The Sun.
London, England, 1840-05-09 00:00:00

the printing of Parliamentary documents, 20.000 reams
would save 10,000/. a year.—(Hear, hear.) Was he not
justified in asking that the vote should be at least
10,0001. (Hear, hear) especially when the son
of Mr. Fourdrinier had expended 3,0001. in urging
his father's claims on Parliament with the
most creditable anxiety for his interest? Having
presented numerous petitions from the public in favour of
a large grant, he felt himself on every principle justified
in urging the augmentation of the grant to 10 000/.
Lord SA ND 0 N could add nothing to the concise yet
powerful statement of his lion. Friend the Member for
Manchester.—( Hear, hear.) He would only say that
the Messrs. Fourdrinier had literally ruined themselves
and lost a large fortune too in the invention--( Hear, hear)
—which had altered the character of the whole paper
manufacture, and thereby conferred alEo the greatest bene-
fits on every branch of trade. These ventlemen had not
only benefitted the public generally, but the Government
in particular, and therefore he thought they were entitled
to more than the miserable pittance proposed to be given
to them. lie would apppcal to the Chancellor of the
Exchequer to reconsider his decision.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said
the eases of Messrs. Fourdrinier and that of Mr. Brunel
were different. Mr. Brunel had given up a positive right.
He drew his information with regard to the Messrs. Fourd-
rinier from the papers before the House, and from those
' it appeared that they were not only not the original in-
ventors, but not the original patentees. Mr. Gamble
was the original patentee, and had sold his patent to
Messrs. Fourth inter. He did not wish to deteriorate from
the merits of thoec gentlemen, but they were neither the
inventors nor the introducers of the invention into Eng-
land. To neither belonged the merit of having perfected
the invention, but. all the arguments he had heard con-
vinced him of the difficulty of laying down a principle
that any inventor benefiting the public should be entitled
to a certain rate per cent, on the saving eff.cted by the
invention.—( Hear, hear.) Was it intended to lay down,
as a principle, that every patentee, who by a decision of
a Court of Law, should be deprived of the profits of his
invention, in consequence of the mistake of his own
lawyer should be entitled to claim compensation from the
, public. He found that Mr. Carmichael Smith, Captain
Hanby, and others, had received rewards front the public.
Mr.' Crompton, the inventor of the mule, had only re-
ceived 5,0001. for his invention, and he thought that
7.000/. was sufficient for the improvers of a patent. If
his Noble Friend thought it iusufficient, he had it in his
power to propose to the House to address the
Crown to grant a further reward.—( Hear, hear.)
As for himself he was not at present prepared to
go further. If there were persons who had derived such
great benefit from this invention, it was not very generous
in them to press upon the public, and not to make some
remuneration themselves to these gentlemen in the decline
of their life from whcse labours they had derived such ad-
vantages.
Mr. BAINES said that the revenue had derived a be-
nefit of 20,0001. from this invention, aryl therefore they
had a claim upon the Government at least for the amount
of one year's saving, as they had expended their fortune in
bringing this invention to perfection, and had ruined them-
selves in consequence.
After a few words from Mr. PHILLIPS in explanation,
Mr. GODSON said the Government offices alone saved
a sum of 60,000/. by the invention of Messrs. Fourdrinier,
and he thought the remuneration of 10,000/. was by no
means too large; in fact, they should receive at the very
least 20,000/. He trusted the Right Hon. Gentleman
would postpone the vote in order to its being brought for-
ward on a future occasion in an enlarged form.
After some further discussion, the vote was agreed to.
37.627/. was proposed to Signor Sampayo for supplying
the British forces in the Peninsula.

Mr. HUME inquired why this claim had not been made
before ?

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said
the delay had arisen from unavoidable circumstances.
Sir T. FREMANTLE was glad that Government had
been enabled to bring this complicated affair at last to a
conclusion.

The vote was then agreed to.
The next vote was 50,0001. for steam communication
to India by way of the Red Sea.
Mr. HUME hoped the Government would lay before
the House some statement as to the arrangement which
the Government had made with the East India Company,
and that they would also let, the public know in what
manner the money had hitherto been applied.
Sir JOHN HOBHOUSE replied that the East India
Company had expended a much larger sum than 50,0001.
Tho result of the expenditure had been, that the last mail
arrived from Bombay in thirty days, the mail before that in
thirty-six days, and the mail before that in thirty-nine
days, whereas, formerly, four or five months were occu-
pied in bringing despatches from India.
Mr. HAWES believed the object of his Hon. Friend
the Member for Kilkenny, was to know the general state
of that establishment, towards which this country con-
tributed.

Sir JOHN HOB HO USE had no objection to produce
the returns which were asked for, and they would show a
state of efficiency which neither the Board of Control, nor
the Company, need be ashamed of.
The vote was then agreed to.
The House then resumed, and the Chairman reported
progress.
On the motion of Mr. FOX MAULE the Prisons Bill
was read a third time and passed.
The Exchequer Bills (11,000,0000 Bill was read a
third time and passed.
On the motion of Mr. HUMS the following were
nominated the S,lect Committee on Import Duties :
Mr. Hume, Mr. Tufnell, Mr. William John Blake, Mr.
E wart, Mr. Thornely, Mr. William Williams, Mr.
Villiers, Sir George Clerk, Mr. William Duncomhe, Mr.
Ormsby Gore, Sir George Sinclair, Mr. Labouchere, Sir
Charles Douglas, Mr. Aaron Chapman, and Sir Henry
Parnell.

The other Orders of the Day were then disposed of, and
the House adjourned at half-past twelve o'clock.

THEATRES.

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.

La Gazza Ladra was the opera performed on Thursday,
for the benefit of Coulon. The only novelty was the sub-
stitution of Ricciardi for Rubini, who was prevented from
appearing as Tippo, owing to his father's death. Lablache,
Tamburini, and Grisi afforded that high gratification which
they unfailingly give
iin their respective parts. The Po-
desta of Lablache s one of the most surprising per-
formances amongst all the varied ones of that great basso,
while Tamburini can never be seen to greater advantage
than as Fernando. Grisi enchanted the audience. Her
44 Di Piacer" was divine. The new danseuse, Madlle.
Ccrito, made her third appearance after the opera. Ex-
cepting only Taglioni, and perhaps Fanny Elssler, she is
the best dancer whom we have ever seen, and Laporte de-
serves well for having brought her forward.

COVENT-GARDEN THEATRE.
Her Majesty and Prince Albert honoured Covent garden
Theatre on Thursday with their presence, to witness the
performance of The Sleeping Beauty, with which they
appeared to be abundantly entertained. Prince Ernest
was of the Royal party.