The effect of drawing and pushing al-hand, the two pistons alternating one with tenrately the slide-rod by means of the ro- the other in their motion, that is to say, tation of the eccentric, is accomplished by acting upon two cranks perpendicular to means of a metallic ring nn fixed at the each other, as has been explained, the radii end of the shaft L, and in which the ec- of the two eccentrics must necessarily stand centric-wheel turns, the surfaces which are also at right angles with each other. This in contact being smooth and lubricated disposition may be seen in figs. 11 and 12, with oil. By this arrangement, while the where the piece forming the two eccentrics great radius of the eccentric passes in is represented in front. To make it more turning from one side of the centre to the clear, it is marked by hatchings. other, it carries along with it the shaft fastened to the ring, and communicates to that shaft the alternate motion. that while that crank is vertical and above the axle, the driver r on the right side, and the aperture that receives it, are behind and hidden by the axle; consequently, the eccentric is horizontal, and in front; a position which, as we have seen, suits a retrograde motion. The driver r is thus placed for the retrograde motion, keeping the eccentric in that position. If we now suppose, on the contrary, that This piece must, as has been said, move the eccentric be pushed against the other with and be carried along by the axle.-driver r', the corresponding aperture of the However, if it were permanently fixed on eccentric being at O', that is to say, not the axle, its position might suit when the being in front of the driver, the consequence engine is to go forward, and not when it is will be that, the eccentric not stirring out to go backward; for it will be seen that, of its place, the axle will be forced to turn for these two motions, the eccentric must half round before the driver can enter into be fixed in two different positions. the aperture. From this follows, that, if we continue to examine the right crank, it will be found to have arrived under the axle, while the eccentric will still be in front, which is the position that suits the progressive motion; for it is the same as the one we have explained above, of the crank being above the axle, and the eccentric behind. By this it will be seen that the eccentric wheel acts here the part of a common crank for transforming the circular motion of the axle in an alternate motion applied to the slide, on the contrary principle to that which changes the alternate motion of the This piece is therefore loose upon the piston into a circular motion applied to the axle like a pulley on its axis, but it can be axle of the engine; but the eccentric dis-fastened to it at will. To that effect its penses with the crank which would have side-faces have two apertures or eyes, repbeen necessary in the axle. resented at O and O'; and the axle itself However, as by the disposition of the en-carries two pins rr', which are called drigine the slide-rod is not in the same plane with the axle, the eccentric does not communicate directly the motion to the sliderod itself; the motion is communicated to that rod by means of the cross-axle K, and the two arms KL' and K' which are fixed to it; and the consequence is, that when the eccentric goes back, the slide-rod / advances, and vice versa, as may be seen on the figure. A comparison between figs. 9 and 10, the difference of which is a quarter of a revolution, will make the above mentioned effects perfectly intelligible. pass vers. The eccentric being placed on the Thus we see that the two driver r and r, in figs. 11 and 12, being placed at right angles with each other, and with the cranks of the axle, are in a proper position; one for the progressive, and the other for the retrogade motion of the engine. These two drivers being fixed on the axle, one on one side, and the other on the other side of the eccentric, it is clear that, by pushing that eccentric, by means of a lever, either on one or on the other of the two drivers, the effect of the steam on the piston will immediately be to carry the engine either forwards or backwards, according to the driver with which it has been thrown in gear. The lever, which causes the change of position of the eccentric, is handle within the reach of the engine-man, placed in such a manner as to present its on the board on which he stands. Besides these several dispositions, in or may By examining the motion of the slide (fig. 10.,) it will be seen that, while ing from one of its situations to the other, and when it happens to be exactly in the middle position, there occurs one instant duLet us suppose that, by pushing the enring which all the passages of the steam gine gently along the rails, we bring one of are shut together. This effect takes place the pistons to be just in the middle of the at the moment the slide changes the passa-cylinder, and that precisely at the same in-der that the man who directs the engine ges of the steam, and corresponds with the stant the crank, on