44 English Patents granted from 1675 to 1829. 



last session, to examine evidence on the important subject 

 of " Patents for Inventions,''' and much valuable information 

 was obtained from the able witnesses examined. The advanced 

 period of the session prevented the Committee from reporting 

 only the minutes of the evidence, but at the same time recom- 

 mending earnestly to the House to resume the inquiry early 

 next session. We may therefore hope, that the really inven- 

 tive talent of our country will yet be protected from those 

 mercenary and unprincipled invaders, who, without hesitation 

 or mercy, so frequently rob unprotected genius of the honest 

 fruits of its industry and labour. 



A comparison of the average grants of patents in the differ- 

 ent reigns is not unworthy of investigation. The busy activity 

 of our own times much more than doubles what was regarded 

 as an era of great commercial activity and mechanical invention 

 in the reign of George III. and assumes a very high and lofty 

 character when compared with the reigns of two preceding 

 monarchs of that name. The reign of Anne affords the least 

 numerical average, and the annual increase of patents soon 

 after the accession of William and Mary is not unworthy of 

 attention. The number granted in 1825, — a year so replete 

 with interest in history of speculation and adventurous enter- 

 prizes of all kinds, will not be looked at by the philosophic 

 observer of men and things, without the deepest feelings of 

 astonishment and regret. 



