The Press. — London, England, 1856-05-03 00:00:00

THE PRESS. artanged that this sort of gap should be almost impossible of occurrence; and there is only one means in our power by which this can be effected, and that is through the machinery of the Militia, the truly national force of England. This time last year many of our militia regi ments were in a far higher state of efficiency than many of our regular soldiers. Any one who recollects the appearance of a battalion of the Guards, and had the opportunity of com paring it with that of the militia regiments in and about London, will acknowledge the jus tice of our assertion. For we have no reason to suppose that the newly-raised troops of the line were any better than the newly-raised Guards. We may consider, therefore, that we have now on foot some 30,000 or 40,000 militia every whit as serviceable as our regular regi ments of infantry. But it is generally under stood that these are all to be disbanded. Now, we cannot but think that we are here throwing away au admirable opportunity of reorganising our military system on an effi cient and inexpensive plan. Why should not the Militia be kept on foot ; not embodied as now, but yet not wholly disembodied ? That is to say, there might be a depot in each county consisting of a small number of men and one or two officers receiving pay the whole year round, while the regiment should be called out for practice once or twice a year. The men would thus be kept toge ther. The esprit de corps which prevails very much in the Militia where the men come from one county, and are to a great extent officered by the scions of well-known families, would be maintained in full vigour. And 50,000 men, not raw ploughboys, but made soldiers, would be ready as an addition to our regular army at a month's notice. 'Two things aro now positively certain. First, that to go to war without a much larger fumy iu the field than we have ever yet main tained will entail on us nothing but disaster and shame ; secondly, that such army can never be kept up in the intervals of peace. These are the two truths which our statesmen must reconcile as best they can. It is not a party question in the least, and merely de mands for its solution a Government of average administrative ability and average numerical support. So far all seems clear enough. But when we come to the second point complained of by inventors there seems some slight degree of inconsistency between their two demands. It is hardly fair to say in the same breath, relieve us from a tax on patents because in vention should be free, and impose more stringent conditions on them because inven tion should be protected. At the same time it cannot be denied, that there is much to be said in favour of Lord STANLEY'S propositions. By the present system both the public and existing patentees are alike sufferers—the former in the case of a patent being granted for an invention already in common use; the latter by the encouragement which is afforded to the infringement of even a good patent by the uncertainty which our lax practice throws round its validity. The cast of defending his patent is thrown on the inventor, and thus a real benefactor to society may be half ruined for no fault of his own, but simply because some adventurous speculator chooses to contest his right. That Lord STANLEY'S remedy would meet this evil there seems no reason to doubt : --- - - A third grievance (says his lordship) connected in some measure with the second, is the want of publicity given to provisional specifications, whereby the right to oppose applications for patents, though freely granted by the Act, (of 18521, becomes in practice inoperative. The actual mode of procedure is as follows :—The demand for provi. sional protection is placed before the Law Officers. On their certifying that the invention is therein intelligibly and clearly described, provisional protection is granted. The description, the document on inspection of which the pri vilege in question has been conceited, remains secret. Within five months from the granting of such protection, the party possessing it must give notice of his intention to proceed with or abandon the patent. If he gives notice that he will proceed with it, his claim is advertised, but the secret of the invention is still preserved. Thus, the ad vertisement is deprived of all practical utility, and the permission given by the Legislature to oppose the issue of the patent rendered wholly nugatory. This, as his Lordship properly argues, could not have been the intention of the framers of the Act. The Act of 1852, it is said, contains within itself all that is necessary for the requisite re forms. Let due effect be given to its pro visions, and all will be well. This, therefore, is one great recommendation of Lord STANLEY'S propositions. The subject is one of vast im portance to England. Every encouragement should just now be given to that order of men who form the link between mechanics and phi losophers—to whom are due so many of those great discoveries which place England so far in advance of her sister commonwealths—and who are generally but too willing to sacrifice health, wealth, and life, in the promotion of their darling objects. SATURDAY, thorough history of the disgmeeful transactions