which that piston acts, point where the piston changes its direc-is in its verticle position above the axle, the slides, independently of the motion of the himself and of his own accord move tion. This coincidence can only take place as in fig. 3, it is clear that, to make the en-axle, the shafts of the eccentrics are not inbecause, setting aside the little lead of the gine go forward, the steam must push the variably fixed to the slide rods. They are slide, the radius of the eccentric is at right piston forwards, for then the piston will carangles with the radius of the crank. In ry along with it, in the same direction, both only fastened to them by a notch L', figs. fact, the slide is necessarily thus in its mid- the crank and the wheels; consequently, the small rod m'o, the engine-man can 13 and 14. By means of a lever acting on dle position, that is to say, changing the the slide must must admit the steam by raise the shaft of the eccentric and disencommunications of the steam, at the same the passage No. 1, or be drawn forward time as the piston is at the bottom of the as it is represented here, which, by re-gage it from the the notch, as may be seen in fig. 14; then the slides are at liberty to cylinder, ready also to alter the direction of ferring to fig. 9, requires that the raits motion. This correlativeness of motions dius of the eccentric be horizontal, and move independently of the axle; consequently, it is easy by means of two handles is clearly exhibited in the figure. placed at the back of the axle. This is, The particular advantage of the eccen- therefore, the point at which the driver represented by PP in fig. 1, and connected with the slide-rods, to give to those slides tric being thus placed at right angles with must fix the eccentric for the progressive the required motion. the crank is, that the eccentric is in full ac-motion. tion when the crank is on its centre, or The engine remaining in the same posithe piston at the bottom of the cylinder, tion, let us suppose that we wish on the that is to say, that the slide is in its most contrary, to dispose it for the retrograde rapid motion just at the moment that it is to motion. The steam must arrive on the opopen or shut the passages; which circum-posite face of the piston, that is to say, that stance is necessary to prevent time being the passage No. 2 must be opened to it, lost in the alternate effect of the steam. $8. Of the Drivers. Until now we have spoken as if there were only one slide, but, having said there were two cylinders, it is clear that there must be a slide, and consequently an eccentric for each of them. On the other which supposes that the slide is pushed This is exactly the position of fig. 12. Each of § 9. Of the Water-Pumps. Under the body of the engine are two pumps p, fig. 1. the use of which is to replenish the boiler with water. them is placed immediately under the piston-rod of each cylinder, and is worked by it. Each pump sucks a part of the water of the tender into the cylinder of the pump, and, on the other hand, forces it from the cylinder of the pump into the boiler, in the usual way. By having two pumps the replenishing of the boiler is secured, as, in case one of the two were to get out of order, the other may easily supply its place. The valves of these pumps are ingen-of a single picce. It is formed of separate iously made of a small metallic sphere, rest- bars (fig. 31), which are placed next to ing on a circular seat, on which it exactly each other at the bottom of the fire-place, fits. Their action takes place by rising where they are supported by their two ends. within a cylinder, the sides of which are The advantage of this arrangement is, the pierced with four apertures for the passage facility it affords of replacing them individuof the water. One of these valves is rep-ally by new ones, when they are worn out resented in fig. 15. The water is intro- by the intensity of the fire. Besides, if any duced through a from the interior of the accident should happen to the boiler, and cylinder under the sperical ball which it make the water run off unexpectedly, thus raises, and is diffused in the body of endangering the engine, one may, by means the pump by the apertures b, b. This of a crooked poker, easily turn the bars upform of a valve never misses its effect; side down, and consequently extinguish imand the pumps, which, in the beginning, mediately the fire by letting it fall on the were continually out of order, are free from road, with the bars that supported it. It is that defect, since Mr. Melling of Livepool also thus that every evening the fire-box is first introduced that sort of valve. emptied, after the engine has finished its work. § 10. Of the Steam-Regulator. the steam is confined till it can escape XX, Iron knees, by which the boiler is fix- § 13. Of the places occupied by the differ-bb, Guides for the chair of the wheel to box. ent parts. BB, Stand for the engine-man and his as sistant. C, Chimney of the engine. same manner. The regulator, of which we have spoken, above, and by means of which the passage We