The Sun.
London, England, 1850-12-12 00:00:00

CAPTAIN CRAWFORD'S REMINISCENCES.

Just realy, in 2 vols. post Bvo., with Fcrtraits of Admirals Sir Ed-
w,,rd Owen and Sir B Hallowell Carew, price 21s. bound,
REMINISCENCES of a NAVAL OFFICER,
WITH SKETCHES AND ANECDOTES

OF CELEBRATED COMMANDERA.
By CAl"f AIN A. CRAWFORD, R.N.
Henry Colburn, Publisher, 13, Great Marlborough-streel
Orders received t)y all Boeksellers.

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.
THE GRAND NATIONAL CONCERTS.
TIIIS EVENING.
Mr. Howard Glover's Grand Selection from HERO and LEANDER.
The LAST WEEK BUT ONE of the present season.
Grand Selection from a MS. Opera, entitled " Hero and Leander,"
preceded by an Original Overture, composed expressly for these Con-
certs, by Mr. Howard Glover.
Overture to Le Lac des Fees, Tuber—Grand Selection from Do-
nizotti's Opera, La Figlia del Reggirnento, L. Negri.
Angri, Miss Poole, Frank Bodda, Molique, Baumann, Barret,
Franc, Maycock, Prospere, Richardson, and Sainton.
Musical Director, Composer, and Conductor—M. Ralfe.
Conductor of La Musique de Danse—Herr Labitzky.
Promenade (admitting to the Half-Circles, Gallery] 1 6
and Pit Stalls) .. •
The Doors open at Half-past Seven, and the Concerts will em-
inence at Eight, and terminate about Eleven.
Boxes and Stalls to be bad at the Box-office, where Programmes
of the performance a ay be obtained.
Mr. Thomas Make: s of the Polytechnic Institution, the Coloseum,
and Royal Botanic and Zoological Gardens, will supply the Refresh-
ments and Wines, &c., &c. •

THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET.
Mr. B. Webster, Sole Lessee and Manager, Old Brompton.
MR. MACREADY.
THIS EVENING,
Will be performed the Play of VIRGINIUS. Virginias, Mr. Ma-
eready.

After which A RADICAL CURE.
To conclude with MRS. WHITE. Peter White, Mr. H. Bedford.

THEATRE ROYAL, ADELPHI.
Under the direction of Madame Celeste.
THIS EVENING,
Will be performed a new and original Drama, entitled JESSIE
GRAY. Characters by Messrs. Hughes, Boyce, 0. Smith, P. Bed-
ford, Madame Celeste, and Miss K. Fitzwilliam.
After which a new Farce called THE SCHOOL FOR TIGERS ;
or, The Shilling Hop. Captain Klteflyer, Mr. Boyce ; Major Stiff,
Mr. Worrell; Mr. Panels, Mr. Wright; Alexander Panels, Miss
Chaplin.

To be followed by a new and original Farce, in the Vulgar
Tongue, to be called JACK IN THE GREEN; or, Hints on Eti-
quette.

ROYAL PROXESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD-STREET.
Under the Management of Mr. C. Kean and Mr. Keeley.
The THEATRE will be CLOSED THIS EVENING, in conse-
quence of the Royal Dramatic Performances at Windsor Castle.—
Her Majesty the Queen having been graciously pleased to command
Mr. BARTLEY to appear at the Royal Theatrical Performances
at Windsor Castle This Evening, as Sir John Falstaff, in
the First Part of Shakespeare's play of HENRY IV., the Ma-
nagement, deeming it would be acceptable to the public, have en-
tered into an engagement with that gentleman to repeat the cha-
racter for a few nights at the Princess's Theatre. Mr. Bartley will
therefore make his first appearance on Saturday next, the 14th inst.
Private Boxes, &c., to be had of all the Booksellers, and of Mr.
Massingham ; of whom also places may be taken at the Box-office,
Oxford-street, from Eleven till Four o'clock.

ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE.
Under the Management of Madame VestriS.
sole Lessee, Mr. Charles Mathews.
THIS EVENING,
Will be performed SIMPSON AND CO.
To be followed by A DAY OF RECKONING.
To conclude with A PRACTICAL MAN.

ROYAL OLYMPIC THEATRE.
THIS EVENING,
Will be performed THE LADY of LYONS. Claude Melnotte, Mr.
G. V. Brooke ; Pauline, )tics Helen Faucit.
After which THE CONNTRY SQUIRE.

ASTLBY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE.
Under the Patronage of her Majesty and his Royal Highness
Prince Albert.
Proprietor and Manager, Mr. W. Batty.
Last week of the gorgeous Spectacle.
Extraordinary series of attractive novelties. Second week of the
Revival of TURPIN'S RIDE to YORK.
THIS EVENING,
The Grand new Spectacle of THE ENCHANTED PALFREY; or,
The Warrior of the Crescent.

Together with Batty's Splendid Scenes of the Circle, introducing
the Magnificeit Stud and Company of unequalled Artistes.
The whole concluding with the Equestrian Drama (for the first
time these live years) of TURPIN'S RIDE to YORK.
By particular desire, shortly will be produced, KENNILVV ORTII
or toe Golden Days of the Virgin Queen, with new and costly cos-
tumes.

Extensive preparations are now being made for the production of
a new and original Equestrian Comic Pant,Anime, written expressly
for this Theatre. by G. 11. Itodwell,
Box-Wilco open from Eleven till Four.
Stage Manager, Mr. T. Thompson.

HIGH WATER Al LONDON BRIDGE.
THIS OAT —NTorning 19 min. after 7 I Evening 49 min. after 7
To-Koaitow—Morning 26 min. after 8 I Evening 1 an 11. after 9

TEIE WEATHER.—SUN OFFICE, rECEMBEA 12.
THERMOMETER, LN THE SHADE.
45—highest since noon yesterday.
38—lowest this morning and during the night.
47—this day, at noon.

BAD.ONIETEE, 29.99.
WIND S.W.—light breeze and hazy weather.

DAILY WEATHER TABLE.

State of the Wind and Weather at each of the following
places at Nine o'clock yesterday morning.—The stations
are arranged in order of latitude.
KLN7GSTOWN (DUBLIN)—Wind S.W., gentle breeze—rain.
PLYMOUTH—Wind S.E. gentle breeze—overcast.
PORTSMOUTH—Wind N.E., calm—overcast.
BRIGHTON—Wind S.E., calm—overcast.
Ilasmas—Wind S.E., gentle breeze—overcast.
BountAN:pzos—Wind S.W., gentle breeze—overcast.
FOLKESTONE—Wind S., gentle breeze—overcast.
TUNBRIDGE—Wind N.E. calm—overcast.
BRISTOL— Wind S.W., calm—partially cloudy.
READING—Wind S.E., calm—overcast.
GREENWICH—Wind S.E., gentle breeze—overcast.
SWINDON—Wind S., gentle breeze—overcast.
OXFORD—Wind S.E., calm—overcast.
CAMBRIDGE—Wind S., gentle breeze—cloudy.
RUGBY—Wind S., gentle breeze—foggy.
BIR3IINGILUI—Wind S., gentle breeze—foggy.
PETERBOROUGH—Wind S. W., calm—foggy.
YARMOUTH—Wind S.W., gentle breeze—overcast.
CoNwAy—Wind E., gentle breeze—partially cloudy.
HOLYHEAD—Wind S., strong breeze—overcast.
LIVERPOOL—Wind S.E., gentle breeze—overcast.
IIIaNCHESTER—Wind S., gentle breeze— overcast.
WHITBY—Wind S.W., gentle breeze—principally clear.
DARLINGTON—Wind S. by E., strong breeze—frost.
SUNDERLAND—Wind S.W., gentle breeze—cloudy.
BEArrocK—Calm— overcast.
EDINBURGH—Wind S.E., gentle breeze—foggy.
The returns from the following places indicate the state of
the wind and weather on Tuesday morning at nine
o'clock :
CoßL—Wind S., strong breeze—rain.
BiurintG.Lr.—W ind S.E., stiff breeze—hazy.
DUNDALK—Wind S.E.. gentle breeze—overcast.
POOLE —Wind E., gentle breeze—partially cloudy.
SAEFFMLD—Wind S., gentle breeze—foggy.
YORK —Wind S.W., calm - foggy.
LANCASTER--Wind S.W., calm—principally clear.
SHAT—Wind S.E., calm—principally clear.
WIIITEHAVEN—Wind S.W., gentle breeze— cloudless.
BEATTOCK —Wind N.W., gentle breeze—foggy.
EDINB URGII - Wind N., gentle breeze—foggy.

