The Sun.
London, England, 1851-07-31 00:00:00

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LONDON, THURSDAY, JULY 31, 1851

The Lords sat last evening for a few minutes for the
purpose of forwarding certain Bills a stage.
In the Commons the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
announced, in reply to a question from Lord JOCELYN,
that no steps bad been taken to dstablish a steam com-
munication between the Cape and Sidney.
The Coalwhippers (Port of London) Bill and the
Steam Navigation Bill were read a third time and

passed.
The Patent Law Amendment Bill was, after a short
discussion, committed pro forma, for the purpose of in-
troducing certain amendments.
The House then went into Committee successively on
the Church Building Acts' Amendment Bill, the Petty
Sessions (Ireland) Bill, and the New Zealand Settle-
ments Bill, which occupied tho remainder of the
sitting.

Actuated by a fear that the speedy prorogation of
Parliament may interrupt the progress of the Patent
Law Amendment Bill, Ministers are hurrying on
that measure to its completion. Yesterday the Bill
was passed through Committee pro forma in the
House of Commons, so that another step has brought
the advocates of the desired improvement nearer to
the realization of their wishes, and has brought us
nearer to the time which shall witness the recogni-
tion of the rights of inventors by the Legislature.
After the solicitude which has been so long felt in
reference to this subject by a very large section of
the community, the satisfaction experienced at these
proceedings must necessarily be of proportionate mag-
nitude. Hitherto the Government has apparently been
blind to the injury inflicted by its apathy upon a nume-
rous and intelligent bodyofmen, as well as upon the cause
of science generally, a cause which has come latterly
to be regarded as identical with that of civilisation.
At length the indifference evinced in the matter by
our administrators has given place to a laudable evi-
dence of solicitude ou their part, such as cannot fail to
act beneficially as an incitement to the more energetic
interposition of the Legislature. Already the endea-
vours made by the Government to effect some im-
provement in the matter here specified has proved
effectual in instigating inquiries into the evils
complained of, so that we have ultimately
had the satisfaction of witnessing, among
our representatives in the House of Commons,
a singular and almost unexampled unanimity in re-
gard to these suggested innovations. Insomuch has
this unanimity of feeling upon the subject been
manifested in the House of Commons that not a
single dissentient voice has been yet heard i❑ refe-
rence to it—those who at all quarrel with the measure
now before Parliament doing so aimply on the ground
that the changes suggested are not by any means
sufficiently sweeping in their character. As to the
general provisions of the Bill, we ourselves have all
along maintained it to be deserving of support from
every person indiscriminately, that support being more-
over, under the circumstances, altogether unconditional.
Our reasoning upon the matter is simple enough of
its kind, and the force of it may be very readily re-
cognised and appreciated. We rejoice so entirely at
the fact of any improvement at all being adventured
upon by the Government upon a question which
seemed until now little less thso desperately situated,
that we are anxious to see no impediment whatever
placed in the way of its realization. Let Ls obtain
what improvement we can without carping at its inade-
quacy, rather than throw back the subject to some inde-
finite period, and thereby deprive living inventors of an
inestimable advantage, simply in the hope of yet more
largely benefiting their successors. Any innovation
at all in the Patent Laws is better than none, no
matter how insignificant may be its appearance ;
and, having secured the smallest step en avant, we
may then rest satisfied that the matter at issue may
progress yet more to the general satisfaction.
_

