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certain wages.

The numerous employers who have risen from the condition of workmen, have passed through this ordeal, and so must others. And in addition to this, the employed must acquire the knowledge and faculties for business before they can claim to interfere in its conduct.

Yet it is certain that the higher the condition of the working classes can be raised the more prosperous will be the condition of the nation, and more securely prosperous will be the condition of the employers.

There is a large proportion of the working classes, as of all classes, whose knowledge and capabilities are of a very second-rate kind.

There is also a considerable number of employers whose faculties are of a very second-rate kind; some of them have risen from the condition of workmen without any other instruction than that of working and saving, and getting to know how to employ a small and gradually a larger capital. These are commonly the employers least disposed to pay high wages. They argue that the men are better off on low wages, for that the increase only sends them to the public-house.

This is a one-sided argument of some force. It is better that low wages should be paid to drunkards, and that the surplus should go into the pocket of the national saveall, the employer, to increase national capital, than that high wages should be paid for waste and vice.

But the fallacy lies in assuming that their employed must of necessity be drunkards. The employer who can only reason thus may be an employer, but assuredly he is not a master. The mere fact that men turn out and strike, is prima facie evidence of a want of the master faculty in some of those who have their guidance. It is a proof that they, or those who came before them, have neglected the education and instruction of those in their employ, whom it was their business to teach. In most cases of mutiny the fault lies with the leader who lacks the faculty to govern freemen.

As a national question it is a desirable thing that every human being should be progressive and not stationary; not a mere wages-earner, but an accumulator of capital. All cannot be masters, for their natural aptitudes vary. Few are fitted for masters in the high sense of the word, and many are only fitted to be guided; and if by chance the guide-needer comes to be a guide, it will be the blind leading the blind.

The quality of masterdom or governance of men is a distinct thing from the mere calculating faculty, while the business faculty is much more common. Governance of men in its highest sense means, in addition to great intellect, a considerable power of sympathy to understand men's nature. Business men are apt to consider that cash payment from employer to employed is the whole consideration between them, and thus selfishness is generated on both sides. The sympathetic master will obtain more result from a moderate wage than a mere business employer from a higher wage.

the Republicans of a neighbouring nation; but, nevertheless, it is worth the trial.

The chief distinction of the civilised man from the savage is, the power of foregoing a present gratification for the sake of a future greater good.

If, then, it were proposed to the workmen of a mill held by a master, to receive in payment, at their option, a minimum wage with a contingent profit, or a maximum wage with no contingent profit, certain of them with calculating aptitudes would take the minimum, the others: the maximum. Those taking the minimum would thus be at risk. If at the end of the year the speculation. turned out well, a larger number would venture on it in the ensuing year, and these men would become thoughtful and well conducted. They would have a stake in the prosperity of the concern, and be ever on the watch to prevent waste or peculation.

There is nothing new in the proposition-Cornish mines and Nantucket whalers are managed on similar principles; and some of our railways are approximating to them.

It is not difficult to predict that, under such a system, all thoughtful and careful men would become limited partners: the careless would remain at a day wage.

That the men on strike should have a glimmering of the possibility of such a system is no cause for alarm, but, on the contrary, a matter of congratulation, as an indication of permanence,-an assurance that they are not going to America, to the Cape, or to Australia, but desire to become shareholders in the prosperity of the land of their birth; not taking anything away from their employers, but only taking a share of the increment they would help to make.

An objection on the part of the employers would be their indisposition to admit so large a number into a knowledge of their trade. But this is an objection which holds good of all joint-stock companies. And it is very probable that the body of workmen partners would elect one or two of their number to transact the business, as Cornish miners elect their captain. And it must be remembered that the men who would determine to work on such a plan of foregoing a present interest, would instantly assume a new character distinct from the mass of those The scope contented to "live from hand to mouth." would be given to the energetic and intelligent, that would remove all dissatisfaction.

