Patent

something that stands open or expanded: thus a leaf is said to be patent when it stands nearly at right angles with the stalk. Parent, or Letrers Parent, are writings sealed with the great seal of England, by which a man is authorised to do, or to enjoy, any thing which of himself he could not. They are so called on account of their form, being open, with their seal affixed, ready to be exhibited for the confirmation of the authority delegated by them. Letters patent for new in- - ventions are obtained by petition to the crown: they go through many offices, and are usually granted for the term of 14 years, upon condition that the patentee specify his invention or improvement, in such a manner that the public may receive the benefit of it, and may be -at liberty to practise or employ such contrivance at the expiration of the exclusive privilege. If, however, it should be found or proved, that the patentee’s claims are not supported b Originality; or, that he has wilfully disguised his invention, by giving a confused and erfoneous specification, the privilege becomes void; and any person is permitted to adopt and make use of it with impunity. Many patents, indeed, are believed to have been surreptitiously obtained by speculative persons; who, from sordid, lucrative motives, swear themselves to be the inventors of things which they have read in foreign books, such as are not in general circulation. ‘These unprincipled adventurers ought to be rigorously examined, whether they have any, and what pretensions to an art or manufacture, of which they profe to be adepts. Thus, it would be easily discovered, that they are plagiarists, and impostors, who evade the provisions made by law. patent at the lowest cost, and when no opposition is given to it, will, for fees of office, specification, . cost for the three branches of the United Kingdom about three hundred pounds. The only complete published repository of specifications of patent inventions is the Repertory of Arts and Manufactures, now extending to several octavo volumes: it is published monthly, and contains descriptions of many highly curious and important inventions: Abridgements of several of these specifications may be seen in the Retrospect of Discoveries, the Monthly Magazine, and a few other periodical publications.