The Sun.
London, England, 1864-01-29 00:00:00

BEAUTIFUL FOR EVER.

MADAME RACHEL ON "FEMALE GRACE AND BEAUTY."
Just published,

ABOOK OF BEAUTY.
By Madame RACHEL.
To be had at 47A, New Bond-street. Price 2s. 6d.

THE WELLINGTON THREE SHILLING
DINNER, consisting of Soup, Fish, Entrée. Joint,
Sweet, ac., is served daily from 3 to 9, and on Sundays from
5 to 8.30.
Private Rooms for large or small parties.
JOHN CATES, Manager.
The Wellington, St. James's-street.
Entrance, 160, Piccadilly.

TH E 0 X F I)
e, OXFORD STREET, W.
THIS EVENING, wiil be performed Selections from the
following Operas, viz., THE SLAVE, by Sir 11. Isishop ;
also, from LA FORZA. DEL DESTINO—Verdi ; by the fol-
lowing talented artistes .—Misses :Russell, Townley, Fitz-
Henry, VV almsley, Tyrrell, and Ellison ; Messrs. Green,
Huish, Kimberley, Stuart, &c.
Flute by Drew Dean. Pianoforte, Miss Bryant.
Comedy, by W. Randall, W. T. Critchficld, T. Maclagan,
George Ilutchenson, Miss belly Powor, and the marvellous
Gymnasts, Messrs. Berri, Leach, and Foster.
THIS EVENING, supported by the entire company, a
new and original Cantata, entitled "King Christmas." writ-
ten by Litchfield Moseley, Esq., andecomposed by W. Meyer
Lutz, expressly for the establishment.
Director, Mr. F. Jonghmans.

CANTERBURY HALL—THE GHOST in the
k) MAGIC FOUNTAINS, surpassing any of the Trans-
formation Scenes et the Season—one of the most beautiful
effects ever produced. The scene, "The Tempest ;" Ariel,
Miss E. Townley. The flight of Ariel through the Fairy
Fountains is certainly a triumph of art.—Vide Public Press.
All the other Musical and Pictorial attractions of the
Estab•isliment as usual, including Operatic Selections, ;
Comedy by W. Randall, G. Ilutchenson, J. Jester, T. Macla:
gan, Miss Nelly Power, &c.
Admission, 6d. ; Stalls and Balcony, ls.
Open every Evening.

110YAL ALHAMBRA.-
Another GRAND CHANGE of PERFORMANCES.
—FRANCOSI'S CIRQUE IMPERIAL still continues to
attract most fashionable and crowded houses.—First week
of the ,isters Irma and Mathilde Monfroid, the only accom-
plished female riders in England—Jules PerPz, the star rider
of the world—J. S. Case on the magic wire —Patterson's
troupe of performing Dogs—B. Franooni's wonderful trick
horses—Arthur and Bertrand, the unequalled French Clowns
—together with the whole of the double company will ap-
pear at each representation. Illuminated day pert ormances
on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday, at Two o'clock;
evenings at half-past Seven. Admission —Frivate Boxes,
215.; itoservcd Seats, 3s. ; Stalls, 2s. ; Promenade, ls. ;
Gallery, 6d.

ROYAL ALHAMBRA.-
The wonderful Performing. Elephant AJAX on
SATURDAY MORNING NEXT, the 23d instant, at Two
o'clock, and at each subsequent representation for a limited
period.

MADAME TUSSAUD'S HISTORICAL
GALLERY; established 28 years at the Bazaar,
Baker-street —Great Treat for the Juveniles during the
Holidays.—The series of Models of the Kings of England,
from the Conqueror to that of tier present Majesty, attired in
the magnificent costumes of their respective periods, is now
near :y complete ; and in the Chamber of Physiognomy are
several new additions. Admission, Is. ; extra. rooms, 6d.
Open from 11 till dusk, and from 7 till 10.