between the " Brass Band some of the Aberdeen Administration. There never was a more scandalous chap ter in the annals of " party" than the allianc e be tween Lord ABERDEEN and his personal frie nds,the Whig families and the Brass Band. I 't us mark what transpired in Dublin on M ond e y about the chief " leader " of the last c onnect i o a The opinion of the Master in Chancery as sought to be obtained in some most important questions connected with the Tipper ar y B ank, Upon the legal discussion, or its tendencies, we shall carefully abstain from offering any comments. But there was one authe n ti c l etter produced from the late JOHN SADLEIR (We quote from Saunders's News-Letter) which de serves to be noticed. SADLEIR, it will be re collected, acted in the double capacity of a chief manager of the Tipperary Bank and also a manager for the Brass Band. An Irish gen tleman it seems wished to be rid of his con nection with SADLEIR'S bank, and addressed JOHN SADLEIR a letter, which was thus an swered by the person selected by the Earl of ABERDEEN for a Lord of the Treasury. This letter was written on the 3rd of July, 1852, at the time of Lord DERRY'S dissolving Parlia ment :—" After the confusion and hurry of the " elections are over I will try and get same " good capitalist to take your shares, and " stand in your place in the bank." That sen tence shows how active was the part taken by SADLEIR in " the elections " (plural number). His own solitary election at Carlow would not have given him even a decent pretext for putting off the affair of business He con. tinues, revealing what kind of a " capitalist" he was even then:—" I fear it would not be " possible to get any price for the shares. I " would take them if I could borrow the money "to pay for them. As for the money I owe you, " as soon as I .aril yet the means of doing so, I will " pay you." Here we have the condition of SADLEIR painted by himself. In July, 1852, he found it difficult to borrow seven thousand pounds to pay his correspondent. In a few weeks afterwards this mock capitalist was chosen, out of the seventy Irish Liberal Members, for a Lordship of the treasury ! When he got that post, his facilities for depredation were pro digiously increased. He rose immediately in " the City," and the country has a right to ask on what grounds was JOHN SADLEIR selected by the Aberdeen Ministry for the post of Lord of the Treasury? He was orly forty years of of age, of five years' standing in Parliament, an ex-Dublin attorney of the third class, no de bater, and was in pecuniary difficulties! It is nothing to answer that Government was not to blame, as "SADLEIR and O'FLAHERTY deceived " everybody to the last " They did not do so. Even in 1852 there were abundant protests in speech and print against the personal repu tations of the leading chiefs of the Brass Band. It still remains to be explained why were JOHN SADLEIR and EDMUND O'FLARERTY Se lected for high official preferment, when amongst the seventy Irish Liberal Members there were many " reputable" gentlemen with ,claims of character, property, and ser vices, such as Sir DENHAM NoRREYS, Colonel CAULFIELD, Mr. BERNARD BEAMISH, Mr. GEORGE MOORE, Mr. W. FAGAN, and many others that might be named. It is certain that t he p o p ular party in Ireland has felt its own credit so tarnished by its painful responsibility to the quasi-leadership of the Brass Band, that it is gradually becoming more disincli ned from all " Liberal' connections ; and we rejoice that the eyes of the people in the sister country are becoming open to their false friends OMER PACHMARRIAGE IO Li young lady Of thirteen, the daughter of Hafiz l'acha, has caused lady, with a sudden caprice, declared that she never much scandal in Constantinople. The would of her own consent marry a Croatian renegade. Here was a serious dilemma! Hafiz Pacha es . • tuned himself on the score of Omer Pat has general ill-treatment of his wives. Omer Pach:l; feeling his self-love wounded, referred the mat t t he direct to the Sultan, who, looking only at the fact of the promise given, ordered that marriage should take place. The order was forin t &l as young and Hafiz Paella was compelled to yield, hu to he had a right to oppose the marriage of his son D. the daughter of Omer Pacha, he broke off the e °' gagement so contracted. ....._L_.o . ___..T 0 f re solt Thi its adi of the it feel , the co army ' the At eiring her M posqlt Retie I He wi perfor MINI He is end a consis adopti Ana, ii MI these livers Hello want ask y hie; 4 . S ATUR:olAttYlefti • 412 THE PRESS. 