198 REPORT—1868. 
On Patent Monopoly as affecting the Encouragement, Improvement, and Pro- 
gress of Science, Arts, and Manufactures. By Henry Driroxs, 0.2, 
LED. Gt: 
The object of this paper was to show that patent monopoly had for centuries 
been conceded to inventors, but that up to the early part of the eighteenth century 
inventors were not bound to describe any particular kind of machine or process, 
and that the first descriptive specification dates no earlier than 3rd October, 1711. 
Especial notice was taken of the abuses of the system during the reign of Queen 
Elizabeth, and the successive improvements in Patent Law from the accession of 
James I. to the present time. As inventors can have no protection beyond a 
patented or a secret process, it is shown that secret inventions are a truer monopoly 
than patent right affords, while at the same time secrets are open to the practice of 
every species of deception. Tables were exhibited of Patent Inventions chrono- 
logically arranged, from March 1617 (14 James I.) to October 1852, when the first 
great Improvement took place in reducing patent fees to at least one-third of their 
usual previous cost; and reign by reign patent progress bore no comparison with 
what is made in that of the present reign. There were only 4 patents per annum 
during the reign of James I., 62 per annum in that of George III, and not above 
297 per annum up to 1855, or twenty-three years of Victoria, whereas they now 
rate at 5000 per annum. Ly other tables was shown the number of patents from 
the eighteenth to the nineteenth century obtained by various eminent patentees, 
all contributing to show the decided advantages reaped by arts, science, and manu- 
factures through improved liberal patent laws. 
— se 
