The Express.
London, England, 1850-12-25 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS. WEDNESDAY EVENLNG,• DECEMBER 25, 185 Q.

should be recognised by the state to the semi di
giving the inventor for a limited period of Illemal
exclusive title to the profits arising front the um al
his invention P Assuming this to be the oast.. on what
principles ought the concession of such right to .
bir
regulated ? In other words, ought there to be say
law of patents at all ? If so, what' ought that law tot
be? Such are the questions lie at the very tome I
dation of the whole subject of the patent laws.
As to the first point, few in the present day will be
found to cavil at the position that intellectual labour
employed in the conception and elaboration of pray
tical inventions gives as indefeasible a claim to per 1
perty as the same kind of labour when bestowed ili
any other way. A man spends ten years in literary.'
artistic, or professional toil, and and thereby segairee
certain rights of property, which the statesmen. to
him with the most Inviolable sanctions; smeither UM
spends ten years in bringing to perfection a new sail
improved prows in manufacture: how is the fruit d
his labour to be ensured to him? Thee blic waists
to know the secret of his preens • ventor Ms
that right of property in it which his ten year& 1
labour has fairly purchased for him. How is the'
bargain to be struck between the requirements of the 1
public on the one side, and the rights of the inventor ,
on the other ? Toe practice of all mercantile natiousl
supplies the answer. Let the public, concede to the
inventor the sole use of his invention for a limited
time, in consideration of his disclosing the secret of
his method and giving its use, after the fixed period
' has passed away, to the community at large.
Such, thee, is the true bowie of the patent law : an
equitable adjustment between the rights of inventive
labour on the one side and the claims of public
interest on the other. The next 9uestion is ea what
principle should the law be earned oat : the Nom
seems obvious, on the principle of promoting to the
very utmost that spirit of practical inventioo, the d-'
vantage of which to the community is wholly la
calculable, by facilitating and cheapening the pro-
cesses by which rights of property in the nsalts of
inventive labour shall be ascertained and established.
Is order so to ascertain and establish these rights it is
of absolute necessity that some simple and economical
method should be devised of discovering the exact na-
ture and description of all inventions in respect of which
exclusive rights of enjoyment have already been con-
ceded ; without this it is plain no patent rights
could be @merely and effectually conceded at all. A
complete registration therefore of inventions and a
perfectly ready method of referring to such registra-
tion is one of the prime requisites, or rather is Me
prime requisite of any well-ordered system of patent
law. If there be another which can at all be put in
competition with this it would be the possession of a
clear, exact, end definite statement of what that is for
which alone the law will concede a patent right.
A single office far the registration of all patents
and the deposit of all plane and specifications—a prin-
cipal registrar, with au adequate staff of officers, who
should be charged with the sole duty of carrying such
registration into force—cheap and intelligible forms
of process, by means of which such registration should
be perfected and evidenced—these would seem to be
the great first steps to be taken towards an efficient
system of patent law procedure. The expense of
taking out a patent for such limited time as the law
might allow, ought not to exceed such fees as would
be reasonably adequate, taking the total average
somber of patents applied for in a given time, to save
the public any expense arising from patent registra-
tion. The principle ought to be broadly established
that on defraying this amount of expense, an inventor
should be entitled to obtain a legal recognition of hie
exclusive right to enjoy for a limited time the fruits
of his invention.
Such, in rough and rapid outline, is a statement
of the general principles on which the law of patents
is hued, and the mode in which such law ought to be
administered. If we now tarn to the origin and actual
state of the patent law as it exists in England in the
year of grace 1850, we shall find it somewhat as
follows:
Monopolies granted by the crown had, under the
reign of the first STUART, grown to so odious an height,
that even in those days of passive obedience the Com-
mons rose in wrath, and demanded their abolition.
The origin of our present patent law is to be sought
in the statute (21 Jec. 1., c. 3) by which these abuses
