The Express.
London, England, 1865-03-07 00:00:00

lIIREGULABITTES_ AND DEFALCATIONS IN THE

PAThNT OPYICE,

Lord STANLEY asked the Attorney-General whether
the inquiry instituted by government into certain alleged
irregularities in the accounts of the Patent-office had been
coecluded ; whether the report of the coniroimiceters sp.
pointed to 000daet that inquiry would be laid upon the
table ; or if that were considered expedient, whether he
was prepared to state the oxidation to which they bad
come ; and whether it was the intention of government to
foaed on sash report any proceedings, either for the recovery
of the same alleged to be deficient or for the punishment of
those who might be responsible for the lees.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL—Ie answer to the viatica
of the aphis lord, I have to state in the first plate that the
isquiry to which be refers was cot strictly instituted by the
goverment. It was an inquiry instituted by the Lord I
Chi/ream and the canamissumers of patents, innonsequenoe
of the information which reached them as to the existence
of certain irregularities and disputes in the Patent-office,
which did not in the first tartans* involve say question of
pecuniary deficit. Those inquiries led to two reports by
the gentlemen employed to make them ; the first in July,
which was a mammary report, and the seemed and final
reportin January last. The inquiry, therefore, has been
concluded, and 1 au perfectly prepared to lay the reports
upon the table but for two reasons, which I think will
appear satisfactory to the house. First, the names of cer-
tain officers and persons employed in the Patent-segue are
introduced in these reports in a manner which requires very
serious consideration as to the proper mode of dealing with
those meow and the subject, and the whole measures to I
be takes in cossequemos have not been finally I
determined upon. Second, the clerk of the patents,
who was the person principally concerned in the matter of
those reports, complain—l don't know whether with or
without reason—that a very considerable part of the
matter comprehended in the final report, and in-
volving a very large amount of pecuniary charge, he
has not had the opportunity to answer and explain,
as be fie now prepared and desirous to do. 1 think
it will be felt by the house that it would, wider these
circumstances, be premature to lay the reports apes the
table—at all nem* until they are nenapeand by such
further explanations and answers es the gestleore ore
owned may lila himself 'stilled to ear. Wlei word to
the malt, I have no objection to state lathe wan lonian
if the ronlissioes arrived at by than gentleman are correct,
there remains • very considerable sun to be essenated for
to the entails by the Aker to whom I Iran 'Dads& After
the preliminary report in July that officer paid fists the
Treasury, aeksewledging it to be due hem his, the
,large sear of 7,8724 The meet wee then set fully sea.
end be nada it nannenery to peessente the Ana
7ii.shiMai bean takes with a view to his diephsesnesat from
that
the ellee he held by vol
ages, without refesence hil=n2=4). If
all the grounds stated by the commiesionem in their final
report an tenable, and no answer is given to the bete slated