it alit It
LONDON, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12, 1850.

The Society for Promoting the Amendment of the
Law are proceeding steadily and efficiently in the
imprrtant path on which they have entered. Although
there is no jumping at rash and hasty conclusions,
although no decision is arrived at ion any topic until
it has been thoroughly and completely investigated in
all its details, and the probable results of the contem-
plated change has been calmly and maturely con-
sidered, there is yet no unnecessary or useless delay
permitted, and a subject once brought forward is
never shelved until it has been finally disposed of.
Everything necessary to attach weight and influence
to the judgment of the committee is done; nothing is
omitted calculated to carry conviction to the minds
of those for whose especial benefit the important azd
arduous task has been freely and voluntarily under-
taken. But there is none of that undue hair-
splitting, that over-caution, which has hither to
exercised , such baneful influences on the
great cause of legal reform, and retarded, if
they have not altogether prevented, the attainment Of
much-required ameliorations. The admirable collec-
tion of reports already published, the fearless expo-
sure of existing abuses, and the clear and sensible
suggestions offered for their removal, and the adop-
tion of a less objectionable system, sufficiently attest
the inestimable value of the services that have• been
rendered by the patriotic members of the society to the
community in general.
It could not be supposed that the explanations
offered at a recent meeting of the society with respect,
to the new code:of law and procedure adopted in New
York, and ()tilers of the United States of America,
should produce no results. The change was, indeed,
one of extraordinary magnitude—the total abolition of
the Court of Chancery—the amalgamatioe of the
legal and equitable tribunals the abrogation
of special pleading, and the rendering of parties
competent witnesses in their own causes, their testi-
mony in every case being taken for what it might be
worth, but never being altogether rejected, was a
reform of the most comprehensive and radical charac-
ter. The idea that a question would be cheaply and
expeditiously decided on it, merits, that no skill of
the pleader, no wealth of the defendant could post-
pone or influence the judgment, but that substantial
justice would be rendered in every case to the liti •
gants, might indeed startle some of the practitioners
of the old school, and impress them with the
opinion that their craft was in imminent peril. The
feeling which eighteen centuries ago produced the
cry " Great is DIANA of the Ephesians,!" has not
altogether departed from the world, and may still I
produce effects similar to those which followed the
visit of the "Apostle of the Gentiles" to the Grecian
city.

