PASSING OF THE BRISTOL CHINA BILL. 251 



been moved by the exertions of Wedgwood and his friends, 

 the Bill passed the House of Commons, and was sent up 

 to the Lords without amendment. The " case " just given, 

 along with extracts from the Bill, with comments, showing, 

 among other things, that the passing of the Act, as originally 

 framed, conferred the full benefits of Cookworthy's patent 

 on Champion, without compelling him to enroll anew any 

 specification of his process of manufacture, was printed for 

 circulation among the members of the Upper House. With 

 reference to this important point, it was shown that Cook- 

 worthy, having enrolled his specification, and having after- 

 wards assigned the patent right to Champion, the Bill 

 enacted that all and every the powers, liberties, privileges, 

 authorities, and advantages which in and by the said letters 

 patent were originally granted to the said William Cook- 

 worthy, shall be held, exercised, and enjoyed by the said 

 Kichard Champion for the present term of fourteen years, 

 granted by the said letters patent, and after the expiration 

 thereof, for the further term of fourteen years, in as full, 

 ample, and beneficial a manner as the said Richard Champion 

 could have held the same in case the said letters patent had 

 originally been granted to him. The view of the Bill is 

 manifestly to confirm to Mr. Champion the letters patent 

 for the present term of fourteen years, as well as to grant 

 him fourteen years more. Had it been intended only to 

 enlarge the term, and that the letters patent should have 

 stood upon their own ground, such words of confirmation 

 would not have been necessary ; or if they had been thought 

 so, they should have been succeeded by words to the efi'ect 

 following : " Subject, nevertheless, to the same provisos, 

 conditions, limitations, and agreements, as the said William 

 Cookworthy held and enjoyed the same before the date of the 

 said assignment" But these being omitted, and the Bill 

 having stated that the " said William Cookworthy had 

 described the nature of his said invention and the manner 

 in which the same is to be performed/' it is evident that 

 the design of the Bill is not only to confirm absolutely the 