It was

An illustration to a certain extent of the process of workmen taking risks with rising or falling gains, may be found in the China and earthenware manufacture, a trade which is just commencing the transition process from handicraft to machinery, and in which it will depend on the good-sense of the employers whether the transition shall take place peaceably, or with incessant strikes and a constant secession of Mormon potters to Utah. formerly the custom to pay separately every one of the various branches of workmen through whose hands the material passed in its progress from clay to china-ware. The slip maker, the thrower, the turner, the dryer, the painter, the glazier, and the various firers and oven men, all affirmed themselves to be perfect workmen; yet, notwithstanding, the turn-out from the oven would obstinately consist of more seconds than firsts, and more thirds than seconds, and more shords than thirds. The employer was the sufferer, without anybody being in fault. This would not do, and the custom was established of paying all the workmen "out of the oven." After that there was no difficulty in finding where the fault lay. Every man and every class watched their neighbours, and a bad workman was soon a marked man without any trouble whatever to the employer. This was practically a sharing in profits. If the work were badly done, the workmen lost their wages and the employer his material. It is true that this arrangement has not altogether prevented strikes, but without it the business would not be carried on at all; and before laying all the blame on the workmen it would be To propose such a thing is to incur the imputation of as well to examine the idiosynocracies of all the employers. that kind of socialism charged, fairly or unfairly, upon | When the employers shall be first-class philosophers, we

So long as the human workers are merely considered in relation to supply and demand, and left in a condition of ignorance as mere animal machines, so long will they regard the employers as mere taskmasters, and not as natural leaders, and will seek their leaders elsewhere to teach them how best, in commercial language, to "put the screw" upon their employers.

So long as large bodies of working men shall be mere "have nots," earning and consuming a given wage from day to day, and occasionally wanting, so long will they be only loosely held together as a nation. But if any arrangement could be made whereby they could become accumulators of capital on a small scale, they would instantly become preservers of order and opponents of

strikes.

This would be their condition, if by any equitable arrangement they could be made sharers in profits.

may expect that the workmen will all be obedient disciples.

There is no necessity for these men becoming partners in the plant or capital, but simply in the yearly profits as yearly partners; but, if it were considered desirable, there is no reason why they should not have a small share in a mill as well as in a railway.

The proportional shares that should go to interest, to repairs, to profits, and to wages, it would not be difficult to arrange.

It is clear that saving workmen ought to be enabled to invest their accumulations; and it would be better, in a profitable business, directly, than at mere interest, indirectly.

Supposing that they were to consume their yearly profits even in harmless amusements, this would be a great evil. It would be better for the community, better for the workers themselves, that they should receive only the wages needful for food, fuel, clothing, and education, and that their profits should go to their employers' saveall. Directly or indirectly workmen's savings are the creation of capital; and until they are trained to save and invest for themselves, some one will have to take care of their pocket-money, with more or less deduction as perquisites. They will remain as wards of the capitalist's chancery, paying heavy fees to their guardian, but still, better off than if allowed to squander it in waste.

Of those who differ from these views I would ask-Why

are there no strikes in the United States?

Upon the general principles laid down I come to the following conclusions:

1. That combinations, whether of employers or emploved, are only a rude and inartificial method of arriving at the value of labour. That a limited liability in partnerships would almost immediately develope an enormous amount of skilled resources, and that the present capitalists would, after a short time, gladly admit the skilful workmen to such shares in profits as would stimulate them to exertions and results of a most extraordinary kind. Combinations would disappear without any necessity for legislation. Neither the law nor the public have any right to interfere with combinations that are voluntary and peaceable. Any members of the community have the option of submitting to voluntary privation, unless their acts force them on the parish rates. And, nationally, however we may regret the inconvenience, our pride should be gratified at the indomitable perseverance of our working classes in resisting what they, ignorantly or not, consider a wrong. It marks, at least, that they are not serfs, but freemen.

2. Strikes should not, necessarily, induce lock-outs, because two wrongs do not make a right. The mills should be kept open for any sufficient number of men binding themselves to work to cover the expenses of machinery and management. The obvious resource of the employers, if they cannot agree, is the importation of workmen from foreign countries, if-which is dubious-it can be found that a given wage will purchase practically as The only answer is, that the law of partnership facili- If it will, the result will be good in all ways. It will much labour from a foreigner as from an Englishman. tates to every skilful man the turning his faculties to the teach the Englishman his value, and what kind of combest account. A man can rise to be a master either in partnership or on his own account; and great facilities petition his employers have to contend with. And it will exist for changing from one employment to another. introduce new blood into England-always a gain-when In England the law of partnership impedes the estab-blood of every foreign nation that has sought refuge here, we consider that Englishmen are a compound race of the best lishment of joint stock companies, and trades' unions in distress or otherwise. impede the change of employment, so that if a man happens to be tied to a business he has a distaste for, he must needs keep to it, and be a very unproductive worker. It is is a common thing that there is a glut of "hands" in one employment, and a starcity in another. The prin ciple of supply and demand has thus an artificial hindrance. There is no general superfluity of men, while an artificial superfluity in one branch cuts down the rate of wages in that branch, and engenders misery and

strikes.