ARGYLL ROOMS, Windmill-street, Hay-
market.
NOTICE. —M. JULLIEN'S PROMENADE CONCERTS
will be continued at the above elegant rooms.
Admission ls.
Conductor—M. JUL L lEN.
Solo Performers—Messrs. Moses, Tyler, Horton, Snelling,
Progrataki, M'Kenney, &c.
Doors Open at 8, commence at half-past.
Manager, M. GRENET.

29, GEORGE-STREET, HANOVER-SQUARE.
THE LONDON ANATOMICAL MUSEUM.
Open daily from 10 till 10. Lectures at 4 and 7
o'clock. Where may be seen the Astecs ; Bushman and
Wife ; Julia Pastrana and Infant ; Eng and Shang, the
Siamese Twins; and upwards of 3,000 Models, Natural Pre-
parations, &c. Egyptian Mummies, unwrapped, 4,000 years
old. Admission, One Shilling (tor Gentlemen only).

PIGS ! PIGS! PIGS!-INDIAN PIG MEAL,
without husks, supplied to the Royal farms, Windsor,
and in every county in England, IGs ad per cwt. ; one cwt.
equal to 11 cwt. barley or any meal. Delivered free in Lon-
don. Established 1858.— THOMAS PEARCE, Manager, 60,
Lant-street, Southwark.

pRIZE MEDAL-INTERNATIONAL
EXHIBITION, 1862.1 ti
FRANCIS TUCKER & CO., Wax Chandlers, &C., itc,
To the Queen and the Prince of Wales.
(Established 17?0.)
The Jurors' Report on Wax and Church Candles, in 1861,
testifies to the excellence of the quality of Messrs. Tuckers'
manufacture.
A distioguished Dignitary, in a letter addressed to Francis
Tucker and Co., on the subject of
WAX CANDLES with PLATTED WICKS,

_
says :
" I have found them fully equal to the recommendation
which you gave them, and can sincerely, in my that, com-
mend them to the clergy for the use of the altar."
Finest quality, with Platted Wicks, patented.. d. per lb.
Ordinary quality • • • • • • • • • • 0d- per lb.
VEGETABLE CANDLES, with a Mixture of Wax.
Best quality • • • • " .. is. sd. per lb.
Second quility •• •• •• •• is. 3d. per lb.
Third quality . • • • • • .. is. Id. per lb.
Carriage paid in London on Orders of Five rounds in value.
FRANCIS TUCKER AND CO.,
8, South 3101 ton-street, Grosvenor-square. Manufactory—
Kensington (Established 173't).
The largest Eatablishm,2nt in England for time Manufacture
of Wax Candles for the use of the Altar.

WHERE CAN WE MEET AFTER THE
PANTOMIMES ? My dear Fellow, Gentlemen sup
at EVANS', Covent-garden.

KINAHAN'S LL WHISKY v. COGNAC,
BRANDY.
This celebrated Old IRIS LI WIIISKY rivals the finest
FRENCH BRANDY,
It i Pure, Mild, Mellow, Delicious, and very Wholesome.
Sold In Bottles, 3s. Bd., at the Retail Houses in London ; by
the Agents in the principal towns in England ; or wholesale
at

8, GREAT WINDMILL-STREET, W.
Observe the Red Seal, Pink Label, and Cork branded
"Kinahan's LL Whisky."

ST. PETER'S ITALIAN CHURCH,
22, HATTON-WALL.

On SUNDAY, January 31, HIGH MASS, at 11 a.m ,
with full Orchestra.

Grand Vespers and Benediction, at 7 p.m. Followed by
Rossiurs STABET MATER.
The usual efficient Choir will be strengthened on this
ocnsion,

Mr, Bright, M,P„ at the Birmingham

Chamber of Commerce.

BIRMINGHAM, Thursday Evening.
The half• yearly meeting of the Chamber of Commerce
for Birmingham and the Midland District was held this
evening in the Grand Jury-room of the Public-office, Moor-
street, Mr J. S. Bright, Vice-President of the Chamber,
occupied the chair.
Mr Scholefield, M.P., Mr Bright, M.P., and Mr T. Lloyd,
M.P., the newly-elected member for Barnstaple, were pre-
sent.

