The Sun.
London, England, 1855-05-16 00:00:00

Sir F. BARING observed that as he was the person, '
in point of fact, responsible in this matter, he would. be
glad to offer a few observations. The hon. and gallant
gentleman who bad brought forward the motion had
withdrawn the written charge he had first made against
the Government, for misappropriating the public money,
and had had made it in his speech. But if he would
again bring forward his motion, as originally worded,
he (Sir F. Baring) would take care that he did not want
a seconder. With regard to the subject more imme-
diately before the house, he had to observe that, when
he first became connected with the Admiralty, he
found considerable difficulty with respect to the claims ,
of the parties who professed to be interested in the
screw propeller. The screw propeller used in the navy-
was not the specific screw of any one patentee ; but as ,1
the Admiralty considered that they had infringed certain
patents, they believed the inventors were entitled to
compensation. The Admiralty found all the parties at i
law with each other, and they declared their inability to
decide who was the proper person to be paid for the in-
vention. At length it occurred to some of the parties in-
terested that it would be far more sensible if all the in-
ventors, whose rights were infringed, should combine
togetherand endeavour to get some compensation for the
loss they had sustained. This was the history of the
amalgamation, and which the hon. and gallant gentle-
man had dwelt upon at such length. Mr. Henry Currie,
who happened to be a member of the house, then waited
upon the Admiralty in the capacity of agent for the par-
tie's whose rights had been invaded, and showed that he
was authorised to settle their claims and to receive the
money to which they were entitled. The Admiralty re-
ceived Mr. Currie as an agent of the claimants, and
treated him just as they would do any person who had a
bill to receive at their hands. Mr. Currie produced an
authority, signed by all parties, giving him full powers
to act on their behalf, a procf of agency than which none
could be more satisfactory. The state of the law with re-
spect to patents, was this, that if the Government made
a screw for the navy on their own premises, the pa-
tentee bad no remedy against them for an infringement
of his rights, neither had he a remedy against them if
they employed a contractor to make any patent work
for the use of her Majesty's navy. The patentee would,
however, in the latter case, have a right of action against
the contractor for using the patent. The Attorney-Gene-
ral of that day was well acquainted• with the law of pa-
tents and he consulted him, and he was clearly of opinion
that be could pay the money to these parties. He, acting
under professional advice, also required a guarantee to
be given that no further claim should be made. He was
bound to state that, up to the time of the agree-
ment, he never heard that Capt. Carpenter had claimed
any money compensation in consequence of his patent
right having been infringed. No doubt Capt. Carpenter
had claimed to be employed, but at that time he had
made no claim for money compensation. He (Sir F.
Baring) now came to the agreement. That agreement
was made with Mr. Menry Currie. The bargain was
this—it was a payment for the past, and a purchase for
the future. Capt. Carpenter had estimated, to a certain
extent, what the value of the patent right was. He had
claimed the whole `20,0001., and a further sum of 44,000/.
He received 20.000/. as a final payment for all claims
past and future, and he (Sir F. Baring) was at a loss to
understand on what ground he could claim 44,0001.
more. When these parties combined together, the
arrangement made was this—that the"money should be
distributed by an arbitrator appointed by them all. He
bad been told that be bad misappropriated the public
money, or that he had acted inadvertently. At the
time when the last vote was taken, the sum of 10,000/.
had been paid under a particular agreement with these
parties. On that occasion he twice explained the whole
transaction to the house. The money was taken, in
point of words and explanation, for payment to these
persons, and it could not have been applied to the pay-
ment of Captain Carpenter. That officer had put in a
claim to the Admiralty ; and the advisi rs of the Admi-
ralty—Mr. Lloyd and Sir B. Walker—bad reported that
the screw invented by Captain Carpenter was not the
screw used in her Majesty's navy. It was said that
Capt. Carpenter had been hardly dealt with, and that,
therefore, a committee ought to be appointed. The ques-
tion was altogether one for a court of law ; and why had
he not proceeded against the contractors who bad been
employed by the Admiralty ? His hon. and gallant friend
seemed to think that the patent law was changed when
the screw was used in a Queen's ship. Capt. Carpenter had
only once gone to law, and on that occasion the Vice-
Chancellor had refused to grant the injunction. He
should go, as other people had been compelle I to go, to
the courts of law. He must protest against the deci-
sion of a question of this nature by a committee. It
would have no weight whatever ; but, as far as he was
personally concerned, he was indifferent whether a com-
mittee was appointed or not.

After a few words from several hon. members,
The house then divided, when the r,u nbers were—
For the motion 49
Against it 69
Majority —2o
DISTRICT PARISHES.

The Marquis of BLANDFORD obtained leave to
bring in a bill to make better provision for the forma-
tion and endowment of district parishes.

MORTMAIN.

Mr. ATHERTON obtained leave to bring in a bill
to amend the laws relating to mortmain.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE QUALIFICATION

BILL.

Mr. COLVILE asked leave to introduce a bill to
enable persons to qualify as magistrates when they pos-
sessed personal estate of 3001. per annum, or real estate
of 1001. per annum. At, present, no gentleman could
qualify for a county magistrate unless he derived an
income of 1001. a year from land.
Agreed to.
COAL MINES INSPECTION BILL.

