the county of Middlesex, barrister at law, for his having invented or found out improved guards or protections for horses legs and feet under certain circumstances. 20th March.-12 months.

THE

London

JOURNAL OF ARTS AND SCIENCES.

No. XXVI.

[SECOND SERIES.]

Original Communications.

ART. II. ON THE REPORT OF THE PATENT-LAW
COMMITTEE.

To the Editors of the London Journal of Arts, &c.

GENTLEMEN,-After routing an enemy in a main battle, it is good generalship to destroy in detail the corps which composed his army. This politic course I will pursue in respect of the several forms, documents and warrants, which constitute the process of taking out patents under the seals. I have, I trust, fully vindicated the right of every individual to protection to his invention, as a matter of inherent property, and beaten down by the evidence before the Committee, and rational deductions, the fallacious arguments of those who would support the present system of enormous fees for the protection of the inventor.

I will still keep to the evidence as published, and draw conclusions from it in proving the absurdity, evil, and inutility of the separate documents, &c. (with scarcely an exception) which

VOL. V. SECOND SERIES.

form the detail upon which the mass of extravagant and oppressive fees are demanded.

As the entering of a caveat which entitles an inventor intending to take out a patent, to notice of other similar inventions is entirely optional with him to do or not, as he may be advised by his 'professional agent-I have only a few observations to make upon this form.

"The caveat in general, is no protection whatever. If the person entering a caveat, require to have notice of a patent being passed, that caveat will give him notice." Mr. I. Farey, Rep. pp. 22 and 23.

"In case an applicant for a patent was aware that some one else had turned his mind to the same subject, would it not be of service to that person to lodge a caveat, &c.?" "That is the common case of a caveat being lodged, but it can do no great good in most instances. If a new invention is getting up with so much secrecy that none of the rivals are informed of its existence, then a caveat has only the effect of calling attention to the subject; but if the attention has been already called to the subject by other means, then a caveat has the effect of procuring a notice of any rival application" (p. 22.) In this view most of the practical men agree. Mr. M. Poole recommends them to be continued for all the fourteen years, in order to prevent others taking the patent for the same object." p. 84. The charge is, I believe 17. 18. per annum, but there is generally sufficient service done for that sum, by the notices sent to the parties, although the advantage of entering a caveat appears very questionable. It is by the oppositions raised upon the caveat and otherwise, that the fees pour into the Attorney-General. This fruitful source of emolument, and the general incapacity of an Attorney or Solicitor-General to determine upon scientific inventions, deserve a more particular notice. "It sometimes happens in order to make the subject intelligible to the Attorney General, that a good deal of expense (in model or plans) must be gone into." M. J. Taylor, Rep. p. 6. Mr. Farey says, p. 23. "It requires a very deep knowledge to form