Handicraft skill in various departments commands high wages; this infallibly induces the use of machine tools, worked by labourers." The general tendency is to reduce all skilled work to machines. This reduces the number of men needed for the particular art; but, as new arts are constantly growing up, the total number need not decrease. But calling a man a "labourer," instead of a skilled workman, is no reason why his wages should be lowered. Low-paid labourers are an evil in any country, for they must be poor customers. A well-paid, welltaught, well-clad body of workers, even of comparatively small numbers, is better for a community than an unlimited number of people in lower circumstances of body and mind.

termine the respective values of the various classes of la3. There is no equitable mode, save piece-work, to debour. The question of the rate of prices must depend on supply and demand, and the scale of profits. It is usual to take the amount of work an average workman can do in a day as a standard, at a given price per day. To pay by the day needs a large number of foremen and overlookers, who practically are paid out of the workmen's wages, which are thus reduced. If piece-work prices are established when provisions are cheap, they may be quite inefficient when provisions are dear. To regulate this the prices should rise and fall with the standard of wheat But in all cases, new machinery would need a new list of piece-work prices. The system of a minimum wage, with a share of profits, would obviate these difficulties.

Unquestionably it is for the advantage of the employer that the employed should find an advantage in improved inachinery. If the farmer is not allowed to kill the game he is apt to break the eggs. The operative, profiting by improved machinery, would aid its improvemeut all in his power, and would take care that it should not be damaged. Elevating the condition of the workman is a security against pauperism and conspiracy. So soon as the operatives have an interest in improved machinery, As time rolls on, and as artificial difficulties are removed, the employers with the best mills will obtain the best the principle of share-holding now applied so largely to workmen, and those with inferior mills will get inferior public works, such as railways, will be more and more workmen, with lessened profits both to employers and emlargely applied to every kind of machine-facture, and all ployed. The stimulus to improve machinery will thus our best workmen will grow up into a race of small pro-be very great, and the faculties of working inventors will prietors-not of land, but of shares in mills and machines. be on the constant stretch to put away the old and effete The result will be such an increase of wealth as the world and bring in the new. And, as a consequence, intelligent has never yet beheld; such a bonded nation as to be im-men will always be found to work perfect machinery at a pregnable to external circumstances. A machine factory smaller share of profit than the imperfect. worked in shares by those interested in all its details, will always eclipse the factory of the mere capitalist worked by hirelings. And the ill-feeling now existing between the capitalists and the intelligent workmen, who feel that their energies under the present system are not half developed, will altogether cease.

As regards the actual dispute at issue, the only apparent end of it is the holding out of the money. There is one other measure which most men in business take who love not to waste their property in law. Arbitration! that is, practically electing a dictator for the particular occasion, to get rid of a difficulty which breeds only ill-will and

waste, and which is maintained from an unworthy fear on both sides—fear on the part of the employers that the workmen will tyrannise unless they be reduced to unqualified submission-fear on the part of the workmen, that if they make any concession the employers will tyrannise over them. An arbitration would prove the means of an honourable peace, without detriment to either side, and leaving open the question of future arrangements how to extract the greatest amount of profit from a factory in which both employers and employed might find increased benefit. It were to be wished that some intelligent employer would put this great question fairly to the test, whether an equitable system found to answer in cases of combined risk and intelligence in mines and ships could not answer also in factories wherein the circumstances are more definite.

order while he is in it, and taking no heed of the natural
order of Manhood-the highest of all.
duce some better mode of ending the present dispute than
With the hope that the offer of the Society may pro-
a mere war on pecuniary resources,
I am, Sir, yours faithfully,
W. BRIDGES ADAMS.

1, Adam-strect, Adelphi, January 14, 1854.

To Correspondents.

The third and concluding part of Mr. Garvey's paper on "Education as a Science and an Art," will be given next week.