were swept away; that law excepted by terms from
its operation " letters patent for the sole working or
making of any manner of new manufactures within
this realm to the true and first inventors thereof," &c.,
fur the term of 14 years. There can be no doubt that,
owing to patents being thus excepted from the
enacting part of a statute passed to destroy moaopc-
lies, the legislative sanction of the rights of
inventors came itself to be regarded as a species
of monopoly. From the same cause the con-
cession of a patent was looked upon rather as
an exercise of the Crown's bounty, than a recognition
of the subject's right, and hence, too, undoubtedly
flowed that absurd and mischievous system of refer-
ring to the law officers of the Crown as a part of its
prerogative, questions affectieg matters on which it
might well happen that the greatest master of Crown
law would be tar less competent to pees a judgment,
than a moderately intelligent manutacturer, or a com-
petently instructed mechanic. Hence, too, arose that
intolerable grievance of nugatory forms and costly
fees, which, commencing with the humble petition to
the Crown, and passing through all the grades of
subordinate office till it ends in the Deputy-chaff-wax,
renders the suing out a patent the must vexatious of
all sublunary processes, and swells the expense of
obtaining it for the three kingdoms to very little
short of 3001.
An average period of about two months is con-
sumed in going through all the forms, of which,
except the hearing before the Attorney and Solictor-
General, the whole are absolutely and confessedly
nugatory. With regard to this hearing again
it is entirely useless for any practical purpose, and
is moreover a source of fraud, by enabling any party
who has got an intimation of the proposed invention,
and has lodged what is called a eareat at the office,
to turn the information elicited at the hearing to his
own account. It is obvious that the law efficers,
pressed as they are by urgent and multifarious de-
mands on their time, cannot exercise anything like an
adequate judgment on the claims of tne contending
inventors; in fact, in nine cues out of ten they
make no attempt at doing so, but recommend the
grant of the patent as a matter of course, leaving the
law courts to settle any litigation on the subject that
mav hereafter arias.
But apart from the hardship and absurdity of a
system which thus compels an inventor to spend
3001. in the preliminary steps necessary for securing
the recognition of what, on every true theory of legis-
lation, is his undoubted right—the present system
besides exposes him to the greatest difficulty in ascer-
taining the existence of previously enrolled patents
and specifications. In a very valuable paper lately
1 hewed by the COSIIIIITEZ of the SOCIETY OF ARTS for
I promoting the legislative recognition of the rights of
inventors, the facts as to this part of the case are thus
succinctly stated: "Until within the last few mouths,
the specifications were enrolled at three separate
offices, and excepting at the Rolls Chapel—for which
the public thanks are due to the present Muter of
the Rolls--the means of reference were most diffi-
cult and imperfect, and indeed practically useless"
Professor WOODCROTT, when examined on this point
in 1848 by the committee on the signet and privy
seal offices, states that the only mode of search is so
tedious and expensive, that only one patentee in a
thousand will go through it—that most inventors are
of opinion that it is quite a hopeless task ; and that.
lon one occasion, he himself was three weeks making
lesarchea, and daring that time paid in fees for searches
Ito the Petty Bag-office alone as much as 21. 8.. in
1 one day.
It is needless to pursue the items of charge at
greater length. The system is so radically wrong,
that no attempt at portal change will suffice: it has
i all the defects which a good system ought to be free
from—none'of the advantages which a good system
would be certain to procure. It makes no provision
' for ascertaining the nature of existing patents, and
imposes a delay of two months, and a tax of 3001.,
on the patience and the pockets of every Euglish-
man who comes to assert an effectual right of
property in an invention destined, perhaps, to in-
crease to an untold amount the future resources of his
country.
Oa the present occasion we must be content with
having thus imperfectly endeavoured to point out
some of the most glaring defects of the existing sys-
tem of patent law procedure : we shall take an early
opportunity of recurring to the subject; important at
all times, it acquires an addiional interest at the
present moment, from the near approach of that great
industrial festival to which England has invited all
the nations of the world.

