Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-11-16

y
d. for 10 years.. .................... 81 w
In Ausrs for years 25 90
Do for 10 years. s.......-............... 40 w
IN Holand for ten wears Observation-Disclosures. 81 90
Do for is years 10 90
In Franco for Is years Observation-Disclosures. 73 90
In Scotland for IA wears Observation-Disclosures. rs 90
In Russia, for from to years. from 20 to... 80 90
T. ,s sasin I i f.; %
except British subject. II 10
Do for a British subject for IA years. s.......l2o 90
In Ireland, for IA years. .l35 90
In the United Kingdom, including the Colonies, and
for specifications, for "A years 1876 90
We do not feel quite sure that the above cta-
tions of the cost of patents in the United States to
other persons than citizens is correct, but have
not the means at hand OF verifying them if they be
not. The immense disparity between the expense
of patent in England and one elsewhere has long
been felt and the Righteousness and oppressive
injustice of many of the charges have been well
exposed in late number of DIcKENs's Household
Words" II is more than time that this grievance
was removed, and Parliament have yet an oppor-
tunty of doing it, if it be so minded, before the
opening of the Exhibition.
Chambers Of Commerce have long existed in
various countries and in various cities, both at
home and abroad, but these local bodies have been
established to protect local interests, and their
functions have not embraced objects of general i'm
operations have in view. What is wanted is
cosmopolitan institution, commensurate with the
extent of the worlds commercial dealings and do
ings. On the present system each country applies
its own laws and regulations to subject which
ought to have one wide and general law applied
to it, seeing that the principles and requirements
of commerce are every where the same. This
subject has been brought before the public by a
memorial addressed to Prince ALBERT by Mr.
LEONE LEVI, in which the writer urges the neces-
sity for the establishment of |" national and inter-
national code Of commerce among all civilized
Countries and points out the approaching Exhi-
biton as an excellent opportunity for arranging the
machinery necessary to carry out the project. Mr..
Lewis idea is, that banker, jurist, and mer-
chant should be invited as deputation from each
country toagree upon general code by which the
laws of factors, exchange, contracts, partnerships,
insurances, bills of exchange, bankruptcies. and all
other subjects ofgeneral commercial interest," should
be regulated upon universal principle through.
out the world. Germany has already done this
with respect TO bills Of exchange by the establish
ment of one general law upon the subject about
two years ago. Before that time no fewer than
twenty-one distinct laws and usages prevailed in
Germany upon that subject. It is striking fact
that in the middle of the nineteenth century the
nations of Europe are not agreed as to their COM
mon everyday chronology. Russia continues to
reckon by the Julian calendar. All other (chris-
tian) nations by the Gregoria,s This would be
proper subject to be attended TO by :" Universal
Chamber Of Commerce." The establishment of
uniform system of weights and measures and
Of national currencies by the adoption Of the de-
simal mode of calculation, and greater equaiza.
ton of port and harbor dues and the rates Of pos
tage would form proper subjects for the considera-
ton of such an institution. We think every prac-
tical commercial man-and a commercial man must
be practical, for neither commercial knowledge nor
wealth can be acquired by theoretical speculation
will the importance Of Mr.. LEvI's suggestion !;
and if the approaching Exhibition should witness
the taking the first great step in the work, it
tainly furnishes the opportunity of doing so it will
establish an additional claim to be considered the
greatest truly effective Peace Congress which man.
kind ever Witnessed. The establishment through
out the world of simple, impartial, and universal
code of commercial laws, would be a boon to civil
lization and the cause Of progress worthy the age
and the enlightened men who will, we trust, as
semble in London, the centre Of the worlds COM
merce, in May, 1851. In the existing difficulty at
Liverpool between the Town Council and the
American Chamber Of Commerce there is strong
proof of the necessity of Mr.. Lewis suggestion
being attended to. II is well known that vessels
lying in the Liverpool docks are subject to res,rc-
tions in the of fires and lights which do not exist
IN any other port in the world and that the health
and morals of the crews are essentially injured by
these restrictions, the comforts of all concerned
materially diminished, and the expenses Of the
owners considerably increased. The Dock Com
mitsee at Liverpool have applied to the Town
Council, and asked permission TO solicit Parliament
for an act 70 remove the legal impediments which
now exist against the Of fires and LIGHTS in the
docks; but The Town Council have refused their
consent. The American Chamber of Commerce
has taken up the business, and looks upon the deci
sion Of the Council likely to affect the rade he
tween the two countries. The American merchants
at Liverpool say il legislation at that place be con-
Quoted in so ilberal and narrow spirit the trade
of the port will be forced over to Brkenhead, with
which place railway communication will be OPEN
ed next month 10 Manchester, and consequently in
all other directions; that there is more water al
Birkenhsad than at Liverpool for the docking Of
vessels tha, fire and lights are permitted on board
Of vessels in the Birkenhesd docks tha, dock dues
and port charges are lower at Birkenhead than at
Liverpool; and that better arrangements can be
made at the former place for the comfort &c. hf em
grants. One of the largess establishments 10 Liver.
pool has already made inquiries with view to