shall complete this description, by leading from the boiler to the cylinders may showing on the whole engine, as representbe more or less opened, is represented in ed in figs. 1 and 2, the places occupied by figs. 32 and 33. It simply consists of two It simply consists of two the different parts of which we have spoken. metallic disks placed above and exactly fit-A, Part of the boiler containing the firethe same size. The inferior disk is imting each other, both having an aperture of moveable, and shuts the pipe through which the steam escapes. The superior disk is moveable, by means of a handle T, which projects out of the engine; the stem r of the handle passes through the moveable disk, and enters the other in its centre, so as to keep them both in a right position over each other. In fig. 32, these two disks are distinguished from each other by hatchings running a different way. By making the superior disk K, by means of the handle T, move circularly on the inferior disk, the two apertures may be brought to correspond exactly with each other, as in fig. 32, and then the passage is entirely open. If only partially moved, as represented by the dotted lines in fig. 33, the passage is only partially opened; and when the two apertures do not correspond at all, the communication is completely intercepted: when the passage is thus shut, it is the steam itself that keeps the two disks in immediate contact with each other, by pressing with all its force on the superior disk. This regulator may also be constructed in a different way. It is sometimes made in the form of a common two-way cock, the steam coming from above; but the preceding description is the one most commonly used. § 11. Of the Joints or rubbing parts. In all the joints of any importance, the oil is fed without interruption by means of a cup, with a wick-syphon, placed above the joint, as at m in fig. 6. This cup is made in the form of a school-boy's inkhorn, so that the velocity of the motion may not spill the oil; and there is at the bottom of it a small tube, penetrating to the entrance of the joint. A cotton-wick dipping in the oll of the cup passes in the tube, and, sucking continually the oil out of the cup, drops it into the joint without interruption, § 12. Of the Fire Grate. The grate in the fire-place is not made G, Glass-tube. 1, End of the eccentric-rod. J, Horizontal guides for the head of the K, Cross-axle, communicating the motion of the eccentric-rod to the slide-rod, by MM, Rod by means of which the engine- N, Handle by means of which the engine- PP, Handles to move the slides when they slide up and down, according as the c, Flexible tube made of hemp-cloth, but p', Handle and rod of the safety-cock of the pump, serving to ascertain whether the water really arrives in the cylinder of the This cock leads without, pump. so that when it is open and the pump has its proper effect, a small jet of water may be seen issuing from it, which shows that the pump works right. ee, Pad, stuffed with horse-hair and covered with leather, to deaden the shocks the engine may give or receive. Cock, by means of which the water that is sometimes carried from the boiler to the cylinder may be forced out by the effect of the steam. g, are thrown out of gear with the eccen- or less the aperture through which the V, Steam-chamber, or reservoir, in which Opening made in the double casing of the fire-box, and closed hy a screw-bolt. In withdrawing this bolt, a cleaning-rod may be introduced into the double-casing; and, by means of a forcing pump, water may be injected with force, to cleanse out the clay sediment left by the boiling of the water. This cleaning is usually performed once a-week. (fig. 2.) Moveable plate or door, opening the interior of the chimney compartment, by which the end of the tubes of the boiler, the cylinders, the slides, and the steam-pipes leading from the boiler to the slide-boxes, or from the slide-boxes to the chimney, are visible. This door is opened when it is necessary to regu late the slides, as we shall see hereafter. WOOD POLISHING.-The Persians have tory employs 200 persons, who manufacture waste steam. The valve ought to weigh 297 introduced an entirely new mode of polish- $150,000 worth per annum. Connecticut about forty pounds, and be cast with a holing, which is to wood precisely what plat- may safely challenge the universal Yankee low at the top to receive lead to regulate ing is to metal. Water may be spilled on nation to compete with her in the manu- the weight. The size of the valve might it without staining, and it resists scratch-facture of small things-from wooden nut- be 5 inches in diameter, and 6 or 6 high. ing in the same degree with marble. The megs to wooden clocks upwards. We If it be made to weigh 45 pounds on a 43 receipt for making it is as follows:exhibiting the items and amount total of inch opening, it will be about 24 pounds to would give a sixpenee for a statistical table her productions in this line-doubting not the inch. The stem of the valve should be that it would astonish even the natives.