The Sun.
London, England, 1865-12-07 00:00:00

TBE FENIAN TRIALS.

DUBLIN, Wednesday.
O'Leary was found guilty to-day on all the counts,
and was sentenced to 20 years' penal servitude. He
made an address. The Government, he said, had
found no difficulty in getting a jury to convict. He
accused Mr. Barry, Q.C., of morally assisting him,
pointing to him as that " miserable man." Judge
Keogh had said that informers were easily bought
by the Government with money, but agitators
" made the best bargain." A traitor had been
placed by Dante in the lowest hell ; but it was the
traitor who betrayed king, country, friends, and
benefactors. He was no traitor, England was not
his country, and he had betrayed no friends or bene-
factors.

O'Donovan (Rosso) was put forward, but certain
documents having been withdrawn from him by the
governor of the gaol which were necessary to his
defence, the trial was postponed. Moore, the black-
smith who made the " rods," was then arraigned.

THE RUM—The most valuable of all jewels is
the ruby. This precious stone depends upon its
colour, as we have said before, for its value. Tho ruby,
sapphire, and oriental topaz are composed of identically the
same materials ; the red sapphire is a ruby, the blue ruby
a sapphire, the yellow ruby a topaz. They are all termed
corundums, an Indian name. The ruby is the next
hardest thing in nature after the diamond. The finest
rubies are found in the kingdom of Ava, and in Siam; they
are also found in Ceylon and in many parts of Europe.
The King of Burmah takes one of his titles from it, that
of " Lord of the Rubies." In Burmah they are a royal
monopoly, and none of any value are allowed to leave the
kingdom. The finding of a fine ruby is made a state
event, and a procession of grandees, with soldiers and
elephants, are sent out to meet it. The colour varies
from pale rose to deep red, but the tint that is most
highly valued is that of the " pigeon's blood."—Once a
Week.

BOILING DOWN DISEASED CATTLE.—A meeting
of the inhabitants of Hatcham was held last evening,
for the purpose of getting the suppression of a nuisance
which now exists at the Hatcham Mills by boiling down
diseased cattle. Several vestrymen of Camberwell were
present. A number of speakers, principally working men,
addressed the meeting, describing the injury they had
suffered from the smells from the mills, and a medical gen-
tleman stated that the effluvia from the boilers would be
likely to cause much disease and fatality in the neighbour-
hood. Ultimately a deputation, consisting of working
men, was appointed to wait upon the Privy Council, to ask
redress.

The Earl of Lonsdale has left his residence on
Carlton-house-terrace for Ventnor, Isle of Wight.

