been partially successful; such as causing cold air to enter between the eye and periphery of the stones, for cooling, &c., The idea, however, seems to have prevailed that the progress of the grain and flour could not be materially hastened through the mill by artificial means without preventing it from being thoroughly ground; and the fact seems to have been overlooked, that the burning does not result from the heat of the stones so much as from the length of time the flour is kept in contact with them. Portions of the flour are frequently found clogged between the stones for a considerable time, and thus, becoming burnt, affect the whole mass, To obviate all these inconveniences, the patentee causes an artificial current of air, by any convenient means, (exhaustion is preferred,) to pass in at the eye and out at the periphery of the stones, in such a manner as constantly to sweep the whole mass between the grinding surfaces directly towards the periphery, while the stones are running at very high velocities. The speed of the stones secures thorough grinding, and the currents of air prevent all clogging, and cause the flour to pass so rapidly between the stones as effectually to avoid burning. So entirely is the danger of burning obviated, that a current of hot air may be substituted for cold, and by this substitution the flour is so thoroughly dried, as it passes through the mill, that the ordinary process of kiln-drying is wholly dispensed with. The process appears unobjectionable, though collateral evils not appaparent may attend it. It is, however, well worthy of experiment, for if successful its introduction will nearly double the present results of flouring establishments, and more perfectly insure the quality of the flour. : Patents have been granted this year for improvements in bolting machines. They very much resemble machines formerly in use. Several patents have been granted for grinding and crushing apparatus. In one of the mills patented the bed grinder is spherical, and the moveable grindgr is concave, to fit with an opening through the top for the feed. The shaft of this grinder has an eccentric connexion with the shaft from which it derives motion, which gives it a vibrating as well as a rotary motion; and a similar motion is of course communicated to the grinder. In shaping and dressing burr mill-stones, the fragments which are: broken off have heretofore been regarded as useless, although the material is of the most approved texture for grinding. Letters patent have been granted this year for grinders made of these fragments. They are laid in hard cement around the interior surface of a conical frustrum, and the whole surface is properly dressed to fit a corresponding core. The frustrum. and the core constitute the mill. As the mill becomes worn by use, the cement, being the softest, will wear faster than the stone, and thus preserve that unevenness of surface necessary for grinding. The grinders. may be made in other forms, retaining the same general character. * * I will notice one other mill for crushing and pressing sugar cane, which appears to be important, and is described in the following extract from . the patent: * “The usual method of erushing came is to pass it between rollers ar. ranged with two on one horizontal plane, and a third making pressure on and between them'; and as the cane is of a spongy texture, the moment it is relieved from the pressure of the rollers, it expands and takes up muchof the saccharine matter by suction and capillary attraction; and to avoid this difficulty, a second set of rollers have been combined with the firstset, toireérush the cane after it has passed from the first; but experience. ‘has demonstrated that this will not do, for, after the cane has been crushed by passing between the first set, it forms a very thin layer, which, if ‘passed to the second set in that condition, will be ground or cut through by the pressure of the rollers, instead of being simply crushed or squeezed to throw out the saccharine matter. To obviate this difficulty is the object of my invention, which consists in so connecting the two sets of rollers as to cause the crushed cane to pass to the second set in a considerable body or thickness, to prevent the rollers from cutting or grinding it through, by so combining the two sets of rollers as that the cane shall be presented in the second set in a body much thicker than when delivered by the first set.” Several patents have been granted this year for improvements in horsepowers. Some of the patentees have aimed at compactness; others have sought convenient portability; others have sought to obviate inconveniences arising from violent shocks; and others have seemed to aim, in the abstract, at any thing new. It is unnecessary to give a detailed aco: of these patents, or to dwell longer upon inventions belonging to this class.

MISCELLANEOUS,

A considerable number of patents have been granted this year which are not properly comprehended in any of the foregoing classes, some of which deserve notice. Patents have been granted for improvements in pulleys, combs, traps, fish-hooks, life preservers, fire-escapes, brush machinery, machinery used in the manufacture of tobacco, &c., which do not require a particular description. . Letters patent have been granted this year for an improved mode of conveying, cleaning, and assorting coal. It is applicable only when the coal is found at a considerable elevation above the point to which it is to be conveyed. The coal is placed in an inclined conductor, having at proper points grates or openings for the escape of impurities and for the separation of different sizes of coal. A large quantity of water is then let into the conductor, which sweeps the mass along; and the impurities escape through the above-mentioned openings as the mass passes, and the smaller coal drops through these grates. Letters patent have also been granted for an improved enunciator, for use in hotels, &c. One bell only is used, and the machinery is compact and not easily deranged. The enunciators heretofore in use, with one bell, have been so constructed as to show the number of the room where the bell is rung; but each successive ring of the bell hides or drops the number previously shown, perhaps, before it has received attention. In the enunciator patented this year the ringing of the bell does not affect any number previously shown, but it constantly remains visible until the attendant drops or covers it. The simple turning of a crank hides all numbers previously shown. This enunciator for large hotels appears to possess advantages over those now in use. A very beautiful and perfect sewing machine has been patented this year, which presents much originality and evinces greatingenuity. The following extract from the patent sufficiently sets forth its characteristics; it cannot be here presented in all its details: “In sewing a seam with my machine two threads are employed, one of