GERMANY.

($T itscratc

DRESDEN, Dam 23.

Herr von Mant•uffel and Baron von Prokeech
mrived hers, at shwa thate pasts/day after-
noon. Prince Behwarsenberg, Count Bud, and
Count Rechberg, arrived about Eve. Von Manta caf&l
and Schwarsenberg are staying in the Princes'
Palace. Immediately after the arrival of the two
list, they commenced a conference, which occupied
them until late at night.
The Conferences wall open at noon to-day. Pleni-
potentiaries are here from almost every state. Herr
Haesenpflug is not here yet (although he left Hansa
on the 21st).
BERLIN. Tano. 23.
General Thiamin is hers at present, and will pro-
coed immediately to Holstein.
MUNICH, Dec. 20.
- - - - • •

Early this morning the President of the Ministry,
Vos der Pforden, in company with Herr von Are-
tin, Von Hienze, and Mayer, started for Dresden.
The Chambers are to meet on the 3rd of February.
CARLSKUHE. Ds° 21.
Oar Minister for Foreign Affairs, Von Riidt, left
yesterday to represent Baden at the Dresden Con-
ference.

TRIESTE Dsc 10.

The corvette Louise has rectivtd ordeis to oppose
by force the debarcation of Ottoman troops on the
neutral territory of Dalmatia, and the frigate Venus
is to be held in readiness to assist the oorvette it
needful.

A telegraphic despatch, addressed from Frankfort,
on the 19th, to a Hanoverian paper, usually well in-
formed u to Danish matters, says that General Legt-
ditsch has received orders to hold himself in readi-
ness to march with his corps (numbering 25,000
men) towards Holstein. The corps is at present on
the frontiers of HOW.
SWUM!, Dec. 23.—VOitietat7 LOGS, 1041; New Loan,
Fearand-a-Half pot Costa., 991; National Debt, 831; Com-
ments' Merino tiosisty'a Prwiu, 120 ; Bank Shares. 94.
Vaasa, Dec. 21.—Five per Coat. Iletelliquee, 941 ;
Foorand-a-Half per Ceuta., ditto, 811. Doak Shares,
1,116. Itschaage on Loudon. 12.43.

• • Clic Court.
JT
* WINDSOR. Dia. 24.
M. Queen leaked tbb manioc in the Slopes is
Whim Park. TIM royal family took their usual &Wisp.
Mersa Albert went out Aweßag thk morning, seeasprnial
by the Earl of Linings. Lord Catnap, Lieut.-Coloael Hos.
C. B. Phipps, Colonel Ron. Charles Grey, see Waal
Bonsai', was ia attenuants on Ms Royal Highness. The
gal of Lincoln left the Cosa* Ibis Mistime. The royal
disuse Waal• at the Castle this evening will latilude
Dachau of Kent, Lady Fapay Howard, Baroaw do Speth,
end Sir Orme Coops?. The Qeees'e paw* baud attend
ImesLord Canioys has relieved the Berl of Lktowel
duty al Lord in Waiting to her Majesty, and Lieu t..
°sant Ba Biward Semitic as relieved Captain lion. J.
Denman, R.N., in his duty room is Waiting to ha
Majesty.

The Duchess of Gloucester has i
been ndisposed for
some day' past, at bee residence, Glouceste House, Picca-
dilly. Yesterday her Boyd Elobsees was a hide better.
Mr. Freshfield, High Sheriff for the County of
Barre,. attended at the Home-office yesterday, to present
the address ...grad on at the late Coast, meeting to her
Ilejesty on Papal aggression.
The Mosinee Committee of the Royal Commission
of the Exhibition of the Works of Industry of all Nations in
the pear 1831 met yestetday at the office ot lb. Board of
Trade.
Major-General Fox had an interview with Sir
George Grey yesterday at tlis Homeoftlos.
The School of Design had a meeting yesterday at
the Board of Trade.
Despatches were sent off last evening from the
Colonial-office for the Governors of Crylan and Hong Long.

