166 REPORT—1858, - 
long, I trust, stimulate our own Government to do the like. Nothing short 
of this in the way of publication can give permanent satisfaction.” 
A free library and reading-room has been opened at the office of the Com- 
missioners of Patents, containing a large collection of works of reference, 
which the same Report states to be numerously attended by professional 
men, the agents of foreign and provincial inventors, and by practical mecha- 
nics and operatives; and Mr. Woodcroft has collected a large number of 
portraits of inventors and of models, illustrative of the history and progress 
of invention, which it may be hoped, at no distant period, will form a prin- 
cipal object in a national gallery of inventors and museum of inventions. 
These and other undertakings, well suited to promote the advance of prac- 
tical science and the interest of inventors, afford legitimate objects for the ex- 
penditure of the surplus funds levied on inventors ; but when ample provision 
shall have been made for these objects, there will be a considerable annual 
surplus. 
The amount paid by patentees during the last year was upwards of 
£83,000; and after the commencement of the payment of £100 at the 
expiration of the seventh year, the amount levied on inventors will not be 
found less than £100,000 per annum; a sum, which, as being levied on 
inventors and inventions, may reasonably be expected to be expended on 
objects in which inventors have some interest. 
In reference to this braneh of the subject, the following questions would 
appear to arise for consideration :— 
1. Should the present scale of payment be maintained or reduced, so as 
to leave no great surplus beyond what may be necessary for the official 
expenses P 
2. If the present scale be maintained, how should the surplus be appro- 
priated ? 
It appears that the second payment of £50 before the end of the third 
year is not made in respect of more than about one-fourth of the whole 
number of patents issued, that payment being made on about 500 out of 
2000 patents, so that 1500 are permitted to lapse; the cost of which in 
money to the patentees cannot be taken at less than £75,000, in addition 
to the expenditure of time and labour on the respective inventions. Can any- 
thing be done to diminish this loss beyond affording every facility for access 
to information as to what has been done before, and the improved education 
of the people ? 
In addition to these considerations and suggestions in connexion with the 
new system as recently established, and which are of a fiscal character, 
there are some other questions deeply affecting the interests of inventors 
and the advancement of practical science, which it would not be proper to 
close this Report without adverting to. 
The Patent Law Reform of 1852 was never regarded as a final measure. 
It was but a first instalment obtained under great difficulty; it only laid 
the foundation of the superstructure yet to be raised, ‘The following import- 
ant questions of—J. improved protection to the property so created ; 
2. the amendment of existing patents and specifications, so as to save what 
is really new and useful according to the amendment ofthe Patent Law as 
effected by Lord Brougham in 1835; 3. the confirmation of an invention 
reinvented and introduced into successful use, according to the principle of 
the confirmation of rights effected by the same noble Lord; 4. the exten- 
sion of the term of patents which have not yielded adequate remuneration to 
the inventor; 5. reward to a meritorious inventor, who from causes wholly be- 
-yond his control, has been a great loser by, or derived no benefit from a meri- 