Sir David Brewster on Patent Rights:
In opening the session of the Royal Society of
Edinburgh, on Monday night, Sir David Brewster
stoutly defended patent rights. In the course of
his address he said—The present raid against the
patent laws is the direct and acknowledged result of
the ungenerous influence of trade. The shortness of
the tenure of patent rights, and the heavy tax levied
from inventors, are expressly maintained in order to
diminish the number of patents ; and the avowed
reason for thus diminishing them is, that from their
number and frivolity they interfere with the opera-
tions of tradesmen and manufacturers, by exposing
them to actions for infringement. That there are
many patents not remunerating, and not immedi-
ately beneficial, is painfully true, when we consider
how much they have cost the sanguine inventor.
'That there are any patents really frivolous or use-
less, in the true sense of these terms, can be main-
tained only by ignorant or interested parties. There
is no patent that does not contain a proposal to do
something that is new, or to make some improve-
ment upon what is old; and there are many
examples of apparently useless patents containing
the germs of future and valuable inventions. There
are cases even in which the invention stigmatised
as useless has proved to be an essential element
in a future patent, where the new patentee has
piratically used it, and dared to complain
that he had been prosecuted for infringement.
But there is a still more intelligible reason why no
patent can be called useless. In bringing it into
the market workmen are employed and materials
purchased ; and even if the process, instrument, or
machine thus offered to the public has no sale and
no useful application, the hapless patentee has
given liberal fees to several functionaries of the
State, and contributed nobly to the patent fund.
That any patent is frivolous and injurious
in the sense of interfering with the func-
tions of honest traders, is simply untrue. If an in-
vention which has been patented at the cost of
£175, and produced nothing in return, is a neces-
sary part of an important invention subsequently
patented, it is a positive proof that patents appa-
rently frivolous may be truly valuable. The first
invention is, therefore, neither an obstacle to im-
provements nor a ground for litigation. It has, on
the contrary, led to a greater invention ; and whe-
ther the second patentee has used it ignorantly or ad-
visedly, he ought to pay for the use of it, instead of
pleading in a court of law, as he generally and dis-
honestly does, that the original specification is de-
fective. But even if the cases of interfering with pa-
tents were more numerous than they are, and
more fertile in litigatian, is is the lawgiver, and not
the inventor, that is to blame. If Parliament, in
its wisdom, cannot reconcile the interests of paten-
tees and honest tradesmen but by robbing the for-
mer, they overlook the fundamental law in social
economy, that no great improvement can be made in
the arts of life, andno true reform in our institutions,
without interfering with a variety of interests. In
proposingto abolish patent rights, its promoters seem
to have wholly overlooked the international interests
that are at stake. If we have no patent law, we
deprive every foreigner of his existing right to a
British patent. Foreign Governments may there-
fore adopt a policy of retaliation, and refuse to our
countrymen the patent rights which they now so
freely enjoy ; or, what is more probable, they may
hold out additional privileges to our ingenious arti-
sans, and thus obtain the first fruits of their skill.
Inventors will follow their inventions, and in the
exodus to foreign countries—to the United States,
especially, with its cheap and judicious patent laws—
we shall lose, more rapidly than we have yet done,
the most ingenious of our inventors, and the most
useful of our citizens. A policy like this, so Boeotian
in its character, and so injudicious in its results, is
as politically unsafe as it is socially unwise and per-
sonally unjust. Rights that have been firmly estab-
lished and long enjoyed are not readily abandoned.
Illiberal and oppressive as the patent laws are, they
are still the Magna Charta of the commonwealth of
inventors, and in an age tending to democracy they
will not be surrendered without a struggle. Rights
hitherto unquestioned, and not more sacred, may
be exposed, to the same scrutiny, and social interests
endangered with all classes have been accustomed
to respect and defend. If these views of patent
rights be just, and if, as movable property, they are
as sacred as copyrights, there can be no just reason
why they should not be granted equally cheap, given
to every applicant, and enjoyed during at least the
life of the patentee.

Wages in the Carpet Trade.