Viscount and Viscountess Palmerston returned to
Broadlands yesterday, from visiting the Ms gaffs and
Marchioness of Lansdowne at Bowood Park, Wilts. Lord
and Lady Ashley hit town ye Wedgy on a Wait to the noble
viscrunt and viscountess, who will entertains succession of
visitors during the holidays.

THE ROYAL BARON or BE/F.—The baron of beef
which will grace the royal dinner table at Windsor Castle,
this Christmas Day, was put down to rout at nine o'clock on
Ideaday morning. and the proems of cooking was not s=-
plated before 10 o'clock at night. The noble baron was
taken from an unusually flue Scotch ox, supplied by Mr.
Matas, the royal butcher, and weighed 368 Dm It will be
served up cold, and placed on a side table in the dining-room
this Christmas Day.

DIATB OF LORD TALBOT DS MALAIIIDS.—Wo
hare to record the dentate of Lord Talbot de Ma'abide,
who expired on Feiday lam, at his east, Evercreach Rona,
Smsersetehire, at an &dressed age. Tim deces.ed James
Talbot, Baron Talbot de Illahhide and Lord Malahide of
MaWilde, county Dublin, in the peerage of Inland;
Baron Fornival, of Malahids, county Dublin, in the
peerage ot the United Riogdont, was mooed son
the late Barootea Talbot de Ida'abide, and brother
of the late peer, wimps be succeeded in the title a
few month. sires. He married 26:h December, 1804,
Mies Anse Sarah Rodbard, ow:mud daughter and co-heir of
the late Mr. &maid Rodbard, by whom he 1 large
family. He is succeeded in his family honours by James
Talbot, the eldest of his sin tone.

Man last night's Gasettil.
FOREIGN-OFTICE, DEC. 24.—The Queen has been
pleased to appoint William Congreva Brackenbury, Esq.,
now Consular. Assistant to the British Mission at Madrid, to
be her Majesty's Consul at that capital.

PROPOSED PARK FOR FINSBURY.

A deputation, consisting of Lord Robert Grosvenor,
Id P., Sir James Duke, But., M.P., Mr. Wakley, M.P.,
C. Woodward, Erq., F.R.S., a *aunty magistrate, W.
Tyler, Req., J. Parsons, Est i , Rev. A. Clissold, A.M , Mr.
Churchwarden Tarp's*, and Messrs. Taylor, Wade, Barnet,
and T. H. BoykAt, the returning officer of the borough,
waited upon Lid John Russell, yesterday, at his official
residence in Downing street, to present a memorial agreed
to at a meeting of nearly 3,000 inhabitants of Final:ism, on
the subject of tits new park so much desired in that borough.
The deputation was introduced by Mr. Wakley.
Mr. WOODWARD urged the necessity of procuring en
open seers in the northern district of London tor the health-
ful recreation and exercise of the vast multitudes it contained.
He also impressed upon his lordship that, as a sanitary men
sure, the prOpond park had the strongest claims upon the
favoursbl• consideration of the government.
Lird ROBERT GROSVENOR observed that he had
presided at the meeting from which the memorial had ani-
mated, from a strong conviction, not merely that a perk north
of London was necessary, bit also because he thought it but
just that the same provision should be made out of the public
resources fur Finsbury .shad been made for the metropolitan
inhabitants south and east of the Theme'. His lordship
added that the site of the proposed park was equi.dtatant
from Regent's and Victoria -Parks, and would, if adopted,
sompleut the circle of parks around London.
Mr. LLOYD then explained to. the Premier, at the
request of Lord Groavemor, the plan and situation of the
proposed park.
Three plans were alluded to—vie., one containing an area
of 640 acres, which it was estimated would coot 300,0001. ;
480 saes at a cost of 200,0001. ; and 380 acres for 180,0001.
Srl JAMBS DUKE urged that it woof great importance
to the City of Loodun, that the present unoccupied space
mentioned in the memorial should be kept open. All other
spots which years ago had supplied an in-draught to the
metropolis had Deem built upon. Sir James concluded by
s E'er ga support li:44:rt. ...pd.. that
the City of London had not interfered and p tad so
many open spaces as had been .alladed to b 7 Mr. Lloyd, from
being covered with buildings.
Mr. PARSONS said that Lord Seymour and Sir George
Grey had both admitted the importance of the object, but
had suggested difficulties', on the ground of expense, and it
was for that reason the deputatian had sought his lordship's
assistance and support.
Mr. WAHLRY considered the present application had
stror g claims upon the favourable consideration of the go.
viniment. Unless the ground were secured now, all hope
of obtaining a park for the north of London would be gone—
or, at 'gut, each would be the accumulation of buildings
upon it, that it could be had only upon terms infloitely
higher than those for which it might now be obtained. He
mentioned as an instance the northern end of Chancery.
lane. A few yeah ago that pert of the lane might have been
widened at an expense of about 7001. A new house was now
being built there, tad if the widening ever took place it
would be at the expense of as many thousands.
Kr. Box Karr and other members of the deputation hay.
log severally addressed his lordship,
The noble lord remarked that it appeared to him the
proposed park was desirable, and he would confer with Str
George Grey sod Lord Seymour on the subject.
The deputation having thanked his lordship withdrew.