Remember the number and the magnitude of
the evils complained of in the Patent Laws as
they are at the present moment, and contrast
those laws with the proposed amendments, and
there cannot exist for an instant on the
mind of the sinister observer a doubt but that the
country must, perforce, benefit, and that very largely,
from the proposed improvement. Remember, for ex-
ample, that an inventor, according to the existing
system, finds it necessary to exhaust a great deal of
time, as well as of money, in obtaining what the Bill
now before Parliament will place within his reach at
once, and at the cost of a very moderate expenditure.
Remember that the old system requires three, and
the new will require only one single patent, for the
United Kingdom. Remember that the old system
necessitated the application of the inventor to seven
different offices, in order to secure what he will hence-
forth, with the aid of the Act referred to, be enabled to
procure at one, and this one unguarded by deputy
chaff-waxes, or any other cormorants of bribery in
the shape of subordinate recipients of fees of no
earthly utility whatever. Remember that, whereas,
with the Patent Laws unamended, it is necessary for
the applicants to purchase their protection by an out-
lay, in most instances, of 300/. for the United King-
dom, that enormous sum, moreover, being ex-
torted at once, and, therefore, of course long
before the invention desired to be protected
from piracy could be brought into operation,
whereas, with the Patent Laws amended, he wilt only
have to disburse a few pounds at the outset, paying,
after the lapse of three years, 50/., and after the
lapse of seven 1001. additional. It may possibly be
objected to this by a few dissentients that 1701. or
180/. for a patent is still very exorbitant, but it
should be remembered by those that the amount here
specified will only have to be paid in instalments, so
proportioned as to press least heavily on the inventor,
affording, while so doing, every reasonable op-
portunity of bringing his contrivance into
such general use, that the payment of the
moneys required for the letter patent shall
be to him a matter scarcely worthy of conside-
ration. It should likewise be borne in recollection
that, for this 1701. or 180/., will be obtained protec-
tion not only in England, but, in addition to this,
in Scotland and in Ireland. Whatever, therefore,
may be the objections made to the changes, as
sketched out in the measure introduced into the
House of Commons by her MAJETTT'S Government,
it must be confessed that, inadequate though those
changes may be in some particulars, they are as-
suredly preferable to no changes at all—reducing the
time required in the process of securing the patent yet
more remarkably than they do the expense, and that
expense,
be it not forgotten, is reduced to little more
than half the sum originally extorted from inventors.
Later on reformers may apply their energies to the
removal of the evils yet allowed to remain in the
laws relating to patents but let them not, out of a
mistaken anxiety to obtain all the advantages desired
at once, prevent any benefit whatever being secured
to the cultivators of science, and, through them, to the
general community.

Some month& since it was our pleasing duty to
direct the public attention to the laudable efforts that
had been made, under the auspices of the Eastern
Counties Railway Company, to afford additional
facilities for communication with the north of
Europe by means of the recently completed harbour
at Lowestoft. We are rejoiced to find that this
praiseworthy intention is not to be suffered to
remain in abeyance, but that immediate steps
will be taken to carry it into execution, so
that Lowestoft may become—what its geogra-
phical position indicates it should be—the
point of departure for Northern Europe. This
" consummation so devoutly to be wished for " will
be alike beneficial to the inhabitants of the district, ,

and to the shareholders in the Eastern Counties and
Norfolk Railway Companies, who will receive a large
increase of profits from the additional traffic thus
brought upon their lines. There is, in fact, a vast
field opened, which cannot fail to be largely produc-
tive to the parties concerned. The Danish cattle
trade is already flourishing beyond the most sanguine
expectations of its promoters, and it must necessarily
continue to do so, for it is based on the soundest and
most judicious principles. All it wanted to insure
success was the attainment of railway facilities on
fair and reasonable terms. The enlightened liberality
of the boards of the companies concerned have
ensured it these facilities on the English soil, and we
find that measures have already been taken to con-
struct railways on the other side of the North Sea,
from Copenhagen to Christiana, as well as from the
former to those ports on the Danish shores which
are now trading directly with Lowestoft. These
projects, when fully accomplished, must not
only greatly enhance the prosperity of
this well-devised speculation, but afford a
vast stimulus to the passenger traffic be-
tween England and the northern nations—Norway,
Sweden, Denmark, Russia, and the north of Ger-
many. It is sufficient on this point to state that St.
Petersburgh, and of course all the intermediate dis-
tricts, will be brought three days closer to London
than they have hitherto been, a matter of such vital
importance that it only requires to be mentioned to
be duly appreciated.