A short time back reference was made to the
annual meeting of the Power-loom Brussels Carpet
Manufacturers' Association, which was held at
Shrewsbury on the Ist of last month. A deputation
on the part of the weavers attended that meeting,
on the invitation of their employers, and trade
questions were entered upon in a manner so tempe-
rate as to inspire the men with confidence in the as-
sociation. The leading subject which came under
discussion was the regulation of the supply of labour
to the carpet power-looms in a manner such as
would fairly meet the wants of a growing trade, with
its increased need of weavers. It appears that hitherto
no one has been allowed to take a loom till 21 years
of age. The " creel" boys employed in the carpet
mills have consequently, when about 17 or 18, been
induced to look elsewhere for higher wages, the de-
mand of the labour market being met by absorbing
the old hand-loom weavers of the locality, and ad-
mitting those who had been " creel" boys after they
had passed their 21st year, if they were then in-
clined to resume work in a carpet manufactory. The
hand-loom weavers have now been almost entirely
brought into the power-loom trade, and it is there-
fore becoming necessary to make some arrangement
for the admission of those who, growing up in the
subordinate branches of the work, may reasonably
look for employment at the looms as years pass on.
After some discussion and explanations as to the
apprenticeship system in other trades, the
weavers then present intimated that an ad-
vance of their wages would be acceptable, and upon
this the manufacturers determined to consider both
these subjects fully. A committee of six power-
loom firms, appointed at that meeting, have since
gone carefully into these questions, and their report
has had the cordial and unanimous assent of the
other members of the Association. As a result of
this a meeting was held at Kidderminster, on Fri-
day evening, when the manufacturers present were
met by a corresponding number of their workmen.
The chairman (Mr. Brinton) announced to the
weavers that, upon a fair and candid review of the
wages question, and the question of the labour
supply, the manufacturers had decided to make such
alterations as the state of the trade and due regard
for the claims of the weavers allowed. The altera-
tions would embrace an entire revision of the prices
now paid, and an advance in most of those paid for
special widths and qualities of power-loom work,
and for loom changes, and particular alterations—
the object of the association being to place the
weavers' remuneration for special kinds of work on
a just footing with the ordinary sorts, and also to
constitute a uniformity of payments, as far as pos-
sible, throughout the entire Brussels power-loom
trade. It was further stated that a general advance
of a farthing per yard, equal to 12i per cent. upon
the present list, would be given on all qualities of
work from the Ist of January. The alterations
also include the introduction to the trade of such a
moderate number of apprentices and of adult hands
as might be necessary, and, in the judgment of
the Association, fair and reasonable. A printed list,
drawn up under the supervision of the committee of
the association (whose labours the weavers present
gratefully acknowledged) will be issued in a few
days, and will contain the new prices and regula-
tions which come into force at the beginning of the
new year. On the following day the weavers of Kid-
derminster set the bells ringing in honour of what
had occurred, and the inhabitants generally seem
gratified, as well as surprised, at the way in which
the manufacturers have dealt with their workpeople.
—Birmingham Post.

DEATH OF SIR CHARLES SULLIVAN.--The death
of Sir Charles Sullivan took place on Sunday last at his
residence in Montcomb-strect, Belgrave-square. The late
baronet was born in 1820, and succeeded his father as
fourth baronet in 1862. His brother, Edmund Robart, suc-
ceeds him in the baronetcy.

•••• -

THIRD EDITION.

SUN OFFICE, 7 o'CLocx.

TAT TERSALLS'—This Evening

There ware very few members present, and no transac-
tions worthy of quotation came under our notice. Prices

nominal.

Bank of England Returns,.—This Evening.

An Account, pursuant to tho Act ith and Bth Victoria,
cap. 32, for the week ending WednesdAy; Dec. 6, 1865.

ISHUE KI'MEN't

otes Isoued :35,%7),

.£'4B 3:35,270

RANKING 1/

oprletors' Ca pi_
i al X14,563.000
'Lest
eublic Deposits (in-
cluding Exche-
quer, Savings'
Banks, Comm is-
m issiouers of Na-
tional Debt, and
Dividend Ac-

counts) 6,619,6 3
Other Deposits 12,617,030
Seven Day and
other Bills 471,129

Dec. 7, 1865.

£37,453,3 4
1'

Government Debt £11,01:1,1' 0
Other Sceuritie. .
Gold coin .Xt 13,0E5 21,0
Silver Bullion ....

'ZPARTILEINT.
I Government Seen-

riticti (including
Dead Weigh t Au-

£'-8.335,270

nuityj
Other 'Securities
Notes
Gold and Silver 7t4,347
Coin

.
£37,483,324
MILLER, Chief Caehier.

STATE OF TRADE.

LEICESTER, Dec. 6.—The demand for hosiery is
slackening, as is always the case at the end of the
year. Manufacturers are, however, tolerably well
engaged in the warehouses, and completing orders
on hand. in the country districts there is an ave-
rage amount of business doing. Worsted yarns are
quoted at high rates, with a firm market. There
is no material change in the price of cotton yains.
The wool market is firm, at high rates.