IRISII REPRESENTATIVE BISHOPIL—n. Irish pre-
•ltm who are to sit in parliament the rowans, semi= are
the Archbishop of Dahlia, Bishops of theory, Cork, and
KiHalo/.

SINGULAR CHAROR OF SHOOTING. William
James Tyrrell was exemised on Monday at Manchester, for
the first time, on a charge of shooting • man named Joseph
Hughes. Seperintendest &year said that the charge
against the prisoner was that of having fired a pistol, on the
7th inst., at one Joseph Hugh'', now lying in Mount street,
ehorlton, in a very dangerous eonditioo. The prisoner had
been sought for messeesselully by the police during a day
or two; and would not, in all probability, have bees in the
dock at present, bad he not voluntarily surrendered. A
'Ding woman, named Jam Pugh, residing in Hiltuystreet,
stated that she and the prisoner, on the 7th lust , were
sleeping together ea a dwelling house in Mount-street, and
that at about half-put three in the mousing she heard a
man (afterwards ascertained to have been Hughes) attempt-
Lag to lone kis way into the hoses at the bock door, and
afterwards at the window under the bedroom In which she
then was. Alter a short time the man succeeded in climbing
spud opening the window of that very bedroom • and when
she stet It, he opened it again, and appeared to be pro.
seeding to effect his entrance. She distinctly saw kis ha,
bemuse he pressed it against the glue outside. The prisoner
then asked the man what he wanted, and told him that if
he did not go, he (pr saner) would make him. The man
refused to go away, and at last the prisoner seised a pistol and
fired upon him. It was us known at the tea whether the
man was hurt at all ; but he seemed to fall down from the
window, and when at the bottom was heard to say, " D— your
impudence." The witness added that she was very much
alarmed at the time, as the man was evidently attempting
to get ie.—Mr. Bent, who appeared on behalf of the pre.
goner, 'liaised from Superintendent Savior that Hughes, the
wounded man, had been convicted ones of burgluy. It was
evident, from Mr. Bent's cross examination of the female
witness, that the bedroom was oa the second floor; and a
neighbour deposed that she saw the man Hughes and an.
other run away soon after the discharge of the pistol. Mr.
Houma the prisoner had • good deal of money with him
at the time, and was afraid, for certain good reasons, that
an attempt was shout to be made to rob him of It ; and
therefore he end in self defence. A policeman whose at-
tention was called to the plates by the now saw the female
witness with her head out of the window, and heard her say
that a man had boss attempting to get in, and
that the prisoner had fired at him, but they De-
li-wed he had sot hit him. Mr. Bent further stated
that the wounded man, when taken to the Dis-
pentery, said that he wee bun by a Jell, and
that the place on his arm (where the shot bad taken effect)
was caused by a burn. This seemed to show that he bad
been doing something at the time which made him ashamed
to confess that he bad been shot at. Superintendent
Saynor stated that when the prisoner gave himself up on
that (Monday) musing, he said be had fired off a pistol at
some man, bat \ewes in such tenor at the time he fired
that he did sat kosior what he was doing. The man Hughes
was said to be demestookr 111, and unable to appear. Oa
the application of bell was accepted for the gni-
euer's appearanesea Thursday week, or wiener it need be ;
his mother (a lady residing at Broughton) and a gentleman
undertaking to be rosemelble in 601. sub, for such ap:
peanuts. It was C112•04111111b• that If grave symptoms should
set in meanwhile, the deposition of Hughes should be at twee
takes.