Mr. BOUVERIE, on behalf of Sir G. GREY, obtained
leave to introduce a bill to amend the law for the inspec-
tion of coal mines in Great Britain.
THE COURTS OF SESSION (SCOTLAND) BILL.
This bill was read a second time.
THE SPIRITS, &c., DUTIES BILL.

Admiral JQNES desired that certain exceptions
should be introduced in this bill, with respect to the re-
moval of stocks of spirit dealers in Ireland.
The C FIANCE LLOR of the EXC REQUE R objectd,
on the ground that the bill already contained excep-
tional powers similar to those requested by the hon.
member.
Admiral JONES then moved that there be added to
clause A,—" Provided always that nothing herein con-
tained shall interfere with the provisions of an act passed
in the 11th and 12th of her Majesty, entitled An Act
to Amend the Laws relating to the Warehousing of
British Spirits.' "
The house divided, when the numbers were—
Aye' 2B
Noes 56
Majority —2B
The bill was read a third time and passed.

ALTERATIONS IN PLEADINGS BILL.
This bill was read a second time.
SEWERS (HOUSE DRAINAGE) BILL.

. .
This bill was read a third time and passed.
The other orders were then disposed of, and the house
adjourned at 10 minutes to 11 o'clock until this day.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

TATTERSALL'S.--TunDAY.
A blank afternoon, the main body of subscribers having
left town to attend the race meeting at Bath.

BATH AND SOMERSET COUNTY RACES.
TUESDAY.
The Lansdown Stakes (Handicap) of 5 soya each, with
40 added ; for three-year-olds and upwards ; extra
weight for certain winners. One mile: 19 subs.
Mr. T. Parr's Benhams, by Van Tromp, 3 yr-, 7st 2lb
(Clement) 1
Mr. Waller's Octavia, 6 yrs, 8t (Sly) 2
Mr. J. Hewitt's Postulant, 5 yrs, 7st bib (Wells) 3
The following also ran :—Florist, Jacqueline, Anthra-
cite, Master Horton, and b f by Verulatn.
Betting-7 to 4 agst Benhams, and 3to 1 agst
Jacqueline. Won easily by a length and a half ; three
lengths between the second and third ; Florist was fourth,
Jacqueline fifth, and Anthracite sixth. Just before
reaching the distance, Master Horton ran against a post
and unseated his rider.

The Biennial Stakes of 10 sovs each, with 50 added ; for
three-year-olds, colts Bst 101 b, fillies and geldings Bst
71b ; untried horses and mares allowed 31b, but only
one allowance. The second to save his stake. One
mile and a half. 46 subs.
Mr Howard's Oulston, by Melbourne, Bst 10Ib (Wells) 1
Mr. Knowles's Sandboy, Bst lib (Bilitiby) 2
Mr. Gulliver's Bessie, Bst 71b
The following also ran the Third and
Rosetta.

Betting-3 to 1 and 7t02 on Oulston, who took a long
lead, was never caught, and won in a canter by twenty
lengths. Bessie, William the Third, and Rosetta were
pulled up.
•
Biennial Stakes of 10 sovs each, with 50 added ; for two-
, year-olds ; colts Bst 101 b, fillies and geldings Bst 71b ;
untried horses or mares allowed 31b, .but only one
allowance ; the second to save his stake,. T.Y.C.,
half-a-mile. 41 subs.
Mr. Parr's Coroner, by Loup-garou, Bst 101 b
(Flatman) 1
Mr..E. Parr's Stork, Bst 101 b (Quinton\ 2
Lord John Scott's Wandering Willie, Bst 101 b
(Aldcroft) 3

The following also ran :—Persia, Brother to Orinoco,
Duet, Maid of tho Mill, Furioso, Disraeli, Garnet, colt
out of Baleine, Secretary.
Betting—Even on Furioso, 4 to 1 agst Brother to
Orinoco, and Bto 1 each agst Stork and Coroner. Co-
roner made all the running, and, after a fine race in, won
by a head ; two lengths between the second and third ;
Duet was fourth, Maid of the Mill fifth, Disraeli,
Brother to Orinoco, and Furioso, were the next lot past
the post.

The Somersetshire Stakes of 25 sovs each, 15 ft, and 5
only if declared, with 100 added ; the second horse to
receive 50 sovs, and the third horse to save his stake.
Extra weight for certain winners. Two miles and a
distance. 83 subs, 55 of whom pay 5 sovs each.
Lord Chesterfield's Typee, by Touchstone, 5 yrs,
7st 131 b ....
Mr. C. Fenning's Humboldt, 4 yrs, 6st 81b (Bates) 2
Mr. t. Thelluson's Rataplan, 5 yrs, 9st2lb (J. Prince) 3
Mr. Gulliveris Hercules, 4 yrs, 7st llb (including
71b extra)
The following also ran :—Little Harry, Goorkah,
Newbold, Kidnapper, Cleveland, Kaffir, Mr. Sykes,
Whalebone, Mishap.
Betting-9 to 4 agst Typee, sto 1 agst Kidnapper, 6
to 1 agst Little Harry, 8 to 1 agst Mishap, 100 to 12
agst Hercules, 10 to 1 aget Rataplan, and 12 to 1 agst
Kaffir. The race in with the four placed was close and
interesting, Typee winning by a head ; a neck between