1871.] Our Patent Laws. 105 



reward for discovering it. We say the discoverer deserves 

 a reward, and gladly would we give one to him who gave 

 us a new fuel. 



Inventors are expected to do all the benevolence, and to 

 give away their lives for the world, whilst men with " real 

 property " enjoy it themselves. If you destroy the property 

 of inventors, the time may come when the title-deeds of 

 other property will be asked for. We fear such a time, and 

 such men as will make the demand ; and we prefer to see 

 property safe, and to respect the feelings of man as fully as 

 we would respect the cannon or the bayonet. Or is this 

 opposition to the property of thinkers the new form that a 

 material philosophy is taking ? Is it denying the existence 

 of all property that is not made of solid matter ; determined 

 to enjoy the material reward of thoughts without itself 

 having the trouble of thinking ? 



We are told that only three per cent of patents are very 

 successful, but if 5000 are taken out annually, that makes 

 150 very successful patents every year, and as they go on 

 for 14 years we have 2100 of this higher class in action at 

 a time, making money, and, of course, giving occupation to 

 many individuals. The owners are all busy men, stimulated 

 by the love of honour and money, and all that money 

 brings. We can scarcely imagine the amount of work to 

 keep 2100 successful patents in motion. They have a power 

 extending to the most distant places, and their influence at 

 home is felt in every household without exception. 



If three per cent be really the amount of very successful 

 patents, let us ask if it is a small amount. If 100 

 young men entered Cambridge with the hope of being 

 mathematicians, do three per cent obtain any honours 

 whatever ? Of 5000 men who write poems, do three per cent 

 ever become known ? Of 100 men in any profession are three 

 per cent made public characters by their talents ? Of 100 men 

 that become medical practitioners, how few are ever known 

 to publish a book, or to advance the science? Of the 

 thousands who have begun chemistry within the last 

 20 years, scarcely five can be got to fill a professor's chair 

 when demanded. Do three per cent of those who enter 

 Parliament ever become distinguished ? To stop short. 

 Three per cent of mankind do not rise above their fellows 

 so as to become prominent, then why should we expect more 

 from patentees ? But the world does expect more, and we 

 believe that even more would be found if the laws were just, 

 for at present they do riot elicit inventions from that class 

 of mind well able to invent but afraid to fight before lawyers. 



VOL. VIII. (O.S.) — VOL. I. (N.S.) P 



