506 Thoughts Suggested by Patent Rights. [October, 



and we have a central University of London seeking as 

 much as possible to make all men of the same standard, 

 expecting thereby to carry out the utilitarian national 

 method and obtain the most out of every man. 



We object to all the modes of treating men if carried out 

 singly. We objecl: to justice dealt out with mathematical 

 accuracy — for in that case who would stand. We objecl; to an 

 intrusive mercy which would weaken the minds of men, and 

 which elicits that abundant false sentiment too often used as 

 an argument against sentiment the most ennobling. We objecl: 

 to measure the happiness of nations by their wealth and by 

 their power ; and we objecl: to any mode which turns many 

 individual minds in one direction unless for some special 

 purpose, instead of leaving them to develope naturally ; we 

 are not creators, and do not know what is best for the whole 

 race as well as each individual. 



Every one must see the wonderful advantage gained by 

 the union of many individuals for one purpose. We admire 

 it even when it is connected with a debased machinery 

 which makes railways for the purpose of benefitting a 

 few individuals, because nature is higher than they, and the 

 community gains in the end. All men have agreed that 

 .ZEsop's bundle of sticks teaches a lesson not to be gain- 

 sayed. But there are many of us who see in great combi- 

 nations too much one-sidedness of thought, and prefer 

 to see combination confined to such departments as cannot 

 be managed by a few. 



Applying these ideas to the Patent question, it would 

 appear as if there existed an opportunity of encouraging 

 many centres of thought and action, and of counteracting 

 the too great unity of thought and feeling, introducing 

 itself by our latest forms of teaching and examining, — a 

 system apparently borrowed from France, where it has given 

 an unmanageable amount of activity to the capital, and done 

 much to annihilate the independence of the provinces and of 

 individuals. 



It is our duty to encourage individuals in the course 

 of thought which is peculiar to them if it offers any advan- 

 tage to mankind. We are in danger of directing the 

 national mind. Direction is good for the young to a certain 

 extent, for a nation it is dangerous ; if it is against the 

 natural impulses it causes curious twists and misshapen 

 growths. Who knows except by looking at the past the 

 probable course of humanity ? And who can draw the line 

 of the past straight so as to know its direction ? And who 

 knows whether nature intends that the path shall be 



