for granted, he asks, “Could such difficulties not be obviated through a _reform_ of the Patent-Law?” Once at a time, Alexander made himself famous by cutting through the Gordian knot. That was a despot’s doing; he might have deserved more fame had he succeeded in disentangling the knot. Such should be the final aim the legislator ought to strive to reach. Finally, the hon. member puts forward the question, whether the passing of the law now before the House might not involve the country in international troubles; for, Switzerland alone excepted, every country in Europe has its Patent-Law. Besides, we are aware that, as far as literary right of property is concerned, a neighbouring country has, against its will, been compelled to maintain it. We, at our turn, might once have to come back to what we want at present to repeal. Let us, therefore, be cautious. M. HEEMSKERK AZN remarks that continued allusions are being made to reaction. Generally speaking, such allusions are made out of personal motives; but he should very much like to see a real live reactionist, who would like to repeal what progress has brought us. There may possibly be people extant who would wish to do so, but as for him, he is not aware of any reactionary plots against our institutions, or the effects of science and progress; yet this very project now before the House, which _he_ considers to be _reaction_, has been most favourably received in Committee. Should the Netherlands Legislature sanction it, _then_ he shall have to believe in the existence of reaction. For it is an easy thing to find evidence of reaction in the project under discussion. M. van Zinnicq Bergmann has already more or less demonstrated it. He (M. Heemskerk) will add a few more particulars. Where, the hon. member asks, lies the origin of Patents? In the cultivation of a free spirit, and the ennobling of labour; and of these, the right of protection existed since time immemorial. Deviating from the civil rights, the Stuarts, through favour or arbitrary motives, granted “privileges;” but the Free Parliaments saved Patents, that protect inventions. Moreover, this principle has been adopted in the most freedom-advocating of constitutions—viz., that of the United States. The same may be said with regard to France. On the 31st December, 1790, the “Assemblée Constituante” resolved that the right [of property] in inventions should be guaranteed, and in this resolution originated the first French Patent-Law. The Netherlands would be the very first country on earth (with one exception only) to deviate from the principle of a right of property in inventions, in a moment, when public opinion, dissenting thereby from a few economists, everywhere declares in favour of Patents. He reminds the House of the immense influence inventions have had on history and society, such as the invention of printing, of the compass, steam, gas, &c