Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-10-30
FROM OUR EUROPEAN coRREsp oNDENT.



of science and the arts. Nor is this to be wonder
ed at when the time and money which have been
spent in maturing them taken into consideration.
But il is really surprising that country so young
as the United States should exhibit any Institutions
which can worthlly enter into competition with
those OF England, and it will scarcely be credited
that any OF those OF the former country should eEce
those established for similar object in the latter
one. Yet il must be allowed by every unpreju-
diced person that the asylums for the reception and
restoration OF the insane in the United States are at
least as well conducted as those in England and
produce at least as beneficial result whilst the
system Of prison discipline, looking at that discipline
with view to a remedial result, of the former
country, is very much superior to that Of the latter.
Our object IS not to institute any invidious compa-
rlson, but SIMPLY to direct attention to facts, that
the benevolent and enlightened of both countries
may adopt what is found to be best in the practice
OF either, and that human happiness may be thereby
advanced.
The most striking thing, however, which has yet
fallen under the cognlzance OF the writer is the to-
tai want in London, and consequently in England,
of public institution similar to the Patent Office
in Washington. To enter into defence of the
importance of this latter institution would be work
of supererogation; is allowed to be the nurse of
mechanical invention and improvement, and the
patron and rewarder of successful exertion. The
collection OF models there open to public inspection
gives the fullest information respecting all that has
hitherto been done by American skill and genius in
the principal mechanical sciences, and shows hotc
1t has been accomplished. But London has no
such storehouse Of inventions there is no Govern
-ment collection Of this kind. There are few dusty
and imperfect models to be seen in the lower room
OF the Society OF Arts, in the Adeph, and there is
tolerably good but small collection of working
models in the of the Polytechnic Institution,
in Regent street. have heard the Patent Office in
Washington sneered at by those who, must be al
lowed to think, could not comprehend its impor-
lance, and ridiculed as "Jncie SANS Ioyshop -
but am convinced that much individual advantage,
and consequently general good, would accrue from
similar collection of English inventions being ST.
milarly gratuitously exposed to public inspection
in London. The expense of obtaining patent in
the United States does not, believe, exceed $40
go sterling) besides the expense of the model, &C.,
whilst in England the issuing of letters patent to
secure the property in new invention costs, if ex
tending over England Alone g105; if also extend
ing TO Scotland, g75 more; and if to Ireland, also,
9l35 more; making the expense of patent-right
protection for the British Islands alone g315 ster-
ling, or nearly 81 400. If it extends to the Chan
mel Islands Or the British Colonies additional ex-
pense must be incurred. 1t may, therefore, be in
ferred that enough money is derived from the issu-
ing of patents by the Government to support the
expense of adequate rooms for the exhibition of the
models of patented inventions. 1t is true that the
English inventor is not subject to the expense of
having working model of his invention deposited
before he receives his patent, but he has to have
specifications and drawings prepared, and is sub.
ected to very considerable expenses over and above
the above mentioned large fees.
Some persons have doubted the real utility of
moderate charge for the issuDga Government patent,
and say that the ease and small expense with which
such patents are obtained in the United States have
led the waste of much time in the pursuit of use
less schemes, and the maturing of inventions of no
practical value whatever. No doubt some of the
models in the Patent Office will excite smile, and
others will lead to painful reflections to the mis-
direction of human intellect, and the folly which
too often employs the hands and the head; but
these things drop in the bucket when mea-
sured with the immense number of inventions which
have snpli6ed labor, multiplied product and I'M
proved fabrics, which would have been strangled in
their birth but for this nursery of humble genius,
this collection ofthe trophies of minds victories over
matter 1t would be in bad taste to give, in this
connexon, even brief enumeration OF what Ameri-
can skill has achieved in the walks OF mechanical
skill, but il would be easy to enumerate many use
full Improvements and inventions which III all pro-
liability received their creatUe impulse from what
the ingenious protector beheld in the Patent Office
and their mat,Ued perfection from the liberal pro-
lection which the Government accorded, and the
trhing expense for which that protection was
enjoyed.
\ These reflections have been suggested by the re-
ceipt and perusa of the official report of your Com
missioner Of Patents, for the year 1916. May
hope that neither you your readers will consi-
der them as being unworthy transmission from this
distance
1t appears to be subject Of great national impor-
lance 10 foster and encourage the arts OF everyday
life those branches Of science and skill which lie
at the very root of agricultural and manufacturing
progress, which add to a nations wealth and power
! by giving man additional hands and arms and means
of subduing the earth and turning its products to
easier and increased advantage 1t is gratifying
therefore, 10 find your Patent Office flourishng, and
furnishing proofs of its utility in the long list OF in
venons, some of them Of the highest value, which
during the past year it has recorded. This is not
the place for further alusion TO its contents well
known as they must be to your readers, and the
subject is introduced merely for the purpose OF as
sorting the importance of the Office and the great
advantage which would be derived from the estab-
lishment Of similar one, and from more liberal
patentrght system in This country
We have, however, set Of politcians-potticm
economists, Il suppose, they would call themselves
in England who deprecate improvements in machl-
nery as being adverse to the interests of the work