The Express.
London, England, 1851-02-25 00:00:00

781CFRINCIIISEMINT OF COFTHOLDS.

.....
On the motion of Mr. VA` ereTART MEALS, it was re-
ferral to the real pmperty committee to consider and report
whether it was desirable, or otherwise, that the enfranchise-
ment of copyholds should be compulsory.

UNION OF LAW AND ECIZITT.
The CHAIRMAN intimated that at the next general
meeting, on the 10th of March, Mr. Trower will deliver a
lecture to the society on the union of law and equity. This
would not bind the society to any opinion on the subject,
but he was sure they would all be glad to Dear the opialtuu
of one who had devoted so much attention to the question.
_ _

LAW OP PATENTS FOIL INVENTIONS. -
A very elaborate report, prepared by a special committee,
on this subject was laid on the table. This document took
a very luminous view of the whole *question. The right
purpose of a law of patents was the general benefit of the
state, by inducing persons possessed of the requisite faculties
to direct their time and enargies to making and maturing
inventions of general utility. The most obvious way of
effecting this object was to secure to inventors the fruits of
their talent and industry, by giving them a property in
their inventions. This, in a modified form, is the course
that has been adopted, and which the committee recom-
mend to be continued. The report then proceeded to con-
sider the actual state of the law of patents, the steps now
necessary to be taken to secure them, and the practical
operation of the law as regards inventors and the public.
The committee remark that not wily does the law of patents
appear to be faulty in substance, but the mode of obtaining
a patent is troublesome, tedious, and vexatious, while the
expense is very great, and, being a fixed amount, has no
regard to the different value of the inventions con-
cerned. On another important point they remark
that one serious annoyance at present, both to in-
ventors and the public at large, arises from the want of a
good system for keeping, arranging, digesting, and publish-
ing the records relating to patents, and for rendering them
readily accessible at all times, so that it may at once be seen
what inventions have already been made in any department,
and which of them are still protected by patents.
With respect to tho proposed improvements, the com-
mittee remarked that the evils to be remedied are of such
magnitude, and so interwoven with the present system, that
nothing short of athorough change can produce the de-
sired effect. It might not be wise in the first instance to go
so far in some directions as experience may ultimately prove
to be safe and expedient ; and there were other mutters
which they thought might be left wholly for future legisla-
tion. They propose that the present mode of proceeding
in obtaining a patent be wholly discontinued, and, for the
removal of the manifold inconveniences, various modes
were suggested.
Alter a long discussion, in which various gentlemen ex-
pressed their views in detail, it was resolved, that the debate
ou the adoption of the report should be adjourned till
the general meeting on the 24th of March. the select
committee was at the same time instructed to communicate
with the various committees now sitting in the metropolis
and provinces on the patent lows to procure as much in-
formation as possible before resuming the discussion.