NOTTINGHAM, 6th.—There is a further falling off
in the demand for lace goods this week, and business
will be quiet to the end of the week. Cotton goods
of most descriptions sell very slowly. The plain
trade is extremely quiet, and the fancy branch is
also dull. Buyers purchase only for immediate re-
quirements. In the silk department there is no im-
provement. Black laces meet a slow inquiry, and
the narrow edging trade remains depressed. Silk
commands exceedingly high prices. The hosiery
trade continues very active for the time of the year.
Most branches are well engaged, and the operatives
are in full work. Yarns are firm, at high rates.

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE—This day,

(BY TELEGRAPH.)

GRAVESEND, Thursday Morning.
Arrived—Ann Margaretha, from Randers ; Vigo, from
Groningen ; John Bull, from Montreal ; Trident, from
Hamburg.

DEAL, Thursday Morning.

Passed, Dec. 6—Amy (schooner), from St. Michael's;
Caroline (schooner), from Marseilles ; Helenor (bark), John
Bull, and Commerce (bark), from Montreal; Creswell (bark),
ft-cm Colombo; Ocean Sprite (bark,) from Falkland Is-
lands ; Amelia (ship,) from Belize all for London.

Passed, Dec. 7.—Valdavia (ship,) from Marco; Bertha,
from Sydney; Maria Pia, from Lisbon; Pegasus (screw
steamer), from China ; Mignonette (bark), from the west
—all for London; M. A. Stephenson, from London, for
Buenos Ayres.

Anchored.—lcon, from London, for Cape of Good Hope,

RETURN OF THE SHENANDOAII TO LIVERPOOL.—
The notorious ex-cruiser of the Confederates—the Shenan-
doah—which left Liverpool about three weeks ago for New
York, arrived most unexpectedly in the Mersey yesterday,
when everybody supposed that she would be all safe in New
York harbour. She appeared to be in a very strained and
damaged condition, and without sails, all having been
blown away in a fierce gale she encountered on the 23d of
November in lon. 25, the wind blowing a perfect hurricane
from the north-west. The Shenandoah suffered so severely
from the effects of this gale that Captain Freeman, her
commander, an old and experienced officer, judged it ad-
visable to return at once to Liverpool and refit.

The Dublin Express says there are at the disposal
of the Government in Ireland about 10,000 men of all arms
—comprising 1,260 artillery, with 48 Armstrong gims,
2,280 cavalry, and nearly 7,000 infantry—which can be
aug,mented, if necessary, by the Royal Engineers and Mili-
tary Train.

DEATH OF CAPTAIN FOWKE.—Captain Fowke,
R.E., the architect of the Exhibition building, 1862, died
suddenly on Tuesday. He was a distant relative of the
Fowkes, baronets, of Lowseby Hall, county of Leicester,
and was born about the year 1824. He was educated at
Woolwich, obtained his first commission in the engineers
n 1842, and attained the rank of captain in 1854.

