sharing, without price, the fruits of their labors with others,
it must be apparent to the dullest observer that the wonderful
growth of the useful arts in this country is due, thus far, to
the protection given by our Government to property in
inventions--a property as sacred as any other class of property,
and whose value is determined by the same general law of supply
and demand.

"It may be safely said that two thirds of the manufacturing
interests of the country are based upon patents, and the welfare
of all such interests are intimately connected with the welfare
of the patent system. During the past seven years a larger
number of applications for patents were filed and patents
granted than during the entire seventy-eight preceding years,
reaching back to the enactment of the first patent law. The
needs of the Office have advanced in proportion to this sudden
and vast increase of work, but have been but partly supplied.
Nay, in fact, its already scanty force and accommodations have
been actually reduced at a time when most required. If these
vast interests, and the future promotion of science and the
useful arts are to be encouraged, a liberal recognition must be
made of the wants of this Office.

"The Examining Corps, the duties in which are most arduous and
exacting, comprises gentlemen of legal, as well as scientific,
attainments. It should be re-inforced by more of the same
character. They should be relieved, by legislation, of continual
embarrassment by reason of meager salaries and fears of removal
incident to merely political changes. The Office would then be
spared the continual loss of its most experienced and efficient
men."

* * * * *

THE IRON TRADE IN ENGLAND.

The British _Mercantile Gazette_ of January 15 states that the
situation and prospects of the iron trade have not materially improved
in the month of December, but some week or two must elapse yet before
trade returns to its regular channels. In the north of England the
tone of the market is tolerably cheerful, and prospects, though still
vague, are considered encouraging. Makers of pig iron go into the next
quarter with a good supply of orders on their books, and merchants and
consumers are desirous of buying over the first half of the year.
Notwithstanding the great depression which has