1 M arranged that this sort of gap should be So far all s eems clear enou g h. But when thorough history of the disgraceful almost impossible of occurrence; and there is we come to the second point complained of by transactions between the " Brass Band" and ci only one means in our power by which this can inventors there seems some slight degree of some of the Aberdeen Administration. be effected, and that is through the machinery inconsistency between their two demands. There never was a more scandalous chapter of the Militia, the truly national force of It is hardly fair to say in the same breath, in the annals of " party" than the alliance he . England. relieve us fro m a tax on p atents because in- tween Lord ABERDEEN and his personal friend s, air This time last year many of our militia regi- vention should be free, and impose more the Whig families and the Brass Band. L et merits were in a far higher state of efficiency stringent conditions on them because inven - us mark what trans p ired in Dublin on Monday re ach than many of our regular soldiers. Any one tion should be pr otected. At the same time it about the chief " leader "of the last c onnect i on sin iti act who recollects the appearance of a battalion of cannot be denied , that t here is much to be The o p inion of the Master in Chanc ery was of the the Guards, and had the opportunity of corn- said in favour of Lord STANLEY'S propositions. sought to be obtained in some most important it feet paring it with that of the militia regiments in By the present system both the public and questions connected with the Tipperary Bank, the ea and about London, will acknowledge the jus- existing patentees are alike sufferers—the Upon the legal discussion, or its tendencies, army' tice of our assertion. For we have no reason former in the case of a patent being granted we shall carefully abstain from offering a n y the N to suppose that the newly-raised troops of the for an invention already in common use; the comments. Butthere was one authentic letter caving her M line were any better than the newly-raised latter by the encouragement which is afforded produced from the late JOHN SADLEIR (I,ve The Guards. We may consider, therefore, that we to the infringement of even a good patent by quote from Saunders's News-Letter) which de- imp's have now on foot some 30,000 or 40,000 militia the uncertainty which our lax practice throws serves to be noticed. SADLEIR, it will be re- Rossi every whit as serviceable as our regular regi- round its validity. The cost of defending his collected, acted in the double capacity of a l oser menus of infantry. But it is generally under- patent is thrown on the inventor, and thus a chief manager of the Tipperary Bank and also in tie stood that these are all to be disbanded. real benefactor to society may be half ruined a manager for the Brass Band. An Irish gen- He di Now, we cannot but think that we are here for no &nit of his own, but simply because tleman it seems wished to be rid of his con- with throwing away au admirable opportunity of some adventurous speculator chooses to contest nection with SADLEIR'S bank, and addressed Male reorganising our military system on an effi- his right. That Lord STANLEY'S remedy would Jona SADLEIR a letter, which was thus au- and t cient and inexpensive plan. Why should not meet this evil there seems no reason to swered by the person selected by the Earl of ford the Militia be kept on foot ; not embodied as doubt : ABERDEEN for a Lord of the Treasury. This ansse letter was written on the 3rd of July, 1852, at of Le now, but yet not wholly disembodied ? That A third grievance (says his lordship) connected in some is to say, there might be a depot in each measure with the second , is the want of p ublicit y g iven to the time of Lord DERRY'S dissolving Parlia- I county consisting of a small number of men provisional specifications, whereby the right to oppose ment :—" After the confusion and hurry of the that p applications for patents, though freely granted by the Act, of Coi and one or two o ffi cers receiving pay the whole" elections are over I will try and get some (of 18521, becomes in practice inoperative. The actual " good capitalist to take your shares, and Crowr year round, while the regiment should be mode of procedure is as follows :—The demand for provi • Who ( called out for practice once or twice a sional protection is placed before the Law Officers. On " stand in your place in the bank." That sett- call hi year. The men would thus be kept tope- their certifying that the invention is therein intelligibly tense shows how active was the part taken by mats ther. The esprit de corps which prevails very and clearly described, provisional protection is granted. The SADLEIR in " the elections " (plural number). upon much in the Militia where the men come from description, th e document on inspection of which the pri- His own solitary election at Carlow would Illi9Col &SKIM vilege in question has been conceded, remains secret. one county, and are to a great extent o ffi cered not have given him even a decent pretext for nor di Within five months from the granting of such protection, by the Scions of well-known families, would be the party possessing it must give notice of his intention putting off the affair of business He con• knowt maintained in full vigour. And 50,000 men, to proceed with or abandon the patent. tinues . , revealing what kind of a " capitalist" How Knee not raw ploughboys, but made soldiers, If he gives notice that he will proceed with he was even then:—" I fear it would not be meat would be ready as an addition to our regular it, his claim is advertised, but the secret of " possible to get any price for the shares. I Reilei army at a month's notice. the invention is still preserved. Thus, the ad- " would take them if I could borrow the money He wi :Two things arc now positively certain. vertisement is deprived of all practical utility, "to pay for them As for the money I owe you, te perfor