ERRATA. In the last number, page 132, column 2, letter on Colonial Postage,-line 6, for "recovered," read "revived;" line 16, for "part or parts," read "port or ports;" line 20, for "their reports," read these respects;" line 21, for "than," read "through," for "or," read "than can;" line 24, for "all at once in some point," read "them at some one or more points;" line 25, for "and," read "or."

MON.

There will be, no doubt, some very literal people on both sides of the question, who will take it for granted that I seriously expect this trial to be put in universal practice at a given day and specific hour, like Mr. Owen's "sacred month." But I don't even "wish we may get it;" for it would be a scene of unspeakable confusion. It must be quite another race of employers and workmen by whom a rational system of mutual faith and mutual help shall extinguish antagonism. But we live in the condition of progress, and even as the slaves and serfs of former ages have merged into guildsmen and unionists with comparatively little instruction, so will these latter merge into the condition of small capitalists, using their own money in safe ventures of mills and machinery, all tending to the extinction of mere handicraftcy or human TUES. machines. The highest rates of wages are those paid to handicraftsmen who, when work is plentiful, dictate their own prices to their employers. The Sheffield trades of files, cutlery, and tools,-those of glass-blowing and china-making are processes of "hands" not heads, and the heads being neglected their owners "put an enemy into their mouths to steal away their brains." They drink to excess, just as did the middle classes and gentry of the last generation, because they have not been taught to WED. think and talk. The same processes that have rescued the middle classes from intoxication will also rescue the misguided amongst the working classes-education— that kind of education that will awaken the mind and faculties to more intellectual and refined enjoyment. All the world knows that in great houses it was at one time the fashion to have the wine-cellar adjoin the diningroom, and that it was a meritorious feat for gentlemen to drink out a hogshead of claret or a butt of sack at a sitting. Precisely in the same fashion a Sheffield handicraftsman in the possession of the accumulated fortune of a fortnight's highly-paid labour, will invite his neighbours to drink out a cask of ale or a tub of Hollands, and I say deliberately that the workman is more excusable than the gentleman. The workman has been taught nothing better, the gentlemen had been through some course of instruction, fitting them for better things.

THURS.

Years hence, when the workman of the then generation FRI. shall be as refined as well as intelligent as the best of the present middle classes, and more so than many of them, we shall wonder at the inertness that so long consigned the strength and staple of our nation to a condition of ignorance, robbing us of half the results that SAT. have been shadowed forth by Providence.

Our order of sequence is thus:

Out of apprentices grow journeymen, out of journeymen foremen, out of foremen employers, out of employers capitalists, out of capitalists members of the legislature, both Commons and Lords. If the course of instruction that the apprentice, journeyman, and foreman go through be only how,-in the London vernacular, "to do the trick," i.e. to accumulate money, we cannot expect them to produce either fitting masters or fitting legislators. They will but worship mammon; all in turn striving to keep down those below them, and push down those above them, in a war of classes; each holding by his artifical

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Microscopical, 8.

Archæological Assoc., 8.-Mr. G. V. Irving, "On
the Chronology and Geography of the Wars between
the Saxons of Northumberland and the Northern
Britons, from the Battle of Argoed to that of
Raltraez."

Royal Inst., 3.-Prof. Wharton Jones, “On Animal
Physiology."

London Inst., 7-Mr. T. A. Malone, "On Photo -
graphy."
Numismatic, 7.
Antiquaries, 8.
Royal, 81.
Philological, 8.

Architectural Assoc., 8.-Class of Design.

Royal Inst., 8.-Prof. Tyndall, "On the Vibration and Tones produced by the Contact of Bodies having different Temperatures."

London Inst.. 2.-Mr M. T. Masters, "On Elemen-
tary Botany."

Royal Inst., 3.-Prof. Miller, "On the Chemistry of
the Non-Metallic Elements."
Medical, 8.

PATENT LAW AMENDMENT ACT, 1852..

APPLICATIONS FOR PATENTS AND PROTECTION ALLOWED.

[From Gazette, 13th January, 1854.]
Dated 21st November, 1853

2701. A. Parfitt, Newbury-Vehicles.

2771. J. C. Ramsden, Bradford-Looms.

Dated 28th November, 1853.

