$76 Method of Obtaining Patents . 
Before an application be made for a patent* I would 
advise the inventor to examine well the Dictionaries of 
the Arts and Sciences* the Repertory of the Arts* and 
other publications that treat of the mechanic arts* to en- 
deavour to ascertain if the invention be new ; also to 
make inquiry of scientific characters* whether or not the 
invention or discovery be practicable. These previous 
inquiries will sometimes prevent great trouble* and save 
the expense of much time* labour* and money; for a pa- 
tent does not confer rights where just claims do not ex- 
ist ; and* as there is at present no discretionary power to 
refuse a patent* even where no just claim exists* it may 
be proper to caution the purchaser of patent rights against 
the supposition* that the invention patented is always va- 
luable* or new* or that it interferes with no previous pa- 
tent. The respectable names of the President* the Se- 
cretary of State* and the Attorney General* are requisite 
to give validity to a patent; but ought never to be consi- 
dered* in any degree* as an evidence of the originality or 
utility of the invention. The issuing of patents is ground- 
ed not only on a desire to promote the progress of useful 
arts* but also to prevent the loss of valuable secrets ; for 
many have been buried with the inventors* previous to 
the organization of this system of protection for the pro- 
perty of talent* mind* and genius. Formerly the arcana 
of any profession were withheld from the Tyro; his ini- 
tiation was gradual and secret- and the caution with 
which inventors worked* to prevent the infringement of 
unprotected rights* confined many important inventions 
to limits too narrow to materially benefit either the in- 
ventors or the world; at present the law grants a mono- 
poly to the inventor* for a limited time* provided the art* 
invention* discovery* or machine be duly explained* de- 
posited* and recorded* for the benefit of mankind* as soon 
as the time limited has expired; and the patent is not 