IRELAND.

Maine. Dui. 24.
The (Mowing communication from the office of Sir
George Grey has been received by the foreman of the
Dahlia Grand Jury :
Whitehall, Dee. 20,1860.-81 r : I am directed by there-
tory Sir George Grey to ocknowledge the receipt, on the 16th
looting, or your letter dated the 4th izatant, and to inform
you that he has bad the houoar to lay before the Queen the
petition of the Ilanhaelasee Terse Grand Jury of the city of
Dahlia prollag that the °flee of viceroy of Ireland may not
be abolielnd....l have the honour to be, air, your obedient
_ _ _

TOTTAIII, B. WADDINGTON.
Sir Robert Ratty, Bert., Dublin.
The principles upon which the distribution of the
grant made by parliament to reimburse the depositors
of the notorious Cuffe-street Savings Bank has
hitherto been conducted, have been a source of
enormous grievince to a great number of those unfor-
tunatepeople. It appears that at various times the
public bad reaeon to entertain misgivings u to the
stability of the bank ; and consequently the de-
positors withdrew their money, but confidence being
again restored, were induced in many instances to
return their deposits, and this they did on the assur-
ance of the trustees that they were enabled to do so
with perfect legality. In all the cases in which this
was done, and in which the original deposits and
the re-deposits—being, in fact, the same money—
exceeded the regulated amount of 30/. within the
year, the deposits are pronounced illegal by the dis-
tributors of the fund, and the poor people are refused
a single shilling of their money. Several meetings
have recently been held on the subject, and a me-
morial to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in which
the matter is fully. stated, has been sent for-
! ward. In this memorial appears the following state-

meats :
" That it is a matter of notoriety, and is evidence before
the select committee no savings books, that the acting
trustees of the bank publicly informed the depositors that
they were authori+od by government to take huger deposits
tbna those prescribed by the savings bank laws, and re•
curable by other savings banks ; and depositors acting upon
those statements, were induced to make deposits exceeding
the regulated amount ; and that this fact (amongst others)
waa brought under the special notice of the government on
more than one occasion in the year 1845, but no mea-
sures were taken by that branch of the executive having the
control of savings banks to put an end to the abuse, but
some was permitted to continue up to the tailors of the

