Forsyth against Manton, in Chancery. An application for an Injunction to prevent the violation of Forsyth's Patent of 1807, for his method of giving Fire to Artillery and all kinds of Fire Arms. Heard 15th July 1816. Application refused, from doubts of the validity of the patent.

The invention was the application of percussion power for priming artillery and fire arms, by introducing it into a hollow cylinder, communicating with the touch-hole, and inserting a moveable plug or stopper into the cylinder, so as to inclose the powder between the bottom of the cylinder, and the end of the plug; by striking a blow on the plug, the powder can be ignited, and the piece fired off; the close plug preventing the fire of the percussion power from dissipating its force.

Lord Chancellor Eldon said, "The application of these chemical combustibles to the discharge of fire-arms by percussion, is not new; and I think it would be difficult to say, that this particular method of applying percussion, to ignite such chemical combustibles, for the purpose of discharging fire-arms, is a subject for a patent. An action should be brought at law, and then an injunction may be moved for."

Forsyth against Reviere. An Action for Infringement of Forsyth's Patent of 1807. Tried in the Court of King's Bench. Verdict for the Patentee.

It was held, that if several persons simultaneously discover the same thing, the publisher, or party who first communicates it to the public, under the protection of a patent, becomes the legal inventor, and is entitled to the benefits to be derived from the exclusive use of the invention.

George against Beaumont, Wackerbank and Martineau, in Chancery. An application to dissolve an Injunction previously issued, to restrain the Plaintiff from invading Constant's Patent of 1812 (assigned to Beaumont and Wackerbank), and Martineau's Patent of 1815, for methods of Refining Sugar by means of Charcoal, those parties having combined their interests under both Patents. Heard 10th August 1815. Injunction dissolved.

The injunction had been granted on the statement, that Mr. George had treated with the patentees, for the purchase of a licence to practise their patent; and having under that pretext, watched the process of refining sugar by means of charcoal, in their manufactory, he afterwards put it in practice for himself, without licence. It was now contended, that the refining properties of charcoal had been known before the patents, and therefore they could not be maintained.

The Lord Chancellor said, he had generally been of opinion that patentees were hardly dealt by, but he wonld by no means urge the right of patents beyond their lawful limits. The patent

might give too extensive a power to the holders, and great inconvenience might arise from imperfect or doubtful interpretation of their rights. Whether the patents were good or not, must be determined at law, for it was only in a few special cases that the Court could properly enter on such subjects. The patents must be protected till they are found bad. The mode in which the plaintiff had obtained information, whilst affecting to treat for a licence, could not be justified. If the patents should be determined good, damages might be recovered, not only by the patentees, but by the persons who had obtained licences from them. The injunction was dissolved, and an account ordered to be kept, of the extent to which plaintiff practised the inventions, until the validity of the patents could be tried at law.

Note.-This was compromised, and no trial took place. Mr. Martineau's process of refining sugar by animal charcoal has since come into general use, at first under licences, but afterwards the patent was generally infringed, and the patentee, being engaged in other business, abandoned it, rather than incur the expense and vexation of law proceedings against a whole trade.

Macfarlane against Price. An action for Infringement of M'Gregor and M'Farland's Patent 1808, for Improvements in the construction of Umbrellas and Parasols. Tried in the King's Bench, 20th February 1816, before Lord Ellenborough. Plaintiff Nonsuited.

Lord Ellenborough: The specification ought to state what is new, and what is old, so that a person by reading it, ought to be warned against the use of the particular invention. This specification does not say what is new and what was old, but it comprises that which is old, as well as that which is new, and it cannot be collected from the whole, in what the improvement consists.

Lord Cochrane against Smethurst. An issue was directed by the Lord Chancellor to try the validity of Lord Cochrane's Patent of 1813," for a method or methods of more completely Lighting Cities, Towns, and Villages." Tried in the King's Bench, 22d February 1816, before Mr. Justice Le Blanc. Plaintiff Nonsuited.

The invention was a lamp for lighting out of doors, the flame being inclosed within a glass bowl or half-globe, with a vertical chimney placed exactly over the flame, to cause a draft and carry out the smoke, and also an air-pipe to introduce fresh atmospheric air, from the outside of the glass, and project it immediately upon the flame, at each side thereof, whereby a constant change of air is occasioned, to maintain the combustion. The merit and novelty of the lamp was proved, and that the defendant had adopted it from plaintiff.

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Mr. Justice Le Blanc : I am of opinion that the patent cannot be maintained; from the specification the invention appears to

consist in the improvement of an old street lamp, by a new combination of parts known before. The patent is too general in its terms; it should have been for an improved street-lamp, and not for a method of lighting cities, towns and villages." Nonsuit.