FRENCH SAVINGS BANKS.—The Minister of Agri-
culture, Commerce, and Public Works has addressed
to the Emperor a report on the operations of those esta-
blishments during the year ending Dec. 31, 1864. From
this document, which fills nearly six columns of the Moni,
teur, it appears that the number of these banks in France
was 492 at the end of 1864, seven new ones having been
founded during the year. The total assets of the savings
banks from all sources, after deducting expenses of admi-
nistration, amounted at the end of 1864 to 12,688,420 f.
(rather over half a million sterling), being an increase of
650,195 f. over those of 1863. The number of depositors on
Jan. 1, 1864, was 1,471,509, and 239,326 new accounts were
opened during the year, while 156,684 were closed; so that
the total number on the 31st December last was 1,554,151
being an increase of 82,804 accounts, or nearly six per
cent. For all Franco there is ono depositor to every 24
inhabitants; 28 departments exceed or equal this average,
and 61 fall short of it, the highest proportion being in the
Seine, where there is one depositor to every seven inhabi-
tants, and the lowest in La Vendee, where there is only one
to 329 inhabitants. Though the total of accounts had
greatly increased, there was a diminution of 468 in Paris,
400 at Lyons, 503 at Marseilles, and of smaller numbers in.
seven other places. The deposits received during the year
amounted to 175,623,724 f., which, with the balance of
447,871,513 f. from the preceding year, and interest accrued,
make the grand total of 639,744,417 f.; from which must be
deducted accounts paid off and sums invested in Rentes,
177,668,9021; leaving a balance of 462,075,5151. due to de-
positors on the 31st of December last. As compared with
the preceding year the balance has increased 14,098,201 f.,
or about 345 per cent. The average sum owing to each
depositor for all France was 297 f. 34c. in 1864, against
304 f. 46c. in 1863. This average is exceeded in 64 depart-
ments. The number of accounts under 500 f. is 1,172,361 ;
from 5001. to 8001. 185,976;
from 800 f. to I,ooof. 110,550;
and above I,ooof. 85,264. Of the depositors, 85,099 aro
workpeople, 38,698 domestics, 11,305 shopmen and clerks,
7,174 soldiers and sailors, 54,997 of divers trades and pro-
fessions, 41,735 minors, and 318 benefit societies.

, .
A CARD-SHARPER IN COURT.—At Port Glasgow,
on Thursday, a man named George Thomson, who
had "fleeced" an Irishman of £55, was eharied with
gambling in a railway carriage between Paisley and Port
Glasgow. A colloquy between Thomson and the Bench
is thus reported by the Glasgow Ilerald:—"Upon the in-
dictment being read, Provost Read said—Well, what have
you to say to the charge ? Panel—Well, your Honour, I
have just to say that I am guilty of gambling in the train.
Provost--What is your business? Are you a general dealer
in cards ? Panel—No, your Honour, 1 am a dealer in fiats
Provost—Did you make any money that night ? Panel—
Yes; a few pounds—the matter of a £lO note; but that is
nothing. Provost The man who has lost the money has
said you got a £5O note instead of a £5. Panel—There is
some talk about its being a fifty, but I do not think it was
anything of the kind. Men are not so foolish as to hand
out a fifty instead of a five ; however, I will soon know
what it was. Provost—l suppose you could show it
now ? We will be able to tell you what it is.
on
it is a
Panel—
Indeed, I cannot, because I lost it almost as soon as I
got it. A party in the carriage won it from me—one
of the gentlemen who travel with me has it ; but the
ndyo I u
pridenay smile,
myself b
fact is, on
I
nmyhwavoredsuocfhhoanothuirn—g:th.
my honour—it is all a fib about it being a £5O. Barn()
Lang—The dupes that are taken in by you are to blame
as well as you. They play to win, and to a certain extent
are deserving of what they get. Panel—Now, that is the
right way to put it. Whoever heard tell of a man Playing
to lose ? And when a man
plays he is just as bad as we
are. There is a saying that an Irishman is very witty and
pretty wide awake, but for my part I never found it so
They in reality are as green as the island they come from,
and should all bo termed the ' green 'uns.' Provost—This
poor Irishman left his wits at home, but took his purso
with him. You know that, I suppose ? Fined 40s. with
80s. of expenses, which was at once paid. Provost—Now
my advice is, to give up this line of business and become an
honest man. You must feel very much being placed in
this position. Although you don't look like a flat, still, if
you have any of the honour you talk about left you must
feel to face a man after you have done. him out of his
money. Panel (putting his hand into his pocket and taking
out three cards)--Is there no possibility of me getting as
much as will take me to Glasgow ? I don't like to walk.
Provost (laughing)—There is no chance of your doing
anything in that lino here. The walk to Glasgow will do
you good, and possibly you may meet with a few flats
cn the road. Panel—l dare say the only flats I would
meet would be the soles of my boots, and I am not flat
enough to walk them off my feet. This town has a flat
appearance, so there must be a good many hero, and I will
just wait for an hour or so. The card-sharper then left
i the court.