The occasion on which these facts were enunciated
was one of no ordinary interest. The directors of
the Eastern Counties Railway Company had deter-
mined in honour of Lowestoft to pay a visit on Tues-
day to its regatta, which was then taking place.
It was wisely decided that the special train should be
one of the ordinary character, not such as could only
be obtainable by directors or extraordinary influence.
A mixed train was accordingly started, in which Mr.
D. WADDINGTON, M.P., the chairman, and other di-
rectors of the company, accompanied by Mr. Goocu,
the intelligent and active superintendent of the loco-
motive department, and Mr. G. RICHARDSON, the
excellent coaching superintendent, took their places
at seven o'clock, A.m. At half-past ten the party had
arrived at Lowestoft, having accomplished with per-
fect ease the distance, 160 miles, in 3i hours. The
speed would have been greater, but consider-
able time was necessarily lost through the
impediments occasioned by excursion and other cheap
trains, which were proceeding to the regatta, and
affording the less wealthy classes the coveted oppor-
tunity of inhaling the pure breezes of the North Sea,
and examining the attractions of one of the most
beautiful and fascinating watering places, not only
in the east of England, but on the British coast, a
district which stands pre-eminent, not only for its sin-
gular natural advantages, but which may be regarded
as a monument of what may be accomplished in a brief
period by a union of good taste, judicious enterprise,
and large pecuniary means.

In the evening a magnificent entertainment was
provided at the Royal Hotel, under the presidency
of SAMUEL MORTON PETO, Esq., the enchanter
through whose magical power the locality, in which
he became the chief landowner some seven or eight
years since, has already been so marvellously amelio-
rated. It is needless to say that everything was
served in the most elegant manner that could be de-
sired by the most fastidious taste. Those who have
sojourned for a few days at the Royal Hotel may
easily conceive what its spirited proprietor, Mr.
HOWETT, would accomplish on such an occasion.
The most interesting part of the proceedings was,
however, the speech of Mr. PETo, who, in returning
thanks for the cordiality and enthusiasm with which
his health had been toasted by the assembled com
pany, detailed the nature of the undertaking in
which he had entered for the purpose of further de-
veloping the natural capabilities of the district.
The Honourable Gentleman stated that "on Satur-
day next he would be on his way to Norway,
to arrange for the construction of the first
line of railway in that country, forming a
connecting link with the capital of Denmark."
The connexion of SAMUEL MORTON PETO with such
a project would alone afford a sufficient guarantee for
its ultimate success ; but he also announced a fact
that afforded additional confirmation on this point,
viz., that the Commissioners had already deposited a
quarter of a million sterling in the National Bank as
an assurance that no risk should be run, the strongest
evidence, as Mr. PETO justly remarked, of Norwe-
gian "earnestness and honesty." Under such circum-
stances it is not too much to hope that, ere another
year has passed away, the railway from Copenhagen
to Christiana and the Danish ports connected with
Lowestoft, may be in course of construction, and that
as the Hon. Gentleman justly remarked, " what had
been lately done in the way of economising time and
distance, was hardly more remarkable than what
might be anticipated in the same direction."
In the course of his speech, Mr. PETO gracefully
disclaimed the unqualified disinterestedness ascribed
to him. He was improving his own property while
adding to the general prosperity of the district. His
interests were identified with those of his tenants
and neighbours. While promoting their welfare,
he necessarily added to his own wealth and
resources. It may be so, but this does not the less
entitle him to the thanks and gratitude of the inhabi-
tants of the locality. Merely Quixotic attempts will
seldom produce much fruit. Public spirit must be joined
with sober and prudential calculations, that the party
concerned might not diminish his means of future
utility, or lead the friends with whom he may be
concerned into serious losses. Mr. PETo combines
the proper degree of public spirit and private pru-
dence to enable him to assume a prominent position
among the national benefactors ; and that his mo-
tives are not altogether selfish, his liberal contribu-
tions to every laudable undertaking, to every meri-
torious charity, public or private, will afford the most
convincing testimony.

The Queen will on Friday, August the Bth, pro-
rogue Parliament in person. A morning contemporary yes-
terday, by mistake, inserted dissolve instead of prorogue.
ETON COLLEGE.—The election for boys on the
foundation terminated on Tuesday evening, when the following
20 boys—Graham, Gibson, Chute, Churton, Isacke, Sperling,
Mozley, Baker, Carter, Whiffing, Stone, Borrett, Dawson,
G. F., Boys Nesfield, Armstrong, Clarke, Gepp, Tarver, Haw-
trey were elected out of the 53 candidates. Of the above,
five were from Eton, ten from one private school, and the
remaining five from various other schools.