The formal business of the meeting have been disposed
of,

The CHAIRMAN moved the adoption of the report of the
Chamber, which touched at some length upon various ques-
tions of interest to the mercantile world, among them being

the Bankruptcy Act of 1861, which waq regarded ai defec-
tive and requiring amendment, the present state of our in-
ternational maritime law, the changes which have been
effected in foreign Customs duties, and trade regulations,
the Partnership Law Amendment Bill, the patent law, the
prohibition of the export of arms from Singapore, the pre-
sent system of Government contracts, the Swedish tariff, and
the Merchandise Marks Act.

Mr. T. LLOYD, M.P., seconded the motion, which, after
a brief discussion, was agreed to.
Mr. SCHOLEFIELD, M.P., then addressed the meeting.
Adverting to the Partnership Law Amendment Bill, which
he had introduced into the House of Commons last year, he
remarked that a misconception appeared to prevail in some
quarters as to the nature of its provisions ; he regarded it
simply as a bill for the extension of the freedom of trade. It
was the duty of Parliament not to interfere unnecessarily
with the trade of the country. The best function of Govern-
ment was to govern as little as possible, every limitation
which Parliament put upon the facilities with which a man
was enabled to carry on his trade being injurious ; the Coun-
cil of the Chamber stated in their report their opinion that
it was for the interest Gf this country to establish this pro-
position as a part or international maritime law. " That
private property of subjects of a belligerent on the high seas
should be exempt from seizure by the public armed vessels
of the other belligerents except it be contrabrand." He
thought it was the duty of Government to see that in mat-
ters connected with war, if ever we should be involved in
war, the lives of our soldiers and sailors were protec-
ted as well as the property of merchants. If the question
of our international maritime law should be again brought
before Parliament he should be glad to support the pro.
position laid down by the Birmingham Chamber, if he
could clearly see his way to such a course. He
was glad to learn from the report that the Board of
Trade was now acting in co-operation with the different
Chambers of Commerce throughout the country, and he
expressed a hope that steps would be taken to extend the
principle of free trade in regard to our dealings with Aus-
tria. He happened to know something of the condition of
Austria, and if they could induce her Majesty's Government
to co-operate with them in inducing the Austrian Govern-
ment to extend the freedom of trade he was satisfied that
there was now an excellent opening in that country. The
wealth of Austria was much greater than was generally
imagined, and that wealth was being rapidly developed by
the partial adaptation of the Government of that country to
more constitutional forms. With regard to Mexico perhaps
chat was hardly a safe topic to touch upon ; but assuming,
as he supposed we might now assume, that Mexico would
soon be under a monarchical form of Government, and that
the monarch of that country would be an Archduke of
Austria---

Mr. BRIGHT--I don't think so. (Laughter.)
Mr. SCHOLEFIELD —You think he will not

Mr. bitiGHT—Certainly.