10. D. Kennedy, Reading, U.S.-Manufacture of leather.

2358. J. B. E. Ruttre, Paris, and 5, Lawrence Pountney lane-Ma- 12. F. A. T. de Beauregard, Paris-Drying cigars, &c.

chines for producing shoddy, &c.

Dated 9th December, 1853.

Dated 16th December, 1853.

Dated 17th December, 1853.

2934. A. L. Knox, Glasgow-Ornamenting textile fabrics.

14. J. Collins, 32, St. Ann street, Liverpool-Vinegar.
16. T. Mann, Horsham-Cinder sifting shovel.
18. J. Dransfield, and W. Robinson, Oldham-Carding engines.
Dated 4th January, 1854.

engines. 2937. J. S. Bailey, Keighley-Machinery for wool, alpaca, &c., before 20. J. Taylor, M. Wrigley, and S. Greaves, Oldham-Carding being spun.

2939. G. Anderson, Rotherhithe-Manufacturing gas.

Dated 5th January, 1854.

2941. J. D. M. Stirli g, Larches, near Birmingham-Manufacture of 22. E. Schischkar, Halifax, and F. C. Calvert, Manchester-Dyeing. iron.

2943. J. James, Cheltenham-Carts for distributing water, &c.

Dated 19th December, 1853.

2947. H. Milward, Redditch-Needles and fish-hooks. (A communication.)

2949. A. E. L. Bellford, 16, Castle street, Holborn-Paddle wheels. (A communication.)

2951. A. E. L. Bellford, 16, Castle street, Holborn-Expressing oil, &c., from fruits, &c. (A communication.) 2953. D. Goldthorp, Cleckheaton-Propeller.

Dated 20th December, 1853.

2955. J. H. Campbell, 1, King's Arms Yard, Coleman street-Cutting corks.

2957. H. E. F. De G. V. Durut, Paris-Bread.

2959. J. Boydell, Gloucester Crescent-Wrought iron frames. 2961. J. Webster, 3, Cornwall road, Stamford street- Oils and varnishes.

2963. J. Burrows, Haigh Foundry, near Wigan-Steam boilers.

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WEEKLY LIST OF PATENTS SEALED.
Sealed 13th January, 1854.

1661. Henry Montague Grover, of Hitcham Rectory-A new method
of finding and indicating the measurements of the sines
and cosines of the arcs of circles or other peripheries.
1663. Thomas Hill Bakewell, of Dishley, Leicestershire-Improve-
ments in ventilating mines.

1667. Arnold Morton, of Cockerill's buildings Bartholemew closeImprovements in the manufacture of paints, pigments, and materials for house painting, paper staining, and decorative purposes generally.

2965. R. B. Huygens, Holland, and 89, Chancery lane-Crushing, &c., 1672. William Henderson, of Bow Common-Improvements in the

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2973. J. Youil, Burton-upon-Trent-Raising liquids, &c. 2975. P. A. Le Comte De Fontaine Moreau, 4, South street, Finsbury, and 39, Rue de l'Echiquier, Paris-Connecting rods. (A communication.)

2977. C. Lewis, Hull-Signal-lamp.

2979. T. Berry, Rochdale-J. Mangnall, Heywood, and J. Chadwick, Heywood-Winding wool, &c.

2981. J. Shaw, Hatton Garden-Pianofortes. (A communication.) Dated 23rd December, 1853.

2983. J. Britten, Birmingham-Girders, &c.

2985. F. Bennoch, Wood street, Cheapside-Coating silk, &c., with gold, &c. (A communication.)

Dated 24th December, 1853.

2987. R. G. Coles, Cheltenham-Locks of fire arms.

1707.

construction of furnaces for the purpose of obtaining products from ores.

William Boggett, of St. Martin's lane, and William Smith, of Margaret street-Improvements in machines for cleaning and polishing knives.

1758. Thomas Buxton, of Malton-Improved mill for grinding. 1767. Ange Louis du Temple de Beaujeu, of Paris, and of 4 South street, Finsbury-Improvements in rotatory engines. 1982. Eugene de Varroc, of Great Chesterfield street-Certain means of depriving caoutchouc of all unpleasant odour, and of imparting to it various agreeable perfumes. George Robinson, of Newcastle upon Tyne-The novel application of the slags or refuse matters obtained during the manufacture of metals.

1995.