ROYAL BANK OF AUSTRALlA.—Yesterday, before
the Master in Chancery Richards, a meeting was held to
consider a compromise with the executors of Mr. J. P.
Robinson, deceased. Mr. H. Harris, solicitor for the official
manager, stated that an order had been made on the executors
for payment of 2,5001. balance of calls due; but the affidavits
of the executors showed that after paying certain debts and
liabilities of the testator, there was a very small balance in
hand, and that they had also instituted a suit to administer
the testator's estate. Under these circumstances the official
manager consented to take 3501. in discharge of the Master's
order, but reserving all subsequent rights as to future calls
to be made under the estate. The Master confirmed the
compromise.

THE ROBBERIES ON THE SOUTH-WESTERN
RAILWAY.—Since the conviction of Pamplin, the gold dust
robber, at the Winchester Assizes, information has been de-
rived which is likely to secure the apprehension of the whole
of the extensive gang of expert robbers who have carried on
their operations on the South-Western Railway. A large
number of individuals, supposed to be connected with the
gang, have been under the surveillance of the police for some
time past. There is reason to believe that the gang would
have been apprehended before, had not the South-Western
Railway Company and the police laboured under an impres-
sion that the robberies were not effected on the railway. The
railway company have only been charged the cost price,
1201., of the bale of French merinoes, which was stolen some
months since, and which amount has been paid. Some of
the stolen goods were heavy, and must have required cart-
age. The railway company are building carriages specially
for the conveyance of the treasure landed at Southampton
by the West India and Brazilian steamers. Until they are
ready for use, the West India Company have required some
of their higher class officials and officers of the packets to
accompany the treasure to London. These gentlemen place
themselves in the treasure waggons on their passage from
Southamptom to London, and never lose sight of the gold
and silver until it is safely lodged in the Bank of England.
DANGEROUS ILLNESS or R. BLAKEMORE, ESQ.,
M.P.—lt is with very sincere regret we hear that Richard
Blakemore, Esq., has been lying in an extremely precarious
state of health at his residence, the Ley s, near Monmouth.—
Hereford Journal.
REPRESENTATION OF GREENWICH.—In the event
of a vacancy occurring in the representation of this borough,
Mr. M. Merryweather Turner has announced his intention of
offering himself as a candidate. Ile professes Ministerial
principles.
COST OF THE BIBLE IN CHlNA.—Owing to the
inh
extremelyeChinese low
language,cost of
tissaid, can b
materials an d
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abouta s
Bibbi
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cents.

THE WATER COMMlTTEE.—Yesterday the inquiries
of the Committee were directed into the chemistry of the
water supply of the different companies, and Messrs. Taylor,
Aik in, and Cooper were examined on their chemical ani-
mulcular and microscopic peculiarities.
The Arctic, Captain Luce, sailed from Liverpool
yesterday direct for New York. She is one of Collin's -line,
but did not take the mails, having left the port as a private
ship.

THE FRENCH REPUBLic,

We have received the Paris journals of yesterday.
The Moniteur publishes the resolution adopted for
the prorogation of the Assembly from the 10th
August to the 4th November.
The ]lioniteur also publishes the following commu-
nicated paragraph :
" The Siecle of this day contains a new calumny
against the President of the Republic. It insinuates
that the President is much embarrassed, as he had to
pay some debts contracted at the Bourse, and which were
not his own. If justice be powerless to punish such at-
tacks, it is important to give to them the most formal
contradiction. The President has paid nothing at the
Bourse for any person, and has nothing to pay for
himself."

The Stick containing the article alluded to in the
Moniteur was seized, and is to be prosecuted. The
Stick of yesterday comments on the seizure and con-
tradiction as follows

" Thus, on the one hand, it is admitted that justice is
powerful enough to punish our attacks since we have
been seised; and on the other, the Government, in one of
its journals, declares that such attacks are of so inoffen-
sive a nature that justice is powerless to punish them. We
shall see what the jury will think of it, and since it is
before it that we shall be interrogated, it is there that
wo shall reply. We have not the right to republish the
incriminated article, but we may be allowed to observe
that it is at least unwise to thus make the President of
the Republic the hero of an anecdote, in which his name
was nut even mentioned; we may be allowed also to say
that we spoke of the mad party of the Elyase, and cer-
tainly that expression is moderate when it is borne in
mind that it is this same mad party whose passions were
designated as detestable by M. Odilon Barrot, and that
M. Jules de Lasteyrie and the Prefect of Police himself,
in speaking of external adherents, used a still stronger
expression. It will be seen that our expression was much
softened down. It is those detestable passions, it is this
mad party which the Ministry, and doubtless more par-
ticularly M. Leon Faucher, takes under its special pro-
tection; it is these detestable passions which, according
to the communicated note, may be attacked without
meriting the rigotirs of justice."
The Assembly.has appointed Thursday (this day)
for the nomination of the Committee of Permanence,
who are to sit during the recess, and for the renewal
of its Bureau.