- wrought-iron; a screw should be cut on [Greenfield Gazette.] the top of the stem; there should be a small bail or handle to screw on it, so as passage when not in use. The lower pipe to hook it up, and allow the steam a free to the right hand, with a cock, is the sup24 inches diameter, placed within 4 inches of the bottom of the heater; the next above heater, 5 inches in diameter. The next (or it is the scape-pipe from the cylinder to the bent) pipe carries the steam from the heater to the stills; this should be 2 inches in diameter, with a large cock affording the same vent. This pipe and cock will not answer with less vent than 2 inches in diameter. The next is an open wooden this, there must be kept a constant stream spout, from the top of the flake-stand to a pipe that descends into the heater; through of water to supply the engine. The pipe into the heater should be of copper, 2 inches in diameter, 87 inches long, descending within two inches of the bottom of the heater, with a cock in it to regulate the supply. At the top of this pipe there should be a kind of funnel 6 or 8 inches in diameter, in which a strainer ought to be placed; this funnel can have a lip that will let off any surplus water into a wooden spout, to be carried off. The bent-pipe to the left hand is the waste-pipe, to carry off any surplus water that may be let into the heater. This must descend (into the ground, if necessary) 87 inches, and rise again to the same level. It ought to be 2 inches in diameter, and be placed 7 inches from the bottom of the heater. the wood in a circular direction, not cover-customary good taste, have sanctioned the CONNECTICUT MANUFACTURES.-A corres- METHOD OF EMPLOYING THE ESCAPE STEAM or four times as large would be no dis OTENTED BY CAPTAIN DAVIS EMBREEE, advantage: part of an old steamboat boil er would make a good one. At the top OTHER PURPOSES. INVENTED AND PA- is an opening of 5 inches diamter-over this there is a cast-iron pipe 8 inches diameter in the clear, and 12 inches high: a valve seat at the bottom with 43 inches lopening, and a guide for the stem of the The cut is intended to represent the valve of the same casting. At the top of heater (or, as it is sometimes called, con- the pipe there is a common cap with denser,) of a steam-engine. This is laid hole and stuffing-box as a guide for the down 45 inches in diameter, and 30 inch-upper end of the valve-stem; an arm and es high. It matters not what shape it elbow is cast to this pipe, 5' inches in dihas, but its contents ought to be greater ameter, to which a copper pipe of the same than the contents of the cylinder; three diameter may be attached to carry off the lash or counter pressure on the head of the pistón, of say, 24 lbs. to the inch. Several months experience, however, at the Richmond steam-mill, has proved, that this is more than over-balanced by the additional heat the water acquires in the heater, in consequence of the pressure of the steam. The water is thrown into the boilers of the engine in a boiling state. It therefore takes less fuel to drive a mill with stills, in this way, than it does to drive the mill without the stills in the usual way. The power required is trifling; it is the great body of heat contained in the scape-steam, that is brought into use by this invention. By this operation, there will be a back||ventions and discoveries. Individual mu-jon application, to grant patents for such nificence and the patronage of wealthy as-new inventions and discoveries as they sociations, have there, as in France and should deem "sufficiently useful and imGermany, done much to supply whatever portant." Under that act the board so was wanting in the liberality of the Gov- constituted exercised the power of refusing ernment. But such patronage is necessa-patents for want of novelty in the invention rily partial in its operation. It is limited to or of sufficient utilily and importance.— particular objects, if not to particular indi- This act extended the same privilege to viduals. There appears to be no better aliens as to citizens. In 1793, it was reway of measuring out appropriate rewards pealed, and another act passed, authorizing for useful inventions, than, by a general patents to citizens of the United States law, to secure to all descriptions of persons, only, to be granted by the Secretary of without discrimination, the exclusive use State, subject to the revision of the Attor and sale, for a given period, of the thing ney General. In 1800, the privilege to invented. In this way they will generally take out patents was extended to aliens derive a just and appropriate encourage- who have resided two years in this country, ment proportioned to the value of their res- and made oath of their intention of becompective inventions. It is not at this day to ing citizens of the United States. be doubted that the evil of the temporary monopoly is greatly overbalanced by the good the community ultimately derives from its toleration. In distilling with this weight of valve, care ought to be taken to have the depth of the beer in stills, and the depth of sing lings in the