Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-07-12
Peculiar Process sr Procurias an IsnsIish

Peculiar Process ef Procuring M EnGftsh
sfE Patent. 3i ~
Dickens, in his own peculiar way, thus re-
lates the "circumlocutiou" experience of an
inventor in attempting to procure an English
patent: $50
When the Christmas holidays were over,
went up to London by the parliamentary
train, and hired lodging for one week from
Thomas Joy. He II formed me that the first
step To be taken in patenting the invention,
was TO prepare petition unto Queen Victoria.
A declaration before the master In Chaucery
was to be added 10 it. These we likewise
drew up. After a deal OF trouble I found
ont a master in Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane, nigh Temple Bar where
made the declaration, and paid eighteen pence
was told to take the declaration and petit
ton to the Home Office, in Whitehall, where
left II to be signed by the Home Secretary
latter had found the Office out and where
] paid two pounds two and sixpence. In six
days he signed 1t, and l was told to take it TO
the Attorney Generals Chambers, and leave
it there fora report. l did So and paid four
pounds four. Note: Nobody (all throuph)
over thankful for their money, but all uncivil.
My lodging at Thomos joys was now hired
for another week, whereof FIVE days were
gone. The Attorney-General made what
they called "report-of-course," (my inven-
ton being unopgosed, and was sent back
with 1t TO the Home Office They made a
copy of il, which was called "warrant."
For this warrant paid seven pounds, thirteen
| and six. 1t was sent to the Queen to sign.
The Queen sent it back, signed. The Home
Secretary signed it again. The gentleman
| threw 1t at me when called, and said, "Now
take it to the Patent Office in Lincoln's Inn"
was then in my third week at Thomas joys
living very sparing on account of fees.
m U InCiV art
AT the Patent Office, in Lincoln's Inn, they
made "a draft of the Queens bilp' of my in
vention, and "a docket of the bill" | paid
five pound, ten and six for this. They Fen
crossed two copies of the bill, one for the
Signet Office and one for the Privy-Seal
Office l paid one pound seven and six for
this. Stamp duty, over and above, three
pounds. The engrossing clerk of the same
office engrossed the Queens bill for signature.
| paid him one pound one. Stamp duty
again, one pound ten. was next to take
the Queens bill to the Attorney General, and
get it signed again. | took il to the Home
Secretary again. He sent it to the Queen
again: She signed it again. l paid seven
pounds, thirteen, six, and more, for this. |
had been over month at Thomas joys.
was quite worn out-patience and pocket.
"But hadn't nigh done it, The Queens
bill was TO be taken to the Signet Office, in
Somerset House, Strand, where the stamp
shop Is. The Clerk of the Signet made "a
Signet bill for the Lord Keeper of the Privy
Seal" | paid him four pound, seven. The
Clerk of the Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal |
made "a Privy Seal bill for the Lord Chan
cellor.n ! paid him four pound, two. The
Privy Seal bill was handed over to the Clerk |
Of the Patents, who engrossed the aforesaid. |
| paid him five pound, seventeen, and eight; |
at the same time paid stamp duty for the |
patent, in one lump, thirty pound next |
paid for "boxes for the patent" nine and |
ninepence. Note: Thomas Joy would have |
made the same at profit, for eighteen pence.
next paid 'fees 10 the Deputy, the Lord |
Chancellor's Purse-bearer," two pound, two. |
next paid fees to the Clerk Of the Hama |
per- seven pound, thirteen. next paid |
fees to the Deputy Clerk of the Hanaper," |
ten shiliings. / next paid to the Lord Chan |
cellor again, one pound, eleven, and six. Last
of all, paid fees to the Deputy Sealer, and
Ct?uty Chaff-wax,' ten shillings and six
pence. | had lodged at Thomas joys, for
over six weeks, and the unopposed patent for
my invention for England had cost me nine
ty-six pound, seven, and eightpence. In
addition to this expense, say nothing about
being tired of my life while l was patenting
my invention"