The King against Cutler. A scire facias to repeal Cutler's Patent of 1815, for Improvements in Fire-Grates or Stoves. Tried in the King's Bench, June 1816, before Lord Ellenborough. Verdict for the Crown.

This was a stove-grate for apartments, having a close chamber beneath the fire-place, to contain a sufficient quantity of coals for a whole day, that mass of coals forming the bottom of the fireplace, by winding up a handle whenever the fire requires fuel, all the coals in the chamber can be raised up, so as to elevate a portion thereof into the lower part of the fire-place; therefore, instead of throwing raw coals on the fire, the fuel is supplied under the fire, and the fire advances downwards, whereby all the smoke that is emitted by the raw coals below, ascends through the fire, and is consumed; the coals thus become converted into coke, before they are actually ignited.

New Patents Sealed, 1831.

To Andrew Ure, of Finsbury Square, in the parish of Saint Luke's, in the county of Middlesex, doctor in medicine, for his invention of an improved apparatus for evaporating syrups and saccharine juices.-22d September -6 months, for inrolment of specification.

To William Bingham, of Saint Mary Hall, Esq. and William Duke, gunmaker, both of Oxford, for their invention of certain improvements on fire arms of different descriptions. 24th September-6 months.

To Henry Hope Werninck, of North Terrace, Camberwell, in the county of Surrey, gentleman, in consequence of a communication made to him by a certain foreigner residing abroad, he is in possession of an invention for improvements in apparatus or methods for preserving lives persons and property when in danger by shipwreck,

of

by speedily converting boats or small vessels of ordinary description into life boats, and other apparatus or means applicable to the same objects. -24th September-6 months.

To James Lang, of Greenock, North Britain, flax dresser, for his invention of certain improvements in machinery for spreading, drawing, roving or spinning flax, hemp, and other fibrous substances, dressed or undressed. -24th September-2 months.

To Joseph Gillott, of Birmingham, in the county of Warwick, steel pen maker, for his invention of an improvement in the making or manufacturing of metallic pens.-27th September-2 months.

To John Myatt, of Tabernacle Walk, Finsbury Square, in the county of Middlesex, tailor, for his invention of an article to be worn on the feet, as a substitute for pattens or clogs, which he denominates Myatt's Health Preserver. -27th September-2 months.

To Oliver St. George, of Great Cumberland Street, in the county of Middlesex, Esq. in consequence of a communication made to him by a certain foreigner residing abroad, he is in possession of an invention of certain improvements in machinery for acquiring power in tides or currents.-28th September-6 months.

To Miles Berry, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the parish of Saint Andrew's, Holborn, in the county of Middlesex, engineer and mechanical draftsman, in consequence of a communication made to him by M. Jean Nicholas Senechal, Ingenieur des ponts et Chaussees, residing at Versailles, in the kingdom of France, he is in possession of an invention or discovery of certain improvements in the boilers or generators of steam and other vapour, and in engines to be worked by steam or vapour for propelling or actuating machinery on land, and boats,

vessels, or other floating bodies on water, and also in the mode of condensing such steam or vapour.-28th September-6 months.

To John Heathcote, of Tiverton, in the county of Devon, lace manufacturer, for his invention of certain improvements in the machinery used for the making of bobbin or twist lace net, whereby net and other fabrics may be produced.-3d October-6 months.

To Samuel Crosley, of Cottage Lane, City Road, in the county of Middlesex, gas-meter manufacturer, for his invention of an improved gas-meter.-3d October-6 months.

To Daniel Dunscomb Bradford, a citizen of the United States of North America, but now residing in Dorset Place, in the parish of Saint Mary-le-bone, in the county of Middlesex, in consequence of a communication made to him by Solomon Andrews, residing at Amboy, New Jersey, in the said United States of North America, he is in possession of an invention of certain improvements in lamps. -4th October-6 months.

To Peter Young, of Fenchurch Street, in the city of London, rope and sail maker, in consequence of a communication made to him by a certain foreigner residing abroad, he is in possession of an invention of a new mode of manufacturing mangel-wurzel, for the purpose of producing various known articles of commerce.-6th October -6 months.

To John Christopher, of New Bond Street, in the city of London, merchant, for his invention of an improvement in clothes buttons.-7th October-6 months.

To William Drake, of Bedminster, near the city of Bristol, tanner, for his invention of an improvement or improvements in tanning hides and skins.-7th October6 months.