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of Edinburgh^ Session 1865 - 66 . 
as the auroral tint which gives a temporary glory to a rising or a 
setting sun. But grant to the favoured genius of copyright its 
highest claims, and appreciate loyally its most fascinating stores, 
their value is shared, and largely shared, with that of the type, the 
paper, and the press, by which these stores have been multplied 
and preserved. The relative value of books and inventions may be 
presented under another phase. Withdraw from circulation the 
secular productions of the press that are hoarded in all the libraries 
of the world, and society will hardly suffer from the change. With- 
draw the gifts with which art and science have enriched us — the 
substantial realities through which we live, and move, and enjoy 
our being — and society collapses into barbarism. 
Under the influence of views like these, the friends of inventors 
have continued to watch over their interests, and to prosecute im- 
provements on the Patent Laws. In this cause some of the lead- 
ing members of the British Association, the Inventors’ Institute, 
and the Social Science Congress, have been specially active, and 
through their exertions the subject was brought before the House 
of Commons in the last session of Parliament. In the discussions 
which took place in the House and in the Commission, the most 
startling opinions were advanced, and by some persons received 
with favour. The entire abolition of Patent Eights was gravely 
proposed, and the Eeport of the Commission was not submitted to 
the consideration of Parliament, on the ground that that funda- 
mental question should be previously decided. 
Had this proposal to rob the citizen of the most sacred of his 
rights been accompanied with any suggestion that Grovernment 
should give equitable rewards for successful inventions, even paten- 
tees might have welcomed the change ; but no such suggestions have 
been made, and, judging from the past history of British science 
and art, we cannot indulge the hope of any such act of national 
liberality. It is under despotic governments alone that national 
benefactors are rewarded and honoured. Where mammon is in the 
ascendant, and the demigods of trade and commerce influence 
legislation, intellectual eminence must look to other lands for its 
recognition and its patronage. The present raid against the 
patent laws is the direct and acknowledged result of the un- 
generous influence of trade. The shortness of the tenure of 
