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 chapter
in the annals of " party" than the alliance be-
tween Lord ABERDEEN and his personal friends,the Whig families and the Brass Band. I't
us mark what transpired in Dublin on Mondey
about the chief " leader " of the last connectioa
The opinion of the Master in Chancery as
sought to be obtained in some most important
questions connected with the Tipperary Bank,
Upon the legal discussion, or its tendencies,
we shall carefully abstain from offering
any
comments. But there was one authentic letter
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 the popular
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 disinclined 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 mattthe
direct to the Sultan, who, looking only at
the
fact of the promise given, ordered that
marriage should take place. The order was forint &las
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.

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S ATUR:olAttYlefti
•
412 THE PRESS.
1 M
arranged that this sort of gap should be So far all seems clear enough. 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 from a tax on patents because in- tween Lord ABERDEEN and his personal friends,
air
This time last year many of our militia regi- vention should be free, and impose more the Whig families and the Brass Band. Let
merits were in a far higher state of efficiency stringent conditions on them because inven- us mark what transpired in Dublin on Monday reach
than many of our regular soldiers. Any one tion should be protected. At the same time it about the chief " leader "of the last connection sin
iti act
who recollects the appearance of a battalion of cannot be denied, that there is much to be The opinion of the Master in Chancery 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 any 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 loser
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 publicity given 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 officers 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, the 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 officered 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 adi
opt(
never he kept up in the intervals of peace. the framers of the Act. it difficult 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 capitalist 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 form the link between mechanics and phi- 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 far 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 Dublin,
JoHN SADLEIR and EDMUND O'FLAHERTY se- into!
in the meanwhile, teem with most
Patentoffice are very high, while the protec-lected for high official nreferment, when have
tion afforded to the patentee is extremely curious revelations about "my dear Duke of amongst the seventy Irish Liberal Members saga
this I
precarious. It is to both these points that 1 NEWCASTLE'S " political friends and intimate there were many " reputable" gentlemen
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 tsitiAULFIELD, Mr. BERNARD BEAMISH, Mr. GEORGE
repre
alleged to be nearly double the sum. It is, liamentary circles as " The Irish Corruption might be named. It 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 responsibility . . 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,ladibuearlally,,becCoonn sn ienc talk
of seven, when he finally becomes a free man. Nation expresses its " surprise " that " THE gLioinilsor;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
----
ea dn ids i nnc,
we
i n
rejoiceed fro mthaal
tl
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 have has caused
we not tale thirteen, the daughter of fiafiz I'acha, , _ The
excess of income over expenditure between least intention of being e silent " about the ap- much scandal in Constantinople. The 3 o uiei tir
OMER PACIit'S LATE MARRIAGE to a younel 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 nave.
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
pache, 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 at the exce
minor profit 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- aregradually of 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 investigations and other circum- the daughter of Omer Pacha, he broke off the ea eat,
theffertility of scientific and mechanical genius. stances for the moment interfere with a gagement so contracted. lias