which threads is carried through the cloth by means of a curved needle, the pointed end of which is to pass through said cloth; the needle used has the eye that is to receive the thread within a small distance, say an eighth of an inch, of its inner or pointed end. The other or outer end of the needle is held by an arm that vibrates on a pivot or joint pin, and the curvature of the needle is such as to correspond with the length of the arm as its radius. When the thread is carried through the cloth, which may be done to the distance of about three-fourths of an inch, the thread will be stretched above the curved needle, something in the manner of a bowstring, leaving a small open space between the two. A small shuttle, carrying a bobbin filled with silk or thread, is then made to pass entirely through this open space, between the needle and the thread which it carries; and when the shuttle is returned, which is done by means of a picker staff or shuttle-driver, the thread which was carried in by the needle is surrounded by that received from the shuttle; and as the needle is drawn out, it forces that which was received from the shuttle into the body of the cloth ; and, as this operation is repeated, a seam is formed which has on each side of the cloth the same appearance as that given by stitching; with this peculiarity, that the thread shown on one side of the cloth is exclusively that which was given out by the needle, and the thread seen on the other side is exclusively that which was given out by the shuttle. It will, therefore, be seen that a stitch is made at every back and forth movement of the shuttle. The two thicknesses of cloth that are to be sewed are held upon pointed wires, which project out from a metallic plate, like the teeth of a comb, but at a considerable distance from each other—say three-fourths of an inch, more or less; these pointed wires sustaining the cloth, and answering the purpose of ordinary basting. The metallic plate from which these wires project has numerous holes through it, which answer the purpose of rack-teeth in enabling the plate to be moved forward, by means of a pinion, as the stitches are taken. The distance to which said plate is moved, and consequently the length of the stitches, may be regulated at pleasure.” . . It is proper here to remark that several patents have heretofore been granted for sewing machines, but none of them operate in a similar manner, nor produce a similar result. The inventor has not followed the footsteps of his predecessors, but has struck out a track of his own; and it would be difficult, by any means heretofore known, to sew as fast or as well as can be done by this machine. * * I must here close my remarks upon the improvements developed at my desk, during the current year. I have not referred to improvements patented in foreign countries, however prominent and important they may be, for the obvious reason that I have had ample occupation with those which have been patented here. The history of this office for several years, in addition to a great and steady increase of inventions, presents also the fact, always observable in the progress of the arts, that while some classes are receiving numerous and important additions, others appear to receive little or no attention; or, if efforts are made towards their improvement, they fail of success. But succeeding years produce an entire revolution; and those branches whose rapidity of progress had astonished the world, in their turn become torpid, and improvements burst forth with unlooked for brilliancy from the dust and ashes which have accumulated upon a long-neglected de

partment of the arts. The main current, however, is always onward, although at some points it appears to stagnate or retrograde. But let not the inventor be deceived or discouraged; these are but the eddies. Let him persevere; the eddy of to-day may be the torrent of to-morrow. At the commencement of this report I hoped to compress it into narrower limits; but the number of patents is much greater than heretofore, and their average importance is such that I could not in fewer words do justice to a subject which I know is highly interesting to you, and to multitudes in every corner of our widely extended country.

Respectfully submitted by
W. P. N. FITZGERALD,
Examiner of Patents.

Abstracts of the Patent Laws of Great Britain, &c., France, Austria, and other European countries.

GREAT BRITAIN.

Patents are granted distinct for England, Scotland, and Ireland, and the practice is somewhat different in each. The first step, however, is the same in all. A petition, containing the title of the invention, to the crown, accompanied by a declaration made before a master of chancery, that he has made such an invention, is the first and true inventor, that it is new, &c., is lodged in the office of the Secretary of the Home Department. This is referred to the Solicitor or Attorney General to consider and report upon. If no caveat is found on file, it proceeds. If a caveat is found a week from the time, notice is given to the caveator to decide whether he will oppose. If he decides to oppose, and pays in the costs of opposition within a week, a summons is taken out for a hearing, and the Attorney or Solicitor General hears, in private, first the applicant, and then the oppoments. Should the opponents not appear, or the Attorney or Solicitor General deem the inventions dissimilar and not interfering, he reports in favor of the application ; but if they interfere, he stops the application, or recommends a joint patent, and on their acceding thereto, reports accordingly.

This report is taken back to the Secretary’s office for the Queen's warrant, which directs a bill to be prepared for her signature, providing for the enrolment of the specification, &c.

It is now taken to the Patent Office. If no caveat has been entered at the Patent Office, it proceeds. But if a caveat, either from the former unsuccessful party or any other, is found in the Patent Office, notice is given. And on the opposing party, within a week, returning answer that he shall oppose, and depositing #30 as security for costs, a hearing is appointed, and the Attorney or Solicitor General, at his discretion, stops the patent or permits it to proceed. If the opposition be overruled, or there be none, the bill is prepared of course, attested, and signed by the Attorney and Solicitor General, and goes to the Secretary of State's office for the Queen's signature; and being countersigned by the Secretary of State, is next taken to the Signet Office, and letters warrant are made out, sealed with the Queen’s signet, to the Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal, at whose office a warrant is made out to the great seal, is sealed with the privy seal, and directed to the Lord Chancellor. Here, again, a caveat, if entered, may oppose the contemplated patent. The Lord Chancellor, however, is very averse to an opposition at this last stage, and will order costs to be paid by a party opposing on insufficient grounds, or not appearing to support his opposition. If there be no caveat, or an insufficient one, the letters patent are made out or sealed of course. If the applicant desires it, his patent may include the islands of Guernsey, Jersey, Alderney, Sark, and Man, and all the colonies and plantations abroad, at an extra expense of £7. The time of obtaining a patent is from one month to six weeks, and the expense about £1 10. The reference in the case of an Irish patent is to the Lord Lieutenant, and the patent, after being sent to the Queen, is granted under the great seal of Ireland. - t