Mr. SCIIOLEPIELD continued—Refraining from express-
ing any more decided opinion upon that point, he thought
it would be conceded that there was now a prospect of a
better condition of things in Mexico than had been known
for some years, and he hoped that the Chambers of Com-
merce throughout this country would not be insensible to
the necessity of doing their best to see that the vast resources
of that rich country were properly developed. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. BRIGHT, after a few preliminary remarks, said—
The impression left on my mind after perusing the report
is that this Chamber of Commerce has occupied itself with
many important matters during the present year ; and
looking at the difficulties which interpose themselves to
anything being done in this country, I believe that the
Chamber has not been unsuccessful in its attempts to
take care of the interests of this district with which it is
r.e.ore especially connected. (Hear, hear.) In looking over
the paragraphs in that report there is one that struck me as
rather curious. lam surprised that it has not been men-
tioned, and you will, perhaps, be more surprised that I
mention it, as it is out of my line. The paragraph which
I refer to is that relating to the prohibition of the exporta-
tion of arms from Singapore. It appears that you are
allowed to export arms from Singapore to China, if they are
to be sold to the partisans or subjects of the ruling dynasty
of China; but if they are to be exported for the use of the
rebels, then the Government interposes and prevents that
exportation. I am not anxious to see the manufacture of arms
necessarily a great manufacture in the world, nor the ex •
portation of them commonly required from one country to
another; but the principle now acted upon is not the prin-
ciple which has been applied with regard to America and
other countries, and I do not see why, on any principle
adopted by the Government in other cases, it should inter-
fere to prevent the exportation of arms from Singapore.
(Cheers.) It is the business of the Chinese Government to
prevent that exportation, but it is not the business of our
Government to do so ; that is a matter which many gentle-
men will be able to comprehend without my entering upon it
further, and I have merely mentioned it as a curious matter
for observation than as being very material. The next sub-
ject mentioned in the report which strikes me as a matter of
some consequence is the question of patents. (Hear.) I un-
derstand that at Liverpool there are some influential persons
who think that patents ought to be altogether abolished, and
that inventors should be remunerated out of a fund to be
awarded to them in some way by the Government, and that
if possible it would be desirable to have an international
fund provided by the various countries of Europe and by
America, out of which they should receive a fitting compen-
sation. On the face of it this proposition looks extremely
reasonable, and I believe that its carrying out would be
impracticable, and that it would bo impossible to make any
equal adjudication, because it is often many years before
anybody can tell whether a patent has really been valuable
and whether the public have gained much from it or not.
(Hear, hear.) I am not very much alarmed at the prospect
of the total abolition of patents, and I am not sure, after my
experience, which I am sorry to say, has been considerable,
that the public would lose anything by the abolition ;
and, looking at all that is won and lost by inventions among
inventors, I am not certain that the inventors would be the
losers if there were no patents at all. I believe that not 1 in
20 of them makes his expenses, and that a good many out
the 20 are nearly ruined. There is nothing to prevent the
production of useful inventions ; the fame attaching to them
would be quite a sufficient stimulus with many men to exert
their talents in that direction; but, leaving that point, there
is the question of the existing law, and no man can have
paid attention to the present law, or rather no law, because
in point of fact, there is no law—no man can have examined
that law without feeling that there is ample room for exten-
sive alteration and amendment. In my opinion, patents are
granted in many cases for very insignificant things, and they
are nothing but a nuisance to the trade with which they are
connected. Frequently the improvements are so trifling, al-
most so childish, that it is quite absurd to give a man a mo-
nopoly which may he the cause of harassing every exten-
sive manufacturing operation. (Hear.) To my mind it
examination
neboareut
the
hnegt
invention
aovitenbnivt
etnei
npornrteoi
foivusnesswme,
doef.rnot
for the
taaf thereheadp duirt
patent,pwi
000nasrenetdoosfoi
tfmha
isetec
drawingsie Ps rtnaeovi nti t nhu ges
‘tpvhahateettnhatre necessary, an exact model of the invention ought
to be furnished, so that you might ascertain the exact in-
vention far which the patent was granted. I believe that
the plan of models has been adopted in the United States.
I do not know much of their law generally, but I be-
lieve that to be the case. I think the present system of
drawing specifications to be a system of fraud to
a very large extent. A man attempts to conceal his in-
vention rather than to explain it, and the wording is so
vague that when a conflict arises with some one who he
supposes has infringed his patent, he dares not toll you what
he claims, and his counsel will fight for days to avoid telling
you Ns, hat the inventor claims and what he has invented, and
if it is said, "This is old," he says, "I do not claim that
that is not my specification ;" but if you have not proved
it to be old, he will say, " That is exactly what I do claim."
You are placed in a maze of difficulties, and may go on liti-
gating for years, and it is difficult to say whether you are