First, that to go to war without a much larger and the permission given by the Legislature to "as soon as I . m ilost the means of doing so, I will He is army iu the field than we have ever yet main- oppose the issue of the 'patent rendered wholly " pay you." and it tamed will entail on us nothing but disaster nugatory. This, as his Lordship properly Here we have the condition of SADLEIR mak and shame ; secondly, that such army can argues, could not have been the intention of painted by himself. In July, 1852, he found ad i opt( never he kept up in the intervals of peace. the framers of the Act. it di ffi cult to borrow seven thousand pounds and, i exact These are the two truths which our statesmen The Act of 1852, it is said, contains within to pay his correspondent. In a few weeks must reconcile as best they can. It is not a itself all that is necessary for the requisite re- afterwards this mock capit alist was chosen, After party question in the least, and merely de- forms. Let due effect be given to its pro- out of the seventy Irish Liberal Members, for a se been man& for its solution a Government of average visions, and all will be well. This, therefore, Lordship of the treasury ! When he got that sth 5 administrative ability and average numerical is one great recommendation of Lord STANLEY'S post, his facilities for depredation were pro- impo support. propositions. The subject is one of vast im- digiously increased. He rose immediately in of 20 portance to England. Every encouragement " the City," and the country has a right to ask 111{4 I THE LAW OF PATENTS. should just now be given to that order of men on what grounds was JOHN SADLEIR selected 12th Wa have before us a pamphlet by Lord STAN- who f o rm the link between mechanics and p hi- by the Aberdeen Ministry for the post of Lord stein losophers—to whom are due so many of those of the Treasury? He was orly forty years of he ur LEY on the Reform of the Law of Patents.liana great discoveries which place England so f ar of age, of five years' standing in Parliament, an The question was taken up by Lord DERBY'S the in advance of her sister commonwealths—and ex-Dublin attorney of the third class, no dc- Government in 1852; but the measure they who are generally but too willing to sacrifice hater, and was in pecuniary difficulties! It is MI these introduced was tentative rather than final, and health, wealth, and life, in the promotion of nothing to answer that Government was not livers the time has now probably arrived for carrying their darling objects. to blame, as " SADLEIR and O'FLAHERTY deceived well® " everybody to the last " They did not do so. want out the principle then adopted to its legiti- Even in 1852 there were abundant protests ask y mate, results. It would certainly seem that COALITION SCANDALS. in speech and print against the personal repu- posail life; inventors are suffering from a real grievance, TEMPORARY obstacles still prevent a complete tations of the leading chiefs of the Brass Band. Sas, whatever diversity of opinion may exist as to exposure of the Sadleirites. The newspapers It still remains to be explained why were OW the proper remedy. The fees charged by the at D u blin, JoHN SADLEIR and EDMUND O'FLAHER TY se- into ! in the meanwhile, teem with most Patentoffice are very high, while the protec-lected for high o ffi cial nreferment , w hen have tion afforded to the patentee is extremely curious revelations about "my dear Duke of amongst the seventy Irish Liberal Members sa g a this I precarious. It is to both these points that 1 NEWCASTLE'S " political friends and intimate there were many " reputable" g entlemen Engl Lord STANLEY addresses himself. allies. The Nation has commenced a special and Ser• with ,claims of character, property„ on th The cost of taking out a patent is 231.—that vices, such as Sir DENHAM NoRREYS, Colonel is of discussion of the evidence offered by Mr. r , last at least is the amount received by the Patent- Justice KEOGH before what is known in Par- balm mnoug, Mr. W. FAGAN, and many others that office—but the real expense to the projector is ts iti AULFIELD, Mr. BERNARD BEAMISH, Mr. GEORGE repre alleged to be nearly double the sum. It is, liamentary circles as " The Irish Corruption might be named. I t is certain that the popular Ms, however, with the first-mentioned sum alone Committee of 1854." We desire to set the party that that we are now concerned. In addition to Nation ' right upon one point connected with tarnished 'Willy to the by its painful responsi bility . . Err , that it is in Ireland has felt its own credit so doeu this the patentee has 501. more to pay at the quasi-leadership of the Brass Band, ourselves. In the number of April 28th the ress end of three years, and 1001. more at the end , g , lad ib u e a r l a l l y ,, be c C o o n n s n i e n c talk of seven, when he fi nally becomes a free man. Nation expresses its " surprise " that " THE g Lio in ils or ; mail It is shown by a calculation of Sir JOSEPH " PRESS and other Conservative journals are the eyes of the people in the sister country with PAXTON that the sums thus received very much 4' silent now." are becoming open to their fa:se friends with ---- e a d n i d s i nnc, we i n rejoiceed fro m th a a l t l I ss exceed the expenses attending the