2111. Louis Achille Brocot, of Paris-Improved construction of astronomical calendar. 2355. John Elce, of Manchester-Improvements in machinery for preparing and spinning cotton and other fibrous substances. 2400. Charles Peynaud D'Azene, of 35, Essex street, Strand-Improvements in the method of rendering sea water fit for drinking and all other purposes where fresh water is ordinarily used.

2989. G. Goutaret, Paris, and 4, South street, Finsbury-System of 2432. James Garth Marshall and Peter Fairbairn, both of Leespropulsion.

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Improvements in machinery for combing flax, tow, wool, and other fibrous substances.

2557. Joseph Henry Tuck, of Pall Mall-Improved machinery for obtaining and applying motive power, and for raising and forcing fluids.

(A 2590. Edmund Hugh Graham, of Maine, U.S.-Improvements in

3003. J. Moffatt, Heiton-Communication between guard and driver.
3005. W. U. Coates, Ombersley-Rotary engine.
3007. R. Green, Flint Glass Works, Brettell lane-Insulators.
3009. J. Barnes, Church-Dyeing, &c, cotton, &c.

3013. T. Phillips, jun., Sparkbrook, and S. Phillips, Birmingham-
Window-shutters.

Dated 29th December, 1853.

3015. E. Estivant, Givet, France-Copper tubes.
3017. A. F. Rémond, Birmingham-Metallic tubes.
3021. H. C. Vion, Paris, and 16, Castle street, Holborn-Pistons and
stuffing boxes.

Dated 30th December, 1853.
2026. H. C. C. de Ruolz, and A. de Fontenay, Paris-Metallic alloy.
3028. W. Mabon, Ardwick Iron Works, Manchester-Rivetting
machines.

Dated 31st December, 1853.

3030. J. Milner, Stratford-Connecting the rails of railways.
3034. W. Tuxford, Boston-Thrashing machines.
3036. R. Waygood, Newington Causeway-Portable forges.
3038. J. Slater, Salford-Cocks, taps, or valves.
3040. T. Brown, and P. MacGregor, Manchester-Looms.
3042. B. Hunt, Brighton-Motive power.

3044. F. A. Cierville, Paris, and 4, South street, Finsbury-Fire

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firearms.

2603. William Rodger, of 9, Shawfield street, King's road-Improvements in anchors.

2628. Thomas De la Rue, of Bunhill row-Improvement in the manufacture of paper.

2635. Alexander Cuninghame, of Glasgow-Improvements in the manufacture or production of sulphuric acid. 2646. John Hall Brock Thwaites, and William Bird Kerapath, both of Bristol-Improvements in the manufacture of quinine and other alkaloids. 2654. John Ronald, of Paisley-Improvements in fixing colours on yarns and cloths. 2662. John Clare, junior, of 21, Exchange buildings, LiverpoolImprovements in the manufacture of bar and sheet metals; in machinery connected therewith; and in the application of such metals to various useful purposes.

2679. William Taylor, of 16, Park street, Gloucester gate-Improvements in anchors.

2680. James Melville, of Rocbank Works, Lochwinnoch-Improvements in printing textile fabrics and other surfaces. 2682. Moses Poole, of the Avenue road, Regent's park-Improve ments in surface condensors, and in evaporators and heaters for steam engines.

2694. John Gerald Potter and Robert Mills, both of Darwen-Improvements in the manufacture of carpets.

2711. Alfred Bird, of Birmingham-Improvements in apparatus to be employed for the purpose of communicating signals on railway trains and railways; which improvements arc also applicable to other similar purposes.

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6. P. A. le Comte de Fontaine Moreau, 4, South street, Finsbury, 2830. John Mold, of No. 6, Portland terrace, Westmoreland road--and 39, Rue de l'Echiquie:, Paris-Dyeing wool. munication.

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Improvement or addition to augment convenience by transformation and facility the different lines required in the erection or manufacturing edifices or structures by apparatus. tools, or instruments suitable for the different capacities of operatives and general surveying.

No 62. Vol. II.] JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY OF ARTS.

Journal of the Society of Arts.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 27, 1854.

SWINEY BEQUEST.

