Decisions on Disputed Inventions. 14* 



Akt. xxvi.— decisions on disputed inventions and 



discoveries. 



There are few subjects which come under the notice of the historian 

 of science, which excite so lively an interest as the discussion of conflict- 

 ing claims to valuable inventions and discoveries. Although the rights 

 which are thus brought under review are always those cf Individuals, 

 yet Nations have often descended into the arena, and, on some occasions, 

 even the New World has arrayed itself against the Old, upon a question 

 of scientific history. 



In the progress of human knowledge, the most valuable inventions and 

 discoveries are often completed by different individuals, and at distant 

 intervals. To one we may owe the germ of an original thought ; ano- 

 ther may be employed in bringing it towards maturity, while the 

 genius of a third may be requisite to carry it to the perfection of which 

 it is susceptible. In such cases, which resemble that of the Steam En- 

 gine, it is extremely difficult to apportion to each author his due share of 

 merit ; and it is perhaps unnecessary, as long as history continues, to re- 

 cord the exertions and labours of each competitor. 



In other cases, however, the difficulty of adjudication is not so great. 

 An invention has often been excluded from the history of science, when 

 its importance has been derived from subsequent discoveries, or when it 

 has been recorded in a work which is either too profound to be generally 

 read, or too rare to be generally accessible. When such inventions have 

 been brought forward as new, we must be careful of accusing of plagia- 

 rism the philosopher who announces them. Men who are engaged in 

 similar inquiries are often led to the same views, and even to the same 

 inventions ; and no calumny can be more injurious than that of charging 

 such a person with the most odious of literary crimes, when he is perhaps 

 entitled to the full honour of a second inventor. 



There are circumstances, however, under which a charge of plagiar- 

 ism may be preferred. When a second inventor embraces the earliest 

 opportunity of stating that he has been anticipated, when he openly and 

 fairly discusses the claim of his predecessor to the invention ;■. — then if he 

 has been in the habit of doing justice to others, of acknowledging their 

 merit, and of praising the inventions of his rivals when praise is due, 

 posterity will have no difficulty in assigning to him all the merits of a se- 

 cond inventor, and in adding to that the higher attribute of an honest and 

 liberal mind. But if, on the contrary, he strives to conceal or put down 

 the claim of the first inventor, — if he omits every opportunity of acknow- 

 ledging the anticipation, — if, to (his obstinacy, he adds the general 

 character of grudging every man his share of fame, — if, as an au- 

 thor, he declines to record the labours and discoveries of those whom he 

 places in the list of his enemies or his rivals, — and if, as a teacher, he rc- 

 fusei to explain to the youth under his charge the inventions and discover 



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