business We can speak only for ourselves, and we can Ten, of the office, and to such an extent that the assure our contemporary that h a ve has caused we not t ale thirteen, the daughter of fiafiz I'acha, , _ The excess of income over expenditure between least intention of b e i n g e silent " about the ap- much scandal in Constantinople. The 3 o ui e i ti r OMER PACIit'S LATE MARRIAGE to a youn e l lady of suli the years 1855 and 1859 may be computed at pointment of Mr. KEOGH. We showed in an lady, with a sudden caprice, declared that she na v e. with not much less than two-thirds of the whole— article of last week how, amongst other preju- would of her own consent marry a Croatian renheages. Clat that is to say, 60,000kout of 95,0001. This we dicial results, the nomination of Mr. Justice Here was a serious dilemma! Halls Pac_ st. es il( consider to be a tax not less impolitic than KEOGH had disturbed the equilibrium of the tuned himself on the score of Omer Omer n p a che, are general ill-treatment of his wives. Olne unjust. It is penny wisdom and pound Judicature in Ireland, and we know that ourTi foolishness. For the sake of a temporary and proof of two-thirds of the Irish judges having a t the exce minor pro fi t we cheek that free progress of in- been nominated by "Liberal" j Cabinets hits direct to the Sultan, who, looking only that the feeling his self-love wounded, referred the matter end, fact of the promise given, ordered vention on which our larger and more perms been received with the attention due to so nobl men nent wealth depends. No one, then, can doubt significant a statement. Facts of another kind and Hafiz Pacha was compelled to yield,. bat r very the abstract expediency of removing this inn- are gra dually o f his son to marriage should take place. The order Was fortn sl_, being evolved; hut the delays of he had a right to oppose the marriage . quit post, and of giving the widest. possible scope to Chancery investig ations and other circum- the daughter of Omer Pacha, he broke off the ea eat, theffertility of scienti fi c and mechanical genius. stances for the moment interfere with a gagement so contracted. lias THE LAW OF PATENTS Wi have before us a pamphlet by Lord STAN LEY on the Reform of the Law of Patents. The question was taken up by Lord DERBY'S Government in 1852; but the measure they introduced was tentative rather than final, and the time has now probably arrived for carrying out the principle then adopted to its legiti mate, results. It would certainly seem that inventors are suffering from a real grievance, whatever diversity of opinion may exist as to the proper remedy. The fees charged by the Patent•office are very high, while the protec tion afforded to the patentee is extremely precarious. It is to both these points that Lord STANLEY addresses himself. The coat of taking out a patent is 231.—that at least is the amount received by the Patent office—but the real expense to the projector is alleged to be nearly double the sum. It is, however, with the first-mentioned sum alone that we are now concerned. In addition to this the patentee has 501. more to pay at the end of three years, and 1001. more at the end of seven, when he finally becomes a free man. It is shown IT a calculation of Sir JOSEPH PAXTON that the sums thus received very much exceed the expenses attending the business of the office, and to such an extent that the excess of income over expenditure between the years 1855 and 1850 may be cornputed at not much less than two-thirds of the whole— that is to say, 00,0001. out of 95,0001. This we consider to be a tax not less impolitic than unjust. It is penny wisdom and pound foolishness. For the sake of a temporary and minor profit we cheek that free progress of in vention on which our larger and more perma nent wealth depends. No one, then, can doubt the abstract expediency of removing this im post, and of giving the widest p oss ibl e sco pe t o theffertility of scientific and mechanical genius. COALITION SCANDALS. TEMPORARY obstacles still prevent a complete exposure of the Sadleirites. The newspapers at Dublin, in the meanwhile, teem with most curious revelations about " my dear Duke of NEWCASTLE'S " political friends and intimate allies. The Nation has commenced a special discussion of the evidence offered by Mr. Justice KEOGH before what is known in Par liamentary circles as " The Irish Corruption Committee of 165-1." We desire to set the Nation right upon one point connected with ourselves. In the number of April 26th the Nation expresses its " surprise " that " THE " PRESS and other Conservative journals are " silent now." We can speak only for ourselves, and we can assure our contemporary that we have not the least intention of being " silent " about the ap pointment of Mr. KEOGH. We showed in an article of last week how, amongst other preju dicial results, the nomination of Mr. Justice KEOGH had disturbed the equilibrium of the Judicature in Ireland, and we know that our proof of two-thirds of the Irish judges having been nominated by " Liberal" Cabinets has been received with the attention due to so significant a statement. Facts of another kind are gradually being evolved; but the delays of Chancery investigations and other circum- I stances for the moment interfere with a