In accordance with the will of the late Dr. George Swiney, a joint meeting of the members of the College of Physicians and of the Society of Arts, was held in the rooms of the Society, in the afternoon of Friday, the 20th instant, when it was proposed by Mr. Samuel Redgrave, seconded by Mr. J. P. Brown Westhead, and

Resolved unanimously-That the bequest of the late Dr. George Swiney, namely, one hundred pounds, contained in a silver goblet of the same value, to the author of the best published work on Jurisprudence, be adjudged to the work entituled "The Commercial Law of the World," by Mr. Leone Levi.

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A model was exhibited of Parratt's Patent Tubular Life Raft. This raft is composed of two rows of vulcanized india-rubber tubes, enclosed in canvass cases and nettings, the two rows meeting at their ends, and forming, when extended, by means of cross spars, a contrivance which is capable of being rowed like a boat. The tubes are proposed to be always kept inflated, so as to be ready at a moment's notice, and to occupy the interior of a long boat, or any ordinary boat carried on a ship's davits.

The Paper read was

ON LAWS RELATING TO PROPERTY IN DESIGNS AND INVENTIONS,

[Jan. 27, 1854.

perty in intellectual labour, rather than to enter into any elaborate discussion as to the principles on which those laws are founded. It would not be desirable, if practicable, to separate altogether the theoretical from what may be termed the more practical consideration of the subject; the one serves most materially to illustrate the other, as it will be found that what may be termed the natural operations of those laws are of necessity materially modified by defects and difficulties which occur in practice; and the laws relating to property in intellectual labour do not afford any exception to the differences which are invariably found to exist between the theory of every human system of legislation, and the operation of such system in actual practice.

The theory of laws relating to the exclusive enjoyment of intellectual labour, and more especially to that branch of the application of such labour as is exhibited in designs and inventions in the arts and manufactures, has been supposed to present peculiar difficulties, some relating to the origin and foundation of such exclusive rights, others to its mode of enjoyment. It may, however, be doubted, as I have endeavoured to show elsewhere, in my work on the "Policy and Principles of Property in Designs and Inventions," whether the property founded on such rights presents, either in respect of its origin or the principles on which it is founded, any difficulties not common to other species of property. It is perfectly true that this branch of jurisprudence presents a greater diversity of opinion amongst jurists and metaphysicians than most other branches, but these diversities relate rather to the defects of the practical system for the regulation of the creation and mode of enjoyment of such property, than to any difficulties in the subject itself. The general principles upon which this branch of jurisprudence is founded, have been fully considered by me in the work already referred to, and in my works on Designs and Inventions; and it may be more appropriate at a meeting of the Society of Arts to consider the effects and operation of those principles on the progress of arts and manufactures, than to embark in any metaphysical discussion as to their origin or authority. And this would seem specially appropriate to the present occasion, because there have not been wanting occasions when within these walls, or in publications issuing under the authority or sanction of this Society, the existence of such property has been pronounced injurious to those interests which it is the especial object of this Society to pro

mote.

That the Patent Laws, and the kindred laws relating to Designs, must have great influence for good or for evil, no one, I think, can deny. I am not here to contend, nor have I ever contended, that such influence is unmitigated good, still less am I here to represent our existing patent system as all that could be desired, or to deny that the former existing system repealed by the New Patent Law of 1852 was not a disgrace to any civilised community, and sufficient to justify the opinion of those who, judging from the defects and abuses of such a system, were led to deprecate any system of patent laws; but I am now, and have always been, prepared to contend that the recognition and protection to property in intellectual labour, while it is but an act of natural justice to the individual, is the best and wisest policy for the State and for the progress of than for the progress of the arts and manufactures of the knowledge in the highest departments of science no less

country.

It will not be sufficient to refer to the almost universa assent of mankind, and practice of civilized nations, respecting such property. The spirit of inquiry now afloat will examine most properly into first principles and their

AND THE EFFECT OF SUCH LAWS ON THE ARTS AND consequences, and there are not wanting those who, while

MANUFACTURES.

BY THOMAS WEBSTER, M.A., F.R.S, BARRISTER-AT-LAW. On the present occasion it is my desire to call attention to the effect and practical operation, on the progress of knowledge, and on the advancement of the arts and manufactures, of the recognition and protection of pro

they assert a natural right to property in material things, and to the accumulation of property, and to its distribution after the first occupant or possessor has ceased to have any use for it, deny any analogous natural right to the creator and possessor of the products of intellectual labour.

Exception has been taken to the term property, as

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