We find the following in the Patrie :
" M. Emile de Girardin has had the talent to wear the
public out with his political transformations. He can
no longer surprise any one, and nevertheless there has
reached us from Loudon a piece of news, the correctness
of which we can guarantee, and which will astonish
even those who have ceased to be surprised at any-
thing. M. Ledru wrote a letter to one of his friends,
dated Loudon, Saturday evening, which reached Paris
un Sunday evening, i❑ which, in his Lacedemoniau la-
conic style, he says, It is now four o'clock in the after-
noon; Emile de Girardin has just left my house; he
came here at eleven this morning. We are agreed on
all points.' M. Emilie de Girardin has discovered the
secret of surpassing himself in political vaulting."
We extract the following, on the subject of the
Presidential election, from the Indipendance of
Brussels : _ _

" The rumour has been spread that M. Guizot now
inclines to the cause of the President of the Republic,
and that he is, in turn, to receive the support of the
Government as a candidate for the representation of the
department of the Seine, in the room of General Mag.
nan. But need I add that I believe that M. Guizot has
too much sagacity to suppose for a moment that he can
have any chance at Paris, the town of opposition par
excellence, and which always voted against his Ministry?
The report of M. Guizot's leaning to the President is
said to have been confirmed by an ex• Minister of Public
Instruction under Louis Philippe. Everything causes
me to believe that the Legitimatists at the last moment
(in spite of ale visit to Claremont) will prefer M. Louis
Napoleon Bonaparte, as an unconstitutional candidate,
to the Prince de Joinville. If M. Guizot be faithful to
his new penchant he will follow them; but M. de Sal-
vandy and other portions of the fusion will, it is said,
return to Orleanism."
By two decrees of the PRESIDENT of the Republic,
the National Guard and the Municipal Council of
the Commune of La Souterraine (Creme), have been
dissolved.

The Municipal Council of Carbonne (Haute Ga-
ronne) has been dissolved lay a decree of the PROD.
DENT of the Republic.
We read in a supplement to the Journal de Lille of
the 29th :—" The following is the result already
known of 250 sections of the department of the Nord
—Electors inscribed, 104,078. M. YAMS has ob-
tained 35,145; M. DELAEOYEEE, 9,221 ; lost votes,
5,032. The number of votes necessary to render the
election valid is 36,250. There are still 101 sections
of which the results are not known. The election of
M. TAISSE is secured."

The Court of Premilre Instance has issued an or-
donnance, in which it is delared that, after a minute
examination of the charges of corruption brought by
M. CARLIER against M. LEMULIER, representative of
the people (in the document published by M. Fox-
CADE), it finds that no sufficient grounds have been
established for a prosecution against M. LEMULLEE.
There was a fall in the price cf Government Securities
at the Bourse, which was attributed more to the state cf
the monthly account than to any political cause. The
Five per Cents, opened at 95f. 65c., and closed at
951. 30c. for the end of the month; the Ttirt,e per
Cents. closed at 571. 10c.; Orleans Railroad Shares,
8621. 50c. ;° Rouen, 6401. ; Havre, 245 f. ; Great
Northern, 467 f. 50c.; Avignon, 2151.; Vierzon, 440 f.;
Paris and Strasburg, 3611. 25c; Tours and Nantes,
272 f. 50c.; Amiens to Boulogne, 270 f.

BUSINESS DONE IN FORMUN RAILWAYS AT THE

LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE, JULY 30.
Dutch Rhenish, 31,4—East Indian, 18%—Great Indian
Peninsula, 4—Namur and Liege, 64—Northern of France,
4 Orleans and Bordeaux, 4%—Sambre and Meuse, 3
Tours and Nanes, VA.