The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-01-25


declined about sixpence.
Money was extremely abundant. The highest
closing price of Consols was 81. American stocks
were finn and in good demand. United States
SIX per cent?, highest price quoted, LOG.
The demand and prices of PROVISIONS were bet
ter. Sugar, coffee and lard had decidedly adj
vapced
The Niagara brings no political news Of i'm
portsnce.
The telegraphic synopsis of the news will be
four on the first page.
Ewbnnk's Report-CaIeb Quotem, as Com
missioner of Patents.
Cne Of our contemporaries, who gets many mat
tiers by telegraph, unknown to the telegraph ope-
rators themselves, has been publishing extracts
from the very enormous document which will soon
be forth coming from the office OF the Commissioner
OF Patents. This paIer proceeds from Mr.. Ew-
bank, the officer of that establishment, and
gives amusing and interesting picture Of Caleb
Quotem endeavoring to centralize the powers of
government, and make them competent for all pur-
poses in the heavens above, or the earth beneath,
or the waters under the earth.
Mr.. Ewbank is one of the choice appontees re-
commended to the Secretary OF the Interior, by Mr..
Senator Seward, and was known in this city In
club OF philosophers who amuse themselves in the
world with talking from the beginning to the end
Of the year, about matters and things In general.
and about everybody's business but their own.
Mr.. Ewbank is a respectable English plumber and
ganer, who one day happening to see his name
attached TO book on hydraulics, halt OF which he
comprehends about as much as he does the interior
atmosphere OF mechanism OF the sun, became ambi-
4 A 4.
getting the appointment by the influence OF Sena-
tor Seward. Now, it happens that Mr. Seward is
great patent claims lawyer, and it is absolutely
49,. e. Fl suc ese cases, 10 have
sons olf o. tlc ciice o. -au missioner of Patents
whauoJ. BIO s.,astoa from or from his friends
.u I.e.l Ure.rcr-
ue .hc~'5 rot aty. .Icgg il necessary TO refer
10 these matters. which are well known by every
body, if we had not seen such parade made OF
new and wonderful paper which Caleb, in the Pa
tent Office, has been preparing, during the last
year, and which proposes for the general govern
ment TO aseume all powers and centraze all things
at Washington, TO an extent aud magnitude which
would he really alarming, # it were not SO ex-
tremey ridiculous
We have read the report IN question, aud are
obliged, IN pronouncing our honest opinion upon
IL, as a report, as a treatise, and effort at
scientific display (or il is all this) say, that 1t
is mere verbose pedantic, common-pl place. prolix,
wandering, dlfIuse, and ad oGptaHdaDi humbug.
IL is as shallow, vapid windy, and watery. as any
of the shaowest productions in this age OF shall
lowntss; while al the same time II is as gaudy,
puffy and pretending, all such similar abortion
oil ignorant pretenslon. That such man should
venture TO propose to our government, seriously to
constitute itself an inermeddler at once with all
the trade, commerce, arts, sciences, and manu-
features Of the country, by taking them all under
Its special protection and into its special and mme
diate pay, while il Is supremcy ridiculous, serves
chiefly TO show the high initiation Of the mind
which has swollen itself out TO conceive such fol
lies. and then has seriously sent them before Con
rress. in tie shape OF solemn official report. II
may also convey some idea ofthe unlimited licence
ASSUMED, in what ought TO be sound, sober, bust
ness report, when il is filed with such ridiculous
plans aad schemes and visionary projects, and
contains, besides, ihreadbarc, worr-ow treatiscs
and anecdotes upon Inventions, and The origia of
inventions, and the feelings OF Inventors, with
thrice told stones and anecdotes about such things
az II he had been required to prepare an anecdotal
volume for little children or unified ged juveniles
But enough Of the report; it can only diz1lc the
ignorant by iis fmsy show, and weary the sensi.
bic by MS tnte prolxity, its dicarrangcd dItidse-
ness, and tedious amPliioauons
The Office Of Commissioner q Patents ~ organ.
ized under an act Of Congress. for specific purposes
mentioned in is provisions, the chief Of which H.
10 make records Of new improvements which may
be oil, red by Adventures, and then to paten, all
such for the interest Of the inventor and protection
OF the public The duties &C the Office are simple,
ss arranged and organized by CONGRESS; but tlfs
new views which Caleb Quotcm, ct New York,
has brought into the establishment, ook more like
some Of those Wild schemes given out by the 60
calst philosophers. who are 10 be found OCCASION
ally in or out Of the lunatc asy lums round about
the country. Il u evident from the specimens
already given by the new Commissioner, that h'
possesses just competency Of mind suilicieat for
moderate mad house; and il would be a charity ior
The senate, before his confirmation, to examine
into his intellect and to ASST IN hln Ssome suitable
place Tor tie recovery az his wits. lie can create
moth rg but confusion, II confirmed 10 this position.
btdsr utsuperiniendence Of the Commissioner OF
Paiens, The facts are collected aud the estimates
made fot TIE neat basis q representation mt,
House Ct Representatives. 1t Washington, on which
besls, The number Of representatives. 10 be returned
by the def.nt Sa'es a. The neat elections VIII he
regulated. The Commission uf Pstsnts tb,re-
fore. viii have something to Do with IN. rc,,oo Of
the next Precedent; ard should that elec,,o, :. I'M
into the House Of Representatives, the pr.st 80,
tor will be the man who has power to Iocrsos, ~
deer, ase the figures by which the Reprcsentst,yes
are apporiloned. That man ~ the present Caleb
Quoi,m, the English plumber add glazier. and Inc
rcbf-hafd nan and Of the sooiafi.t A t,,s