The Sun.
London, England, 1839-05-11 00:00:00

LJLW
,INTELLIGENCE.

VICE-CHANCEL L OR' S COURT.

CLARIDGE V. LATHAM.
Mr. \VIGRAM moved upon answer to dissolve an injunc-
tion which had been obtained upon notice by the plaintiff
in February last, restraining the defendant from in-
fringing the plaintiff's patent for the use of asphalte and
pitch for pavement. The plaintiff' invention, as described
in his specification, consisted in the union of asphalte with
pitch. The asphalte is a natural compound, which as
used by the plaintiff, is found in Pyrimont, near Seys3el,
in the department of l'Aine, and in other parts in the Jura
mountains, and consists of about ninety parts of carbonate
of lime and ten of bitumen, with a small portion of
aqueous matter ; and this, by the application of heat,
and combined with bitumen or pitch, produced the well-
known mastic cement or composition, which, when
mixed with sand or gravel, had latterly been so much
dsed for paving and road making. The plaintiff ob-
tained his patent in 1837. The defendant procured
a similar natural compound from the Val de Travers, and
by mixing it with tar instead of pitch, he had of course
succeeded in producing a similarcompound to that for which
the plaintiff had taken out his patent. The defendant
was one of the experimenters on the pavement in Oxford-
street ; and on that occasion it was admitted he had used
pitch, but on all other occasions he substituted tar ; and it
was now contended that as tar, as a chemical compound,
contained ingredients which were not to be found in pitch,
the mixture of tar with asphalte was not an infringement
of the patent for a mixture of pitch and asphalte. Several
of the Encyclopmdias and chemical Treatises were quoted
to show the stature and application of asphalte, and that its
properties and uses had been long known; and it was also
contended that the patent itself was no novelty. On the
other hand it was urged that pitch was but the residium of
tar, and that the defendant's whole process consisted in ex-
tracting the pitch from the tar, which he used without mak-
ing any use of tne additional ingredients of the tar.
His HONOUR said he should continue the injunction, with
directions to the plaintiff to bring an action at law, which
should try the validity of the patent, and the lawfulness of
the substitution of tar for pitch.

COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH.
BUSINESS OF THE COURT .THE SPECIAL PAPER.

Lord DENMAN gave notice that in the course of next
term a selection of cases would be made from the special
paper, and be directed to be argued in the Bail Court.
This would get rid of those cases which had been put into
that paper solely fur the purpeso of delay.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL said that he had resigned the
office of her Majesty's Attorney-General, but should have
to perform the necessary duties of the office until his suc-
cessor had been appointed. He then applied officially for
the usual rule that the recognizances of all persons not
lawfully discharged, should be continued to the next term.
—Motion granted.

THE QUEEN V. THE MAYOR AND CORPORATION OR BATH.

The ATTORNEY- GENERAL applied for a rule to show
cause why a mandamus should not issue to the defendants,
commanding them to award a compensation to a Mr.
Bohun who had for many years held the office of the
keeper of the gaol of Bath. His salary was 1201. a year
besides perquisites.
LORD DENMAN—What was the nature of the appoint-
ment ?

The ATTORNEY- GENERAL said that it was an appoint-
ment to be held during good behaviour, and consequently
he was by law entitled to compensation for the loss of his
office, such loss not being occasioned by misconduct, but
by ill health incurred in the service.
The Court granted the rule.
THE QUEEN V. THE CHURCHWARDENS AHD OVERSEERS OF