518 Thoughts Suggested by Patent Rights. [October, 



partially. The inventor who was assisted by fashion would 

 make his money at once; the man who would make a 

 p erf eel: filter, supposing such a thing to be found, would 

 probably struggle for years. It would seem very unfair to 

 leave the latter to be robbed as soon as he should have by 

 great expense taught the public, and it does not seem fair to 

 treat the two differently. Besides, if fashion may treat one 

 well for a while, it may leave him with equal suddenness. 

 To our mind, the very least additional benefit that could be 

 granted to patentees would be a readier mode of obtaining 

 an extension of the time. The enquiries regarding exten- 

 sion of patent right do not satisfy. It is extremely difficult 

 to get the truth fully told, and science has but little to say 

 in courts of law, or says it with a small subdued voice 

 easily silenced, because it has no recognised legal position 

 — a mere tool tossed between good and bad, instead of 

 a great and benevolent power, more than national, more 

 than world-wide. Perhaps its cultivators are chiefly to 

 blame; who can tell? An objection to patents is often 

 raised by those whom we may call cosmopolitans. Their 

 ideas are alluring ; they lead us to large and unselfish 

 thoughts, and when we think of " the great world spinning 

 for ever down the ringing grooves of change," our small 

 every-day duties become invisible, — we almost imagine that 

 they may as well be left undone, and then we come to a 

 sudden stop. If we all thought so, of what character would 

 be the changes in the world ; they might be backward for 

 man, — it is only by minute attention to details that great 

 establishments are kept in order. This is enough ; the man 

 who works for his fellow-creatures over all the world with 

 equal ardour -will show a small result of his labours; expe- 

 rience shows that he will do more by cultivating more care- 

 fully a smaller portion around him to make it an example 

 and a power. No men have done more good to the world 

 than patriots whose aims have been pure and their views con- 

 fined entirely to their own country. The reason is simple 

 enough. Man is small and his life short, and he does 

 best who does his work most perfectly ; if perfectly, it is 

 necessarily in a confined sphere. There are a few men 

 whose office seems more brilliant — men who bind together 

 the various attempts of individuals, communities, and 

 nations ; but this is only possible when the work at home is 

 well done. 



We have little more to add, and we have said nothing 

 that had not in spirit been said elsewhere ; but as desired, 

 we thought on the subject for a little, knowing that it 



