The Sun.
London, England, 1855-01-11 00:00:00

LAW INTELLIGENCE.—Jan. 10.

THE JUDICIAL COMMITTEE OF 'HE PRIVY
COUNCIL —WEDNESDAY*
MARE'S PATENT.
Mr. Hindmarsh appeared for the petitioner ; Mr.
Welsby appeared on behalf of the Crown.
This was a petition for the extension of the patent for
14 years. The patent was originally taken out in 1841.
and was for the construction of fire-places, which were
made so as to consume their own smoke. The patentee
was a man of limited means, and in order to make his
invention public had had recourse to assistance to en-
able him to do so. He had then assigned it, and now
bad it re-assigned to him for the sum of 2001. He him-
self and the assigns had done all in their power to get
it into use,- but the public would not use it, until com-
pelled by the late act of Parliament, compelling people
to consume their own smoke. It was now in use in
several places, and answered completely, and effected a
saving of fuel of from 15 to 20 per cent., while the cost
of setting it up was very trifling. The mode in which
smoke was consumed was by placing a reservoir of fuel
underneath the burning coal, which reservoir was gra-
dually raised so as to supply the fire. The consequence
was, that the fuel in the reservoir became hot, and the
smoke passing through the fire above was consumed in
doing so. When the reservoir was empty, there was a
contrivance by which it was replenished. There was
also a good supply of oxygen or atmospheric air, to
enable the smoke to burn, for otherwise it would pass
through the burning coals without being consumed.
Several witnesses were called, who testified to the
efficiency of the apparatus and the saving of fuel, and
proved that no smoke issued from the mouths of the
chimneys where it was ed, except at the time of
lighting the fires. The it of supplying fuel also had
this advantage, that it prevented the necessity of
opening
.furnace doors, ans. thereby damping a fire, and
so checking the generation of steam in steam-engines.
Mr. Welsby, on behalf of the Camn, said he did not
dispute the great efficiency of the invention, but con-
tended that, if the patent was extended, it would be
making the public pay an increased price for doing that
which they were now compelled is do by act of Parlia-
ment.
The Court, however, decided that the patent should
be extended for six years.
HONETEALL'S PAM:U.
This case, which was a petition under the sth and 6th
of Wm. IV., c. 83, for the confirmation of a patent for
for making anchors, corn' only called "Porter's patent
anchor," was put off until,* let of February on account
of its great importance; i e:leing desirable that it should
be heard before a fuller mat.
Sir F. Thesiger and Mr. Webster appeared for the
petitioner ; Mr. Welsby for the Crown ; and Mr. Ser.
jeant Atkinson and Mr. Russell for opposing parties.

Mr. Mellor said the jury bad not come to a positive
conclusion on the evidence, but under other circum-
stances even he should not take the course suggested.
The foreman of the jury said they did not intend to
impute perjury to the policeman.
The defendant was then discharged.
During this session an unusual number of cases of as-
sault on the police have been tried, all of ordinary cha-
racter. In one a man named Flynn was charged, and
there was a singular circumstance connected with the
Case. Flynn and another man were committed from Wan-
stead to Ilford Gaol on some charge, but as they were
being conveyed to their destination, the other man, who
had a small hand, slipped the handcuff off, and having
dealt a blow at the officer, they made off in different
directions, and got clear away. Flynn joined his com-
panions in Whitechapel, and the same night he was
taken into custody by Henry Davis, 425 A, on the
charge for which he was now tried. The other, who is
still at large, and who went ofl with the handcuff, having
divested himself of it, forwarded it to the police station
with his " compliments."