idstitution.-
" That the majority of your memorialists' deposits o.me
within the description as relorigmenta,' owing to the want
of confidence that manifested itself on one or two occasions
in the stability of the bank, when the depositors drew out
their money ; and on the panic subsiding, and their tieing
re-assured of the safety of the Institution, invested it in one
gross sum, thereby (where the sum exceeded 301.) violating,
it not the spirit, the letter of the enactment referred to.
" And memorialists take leave to particularly call the
Chancellor of the Exchequer's attention to the section
referred to—' That no money, whether such money shall
have been previously withdrawn, dm, shall at any time be
received by the trusses from any depositor,' &c, which
appears a mandatory direction more for the trustees and
manager* than depositors. And fur;her, that the rule
inserted in the depositors' book, and allowed to stand
unaltered from Nov., 1644 (Me time Mr. Tidd Pratt certified
them) until the amino of the bank, was greatly calculated
to mislead depositors, and which is as follows :
'HOLe 23—Rs LODOliaNla.—Mpoeitors withdrawing
deposits may re-lodge at any time or times within one year,
reckoning from the 20:h November, any sum or sums of
money, provided such sum or sums shall not increase his or
her account in such year beyond the sum of 301. additional
principal money, bearing interest on the sum of 1501. in the
whole.'
"That it rppeert this rule found its way into depositors'
books in the form above given (as accounted for by Mr. Tidd
Pratt, in a letter written by him under the date of 13th
October, 1846), by ' the word " additional " having been
inadvertently allowed to stand,' and 'that he had taken
step, to have it corrected.' However this latter fact may
be, certain it is, that it never has been corrected is your
Ollomorialitts deposit hooky, or any reprint thereof, up to this
hour.
" That your memorialists respectfully submit under this
rale (which Mr. Tidd Pratt certified), it would have been
eompetent for depsitors to have deposited and drawn out
egensiderablit sums of money in one year, without having at
any one time during the year more to his credit than 301.,
and might so act without supposing they had been guilty of
a violation of law.
"Your memorialists further respectfully submit that the
grant of 30,0001. was made by parliament to depositors
generally, unfettered by soy restriction as to any clam of
depositors. And memorialists were further fortified in the
belief that no such restriction would be imposed by the
declaration of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, that a sum
of 10s. in the pound would be paid on the amount of the
depositors' claims.
A considerable time since a site was taken in Dub-
lin for the purpose of erecting baths and wash-
homes for the poor, but the matter was neglected and
forgotten, and moat probably would long remain so,
had not the corporation been informed yesterday by
their law agent that proceedings were commenced
spinet them to recover the price of the ground. It
is to be hoped that this circumstance will have the
effect of compelling that worshipful body to take the
thing once more in hand.
The week's receipts of "rent," announced at the
meeting of the Loyal Catholic and National Repeal
Association yesterday, only amounted to 145., exclu-
sive of a remittance of 201. from America.
The following appears in a northern journal:
MEETING OP THE CLERGY OF ARMAOH.-00 Friday a
meeting of the clergy of the above diocese, convened by the
Archdeacon, was held in the Tontine Rooms, Armagh. A
very large number of the clergy attended, sad unanimously
agreed to an address to the Lord Primate, expressive 01
their is incurrence with their English brethren in their pro-
test against the recant aggremion of the Pope, and praying
his Grace to convey to them an assurance of the zeal and
earnestness of the clergy of the Irish branch of the church
in the same cause. The addless tumid, in temperate
language, that as the Queen's prerogative is the same in
friend as in England, whatever measures may be adopted
to secure the latter from the usurpation of a foreign power
ought to be extended to the former, in order that the
members of the united church in this country may enjoy
the protection of equal laws with their fellow-subjects in
Great Britain. Until the address has been presented, and
kis Grace's answer received, it was agretd that it should not
be published.
The Cork Examiner has the following notice of
the prospects of the flax trade in the south of Ireland :
With much satisfaction we perceive increasing evidences
of seal fur the extension of flag. In one case we have just
heard of the intention of a gentleman to plant fif,y acres of
the crop ; and other instances might be mentioned of pre
parations to lay down an equal or even a greater extent.
From all appearances it is probable that an immense quan-
tity will be produced is the next year. Together with the
sowing, arrangements are becoming general for the process
of scotching ; and we hear of several parties who are about
to erect the necessary machinery, both for their own cone, •
meets and that of the public.
A. Armstrong, Esq., A.M., one of the resident
masters of Trinity College, Dublin, and for some time
past accountant and keeper of the deeds under the
Encumbered Estates Commission, died of apoplexy
on Sunday morr.ing.