doubler, added together, less than 58 inches. Some inches are frequently added to the depth by the condensatoin of steam, particularly in boiling cold charges at the commencement of the work. The quantity of beer made use of as a charge, ought to be kept as nearly the same, at every charge, as possible. A tube should be fixed in the vessel used as a heater, at the proper height to hold a charge, with a spout from it into the cistern where the beer pump stands, to carry back what may be pumped over the requisite quantity. It is also necessary to double at every charge, so as to keep the same weight in the stills at all times, or the running will not be regular. The granting of exclusive privileges was in England originally assumed as a prerogative of the Crown, from which it derived a revenue. It was at first limited to the introduction of manufactures from other countries. Afterwards like privileges were granted for new inventions made within the gives, according to the practical construcThe act of 1793, which is still in force, tion it has received, no power to the Secretary to refuse a patent for want of either novelty or usefulness. The only inquiry is whether the terms and forms prescribed are complied with. The granting of patents, therefore, is but a ministerial duty. Every one who makes application is entitled to receive a patent by paying the duty required, and making his application and speLike all other regal prerogatives, cification in conformity with the law. The it was subject to abuse, and Parliament necessary consequence is, that patents have, This was done by the famous statute of without regard to the question of novelty, found it necessary to limit and restrain it. under the act of 1793, been daily granted, monopolies, passed in the reign of James or even utility in the ordinary sense; for it I, which defined the King's prerogative in has been settled that the term useful, as respect to the description of grants which used in this statute, is only in contramight legally be made, and among them distinction to hurtful, injurious, or perniwere patents for inventions and new man- cious. This construction (that no right is ufactures. The very brief reservation of conferred to refuse a patent) has been givright in the Crown contained in that statute,en to the law by the Department charged and the judicial decisions in cases arising with the duty of granting patents, not so under the grants of privileges made pursu- much probably from any necessary and unant to it, constituted the whole of the En-avoidable import of the terms of it, as from glish law on the subject up to 1835, when a disinclination to exercise a power of so a law was passed by Parliament giving the much importance, in cases where it is not right to file a disclaimer in certain cases, clearly and distinctly granted. And it may and containing some other less material be reasonably doubted whether it was the provisions. intention of Congress to confer such a It is from those judicial decisions that power on the Secretary of State alone, we have derived most of the principles on since no provision is made for an appeal or which our laws on the subject are founded, other remedy for an incorrect decision adand which have entered into and influenced verse to the applicant. Besides, any perthe judicial expositions given to them. But son occupying that station might be supthe decsions of our courts have been char-posed as little qualified by an acquaintance acterized by a more enlightened and liberal with the appropriate branches of science or application of equitable principles to cases of the arts, to decide such questions, as of this description, in a just endeavor to any other officer of the Government. And sustain patents for meritorious inventions, were he to undertake the task of such an instead of secking to find, in the technical-examination as would be necessary to a AND USEFUL INVENTIONS AND DISCOv-ities of law, a pretext for setting them decision in each case, he would have little ERIES, SUBMIT THE FOLLOWING RE- aside. time for other official duties. In using the scape-steam, there is a complete system of balancing; the columns of water in the pipes at the heater are slightly kept in motion, swelling and sinking as they outweigh the valve; the valve may be said to float in steam, gently touching its seat, then rising at every new impulse; while the still pours out a stream of condensed liquor with a regularity that can scarcely be surpassed by any thing in na ture. The following report will be found interesting to many of our readers-and therefore we give it entire, with the proposed new organization of the department :THE SELECT COMMITTEE APPOINTED TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE STATE AND CONDITION OF THE PATENT OrFICE, AND THE LAWS RELATING THE ISSUING OF PATENTS FOR NEW PORT: ΤΟ 1 t Prior to the adoption of the Federal con- Under the act referred to, the Departstitution, the States, within their narrow ment of State has been going on for more limits, could give very little encouragement than forty years, issuing patents on every to inventors by grants of exclusive privileg-application, without any examination into to that time the arts had made the merit or novelty of the invention. And es; and up very little progress on this side of the At- the evils which necessarily result from the lantic. By the constitution of the United law as it now exists, must continue to inStates that power was wisely vested in crease and multiply daily, till Congress Congress. shall put a stop to them. Some of them are as follows: The promotion of the arts and the improvement of manufactures, are the objects aimed at in granting patents for inventions. All civilized nations have provided in some form for the encouragement of inven 'ive genius. England, from whom we derived, originally, most of our notions of national polity, and who has hitherto been considered the " queen of arts," is in The first act of Congress on the subject It authorized the no small degree indebted for the distinction, was passed in 1790. to the liberality with which she has always Secretary of State, Secretary of War and rewarded genius and science for their in-the Attorney General, or any two of them, 1. A considerable portion of all the patents granted are worthless and void, as conflicting with, and infringing upon one ! The another, or upon public rights not subject considered that there are now issued, since || domestic character, adapted to ordinary doto patent privileges; arising either from a this year commenced, at the rate of more mestic wants. want of due attention to the specifications than a thousand a year; a considerable Europe. Our work-shops were in of claim, or from the ignorance of the pat- portion of which are doubtless void for in other channels. The war of 1812 gave Enterprise, in this country, ran entees of the state of the arts and manu- want of originality in the inventions pat-it a new direction, and a new impulse, by factures, and of the inventions made in ented, either in whole or in some of the creating an occasion for work-shops of our other countries, or even in our own. parts claimed as new. 2. The country becomes flooded with own. Necessity became the mother of inpatent monopolies, embarrassing to bona even for new and meritorious inventions into existence as by enchantment. Their A necessary consequence is, that patents vention, and American manufactures sprang fide patentees, whose rights are thus inva-are so much depreciated in general estima- rise and progress may be dated from that ded on all sides; and not less embarrass-tion, that they are of but little value to the period; and a more rapid advancement in sing to the community generally, in the patentees, and the object of the patent the arts, and a more astonishing developuse of even the most common machinery laws, that of promoting the arts by encour-ment of human ingenuity, have never taken and long-known improvements in the arts agement, is in a great measure defeated. and common manufactures of the country. place in any other age or country. This To prevent these evils in future is the remark will appear far from extravagant to 3. Out of this interference and collision first and most desirable object of a revision every one who will take the trouble to exof patents and privileges, a great number and alteration of the existing laws on this amine the subject. This awakening of of lawsuits arise, which are daily increas-subject. The most obvious, if not the only dormant genius to a practical and active exing in an alarming degree, onerous to the means of affecting it, appears to be to istence, next to the arousing of the political courts, ruinous to the parties, and injurious establish a check upon the granting of pat- and patriotic energies of the Union, was to society. ents, allowing them to issue only for such one of the great results of that contest.— 4. It opens the door to frauds, which inventions as are in fact new and entitled, It opened to the country a new era. have already become extensive and serious. by the merit of originality and utility, to be nation entered upon a new existence. It is represented to the committee that it is protected by law. The difficulty encounsince that period, American industry and not uncommon for persons to copy patent-tered in effecting this, is in determining enteprise, guided by American ingenuity ed machines in the model-room; and, hav- what that check shall be; in whom the and intellect, have achieved what would ing made some slight immaterial alterations, power to judge of inventions before grant- have taken Europe a century to accomthey apply in the next room for patents.ng a patent can safely be reposed, and how plish. She has become all at once a manThere being no power given to refuse them, its exercise can be regulated and guarded, ufacturing, as well as an agricultural and patents are issued of course. Thus preto prevent injustice through mistake of commercial nation. The useful arts have pared, they go forth on a retailing expedi-judgment or otherwise, by which honest been cultivated with a success before untion, selling out their patent rights for States, and meritorious inventors might suffer exampled, and have contributed, in no small counties, and townships, to those who have degree, to the wonderful improvements no means at hand of detecting the imposition, and who find, when it is too late, that first instance, be exercised by the depart-sults, even in a few years, of that spirit of It is obvious that the power must, in the whole country. Who can predict the rewhich have spread themselves over our they have purchased what the vendors had ment charged with this branch of the pub-enterprise which pervades the Union, when, no right to sell, and which they obtain lic service. But as it may not be thought aided by the Genius of Invention, and prothereby no right to use. This speculation proper to intrust its final exercise to the de-pelled onward by powers which she alone in patent rights has become a regular busi|partment, it is deemed advisable to provide can bring into exercise? The very eleness, and several hundred thousand dollars, for an occasional tribunal to which an ap-ments are submissive to her will, and all it is estimated, are paid annually for void peal may be taken. And as a further se- the endless combinations of mechanism are patents, many of which are thus fraudu-curity against any possible injustice, it is subservient to her purposes. She particilently obtained. In this collision and interference of patents, the original and meritorious inventor sees his invention, to the perfection of which he has devoted much time and expense, pirated from him, and he must forego the reward which the law was intended to secure to him in the exclusive right it grants; or he must become involved in numerous and expensive lawsuits in distant and various sections of the country, to protect and confirm his rights. If he be wise, he will generally avoid the latter, and submit to the former alternative of injustice, to which the Government, as the law now is, makes itself accessary. The practice is scarcely less reprehensible, of taking out patents for what has been long in public use, and what every one has therefore a right to use. The patentee in such cases being armed with the apparent authority of the Government, having the sanction of its highest officers the seal of state, scours the country, and by threats of prosecution, compels those who are found using the thing patented, to pay the patent price or commutation tribute. This exaction, unjust and iniquitous as it is, is usually sub mitted to. The extent of the evils resulting from the unrestrained and promiscuous grants of privileges, may be imagined, when it is wrong. thought proper to give the applicant in of law. And pates in almost every business and employment of man. Agriculture itself might as well dispense with fertility of soil, as with her aid in its cultivation. The greatly increasing number of pattion necessary to a first decision at the improvements which have been going on The duty of examination and investiga-ents granted, affords some indication of the Patent Office is an important one, and will in the useful arts from year to year. The call for the exercise and application of much average number issued annually, from 1790 scientific acquirement and knowleege of to 1800, was but 26; from 1800 to 1810, the existing state of the arts in all their the average number was 91; from 1810 branches, not only in our own, but in other to 1820, it was 200; and, for the last ten countries. Such qualifications in the offi- years, the average number has been 535. cers charged with the duty, will be the During the last year, there were issued more necessary and desirable, because the 776; and there have been granted in the information upon which a rejection is made first quarter of the present year 274, being at the office, will be available in the final more in three months than were issued in decision. give the Patent Office a new organization, In the 22 years preceding the war of 1812, It becomes necessary, then, to the whole of the first period of ten years. and to secure to it a character altogether the average annual number was 73. above a mere clerkship. The competen- first quarter of the present year indicates cy and efficiency of its officers should cor- an aggregate for the year, of 1,096; the respond with their responsibility, and with amount of the duties on which, will be upthe nature and importance of the duties re- wards of $32,000. The whole number isquired of them. ization was adopted, the granting of patents of the United States, up to the 31st of When the existing organ- sued at the Patent Office, under the laws with with what it now is. The arts in this double the number which have been issued was a matter of little importance, compared March last, is 9,731. This is more than country were but little understood, and but either in England or France, during the little cultivated. Agriculture and commerce same period. In England for ten years constituted our principal business. We preceding 1830, the average number of had few manufactures, except those of a patents granted in one year was 145. The |
