Star.
London, England, 1808-03-26 00:00:00

.44rnarr INVENTIONS.

- In the Erouse Of !leers last night, notice of a motion
vraagiven for altering the Standing Order, of the House
relative to the renewal of Patents, which, if adopted, ,
may certainly prove an injury to the- Palle. By the
proposed new arrangements no Patentee can apply for
a renewal of his patent till the first term or his-I:rant is
within two yearsof being expiied. But itfrequenay hap-
pens that important inventions are not perfected, so as to
be productive, whenfive, six, or seven years of the term
are expired, and are then in such a state, that no fu-
ture profits of the first term could repay the inventor ;
and it then becomes a question of prudence with him,
whether he will persevere in expending money to per-
fect an invention,of which he may not reap the benefit,
even if he should accomplish his object. By a re-
newal of his patent he is encouraged to persevere, and
if he succeeds in his pursuit, the public are ultimately
benefited ; but if, deterred by the uncertainty of ob-
taining a renewal, at so distant a period, he abandon
the enterprize, the public, in many instances, will be
deprived of the benefit of all the money fruitlessly
expended by the Patentee ; nor will it often happen
that any one will, prosecute afterwards a discovery
abandoned by the inventor, however valuable it may
be, owing to the prejudices which attach to all the
attempts of speculative men.
These are considerations, which we think ought to
have some weight. Much evil may result from the
proposed innovation, but no advantage. We do not,
however, apply this to every part of the proposed al-
teration. That which requires that six weeks notice
shill be previously given of the intention of a paten-
tee to apply for an extension of his term is highly
proper, and if adopted, would answer every salutary
purpose intended to be gained by the innovation pro-
posed.

The Earl of CAVAN is expected to succeed to the
89th Regiment of Foot, from which General WHITE-
LOCKE has been cashiered. His Lordship's successor
to the Secdnd West India Regiment is not yet known.

Major General MILNER and Brigade Major MA-
IIONY are tJ resume their stations in the Norfolk
District.

The 7th and 59th regiments have marched from
Colchester to Weeley barracks. and the 79th and 92d
have marched from Weeley to Colchester.
A detachment of 200 of the first Guards, to make
rod the deficiencies in the battalion of that regiment,
stattoned at Dcal barracks, commences its march
from the metropolis on Monday next.
The Hertfordshire Militia have marched from Ips-
wich garrison to Woodbridge barracks.
The Durham Militia are ordered from Woodbridge
to Portsmouth.

, General Lord CAVAN and his Staff, together with
Major Davie, of the Barrack Department, arrived at
Weymouth, from Southampton, last Wednesday, on a
tour of inspection : the Barracks and Hospitals were
very minutely examined, and the General adopted
many judicious regulations in the latter, for the
greater comfort of the invalid, and also guarding
against that malignancy of disease which at present is
so unfortunately prevalent in many other garrisons.
Previous to the General's departure, he reviewed
the troops, consisting of the Ist and 2d Regiments of
Hanoverian Light Horse, under the command of Ge-
neral LINSINGEN ; and the 53d Regiment of Foot,
under the command of Colonel BINGHAM. The wea-
ther was very favourable, and the evolutions of the
brigade received the marked approbation of the Ge-
neral, who complimented the men and officers for
their soldier-like appearance and steadiness under arms.
After the review, the General and his suite, Gene-
ral LINSINGF.N, Colonel ALTEN, Majors Davis and
Gossip, Mr. RODBER the Barrack-master, and a large
party of Military and Naval Officers, dined with Co-
lonel BINGHAM, and the Officers of this 53d Regiment,
by whom they were most sumptuously entertained.
The next day the General left Weymouth, and sailed
in his yacht for Southampton.
;Extract of a letter from Mclazzo (Sicily), Jan. 28.
--tag Our force at present on the Island amounts to
about 8,000 men, including three foreign regime:lts.
They are thus divided:—At Messina, the head-quar-
ters, are stationed the 21st, 27th, 58th, 62d, and
"81st chasseurs, Britanniques and Maltese regiments.
The 81st forms a cordon from the light house at the
Faro to Messina • at Augusta, under the command
of Colonel Oswald, the 10th regiment, and part of
De Rolle's; are stationed at Syracuse, under Briga-
dier-General Stewart, the 31st, and remainder of
De Rolle's; and at Melazzo, under Brigadier-Ge-
neral Cole, the 35th and flank companies of all the
numbered regiments on the Island, except of the
62d ; a detachment of 300 of the 20th dragoons, and
some companies of the artillery, compose the re.
mainder of the force in Sicily. We "'are at present
actively employed in taking a statistical survey of
that part of Sicily immediately in the vicinity of our
posts. and I doubt not but that the result will prove
the resources of the country to be very abundant,
under proper cultivation and encouragement. We
are of course all activity at present ; and, with the
characteristic eagerness of British soldiers, notwith-
standing our inferior force, look forward with confi-
dence and joy to the momentof the threatened attack."
Captain GEORGE HOPE, brother to the Commis-
sioner, is going out in the Victory, 110 guns, and
is appointed Captain of the Fleet under Sir JAMES
SAVaAREZ.
Captain Batnensvoa: is appointed to the command
of the Parthian, a new sloop of war, at Deptford.
Several English subjects have effected their escape
from Flushing, and are arrived at Deal and Dover.
They were only detained, not actually imprisoned
at that place. Their craft, laid up by the enemy,
amount to about sixty vessels.
Saturday evening last a private of the South Lin-
coln Militia, in going from Lydd to Dungeness,
missed his path and fell into a ditch, and was drowned.
Sunday morning, one of the boatmen of Ramsgate
harbour was drowned.
Cotter OF Ewa-nem—ln answer to the numerous
enquiries which have been made at CROSBY and Co's.
within this last week, for the Work just announced,
entitled, " Private History of the Court of Eagland,"
they take occasion to inform the Subscribers and the
Public, that this highly interesting and animated
production will be ready for Publication in a few
days, when the various demands for Copies shall be
supplied with all promptness and impartiality.