J^<^ ACCCTONT OP NEW BOOKS. 



Jn EJfay on tfie Lazo of Patents far new Inventions ; Jo xjthich ar£ 

 prefixed Two Chapters on the general Hiftory of Monopoliest 

 hnd on their IntroduSiwnand Progrefs in England, to the Tvnd 

 flf the Inter-rtgniim : ■with an Appendix containing Copies of 

 the Caveat, Petition, Oath, and other 'Formula, with an ar- 

 runsed Catalogue of all the Pattnts granted from the \ji (f Ju^ 

 nuary 1800, to tlte prefent Tune. ByJoHti Dyer Collier, 

 1803. Longman and Rees, Ro)al 8vo. 



One of the moft obvious expedients for taxing the induftry 

 of man in focial hfe, but at the fame tiine one of the moft per- 

 nicious, confifts in monopolies. Accordingly we find in all 

 governments that this refource is more or lefs adopfed, and 

 trades, manufadures, and various operations^ become confined 

 to the excutive power, or what is worfe, to the private fa-* 

 vourites of men of influence. A long feries of years have 

 elapfed fince this nuifance wasaboliflied in our country, b)' the 

 llatute of James, and the monopolies that yet remain, are 

 under the dired fanSIon of law, and fo few, that a common 

 obferver would be difpofed to fay we have none. 



A clafs of monopolies which has conftituted the fubje6l of 

 a claufe of exception in that a6l, confifts in the fole working 

 and making of new manufa6lures for a limited time under royal 

 grant, to the firfl and true inventor thereof. It has been a 

 fubje6l of difcuffion whether even this exclufive privilege which 

 is often made the inflrument of public deception, and fome* 

 times of oppreffion by wealthy Individuals to crufli the induftry 

 of ingenious men by expenfive legal procefles under letters 

 patent, for objeds of public poflTeffion ; it has often been dif- 

 puted whetker this exclufive privilege be a benefit or an evil. 

 The facts I think are, that many private fortunes are loft, in 

 fupporting pretended inventors, or in bringing real ones into 

 effed, and that our arts, trade and fciences are greatly bene- 

 fitted by this laft operation : — 



The fubjed of patents and monopolies in general Is there- 

 fore of great intereft and pradical importance, and I have no 

 doubt the public will receive this compendium as a valuable 

 addition to their means of information refpeding them. 