The lociety io, however, determined to adopt the

In connexion with the project of improvement in
the Patent Laws, already frequently commented
upon by ourselves, we may be permitted to observe
that as far back as 1845 a suggestion was made for
the establishment of a provisional registry of inven-
tions. The author of this admirable proposition, Mr.
D. S. BROWN, had the satisfaction of witnessing the
introduction of a Bill into Parliament under the
auspices of Earl GRANVILLE, a Bill embodying "the
main features of his plan," and holding out further
prospects of a like kind of legislative amendation.
Unfortunately in its passage through the Legislature
the Bill in question, as is well known, was stripped
effectually of its benefiical influence over 'the in-
terests of inventors, securing advantages solely
to the originators of insignificant " designs"
coming within the limits of the scale of registra-
tion. Under this enactment, therefore, good accrues
alone to the owners of least important contrivances—
the scientific inventors of the United Kingdom en
masse being still left to the precarious operations of
chance and speculation. Than this no change could
be more blundering or ill-judged. Scarcely any
perceptible good has been yet effected. The monster
evil, against which so many thousands have been long
clamouring, is still left to crush thkt impoverished but
intelligent class who are doomed to intellectual tra-
vail for the public convenience and the emolument Of
capitalists.
Something must, it is at length evident, be ac-
complished to the end that the advantages already re-
ferred to should be extended from designs to patentable
inventions : and for the speedy achievement of this
most desirable object we recognise no more feasible
or immediately practicable scheme than the one pro-
pounded by Mr. D. S. BROWN, and which may be
here very readily specified. " The remedy I have to
suggest," says this gentleman, "is to allow every one
to register his invention immediately upon depositing
a description of it in an office to be established for
that purpose; and, by so doing, to obtain a priority
of claim to take out a patent for the same within a
limited period afterwards; and, in case he should
neglect to do so, the invention to become public pro-
perty." By this very simple and equitable arrange-
ment the dangers hitherto surrounding the path of in-
ventors would be altogether avoided; for, under the
present deplorable system, scientific men may toil on
during a protracted period, developing an invention by
reiterated experiments, and then, when about to reap the
benefits of their ingenuity and perseverance, by se-
curing their contrivance under letters patent, behold
those golden advantages snatched from them by
another and unexpected claimant. The reason of
this ill consequence is obvious, the inventor posses-
sing
at present no security whatever that his notion
may not be unjustly appropriated by the very men
with whom he may be in active negotiation ;
whereas such misfortunes might be rendered wholly
impossible through the agency of a simple regulation
like the one above indicated. "By this arrange-
ment," says Mr. D. S. BROWN, "a channel would
be opened for the development of the wliole in-
genuity of the country ; and not only would more
patents be likely to be taken out than at present;
but, what is also important, only those need be
applied for, which might be first proved to be
useful, and thus a great deal of expense and disap-
' pointment would be spared." The increased appli-
cation for patients would be a happy consequence
of such a reform, calculated to excite feelings of
satisfaction in the heart of the financier ; while the,
prevention of unnecessary and profitless speculation
could not fail to gratify the sympathies of the
philanthropist. As matters at present stand, the ab-
sence of any such security proves injurious alike to
the community at large as well as to inventors
themselves. Frequently, we are satisfied, the germs
of inventions calculated to be most beneficial in their
development are abandoned through fear of some en-
suing disasterahe scientific speculator shrinking from
the chance of disappointment, and dreading the ab-
sorption of all the pecuniary results of his ingenuity
by the pitiless and greedy maw of the capitalist.
Besides all which considerations, it should be consi-
dered—as Mr. D. S. BROWN himself intimates—that
"manufacturers, too, would no longer be perplexed
by a multiplicity of obsolete patents for worthless in-
ventions, which never would have been patented if the
parties had had an opportunity of testing their im-
practicability in time. As .for the registered inven-
tions themselves, they could offer no obstruction to
trade, however great the number, as the period to be
allowed for the taking out a patent and maturing
the invention need not exceed twelve months."
Added to the foregoing suggestions, the originator of
this scheme of Provisional Registry for Inventions,
has thrown out another and supplementary hint to
the effect that a museum of models might be esta-
blished with advantage to the cause at once of
science and manufactures. In this particular, as
well as in many others of a similar character, we
may say,with the Sentimental Tourist, "they manage
these things better in France." Our meaning in
the present instznee may be readily apprehended by
those who have witnessed the result of such a system as
the one last intimated in the capital of the French
dominions. They will remember in the museum of
mechanical contrivances at Paris, the exquisite models
there grouped together, models of incomparable
minuteness and of punctilious exactitude, showing
visibly the progress waded late years in the course of
scientific improvement. Obvious as would be the ad-
vantage: accruing to inventors through the medium
of the suggested scheme of registration, " it, bowever,
of the37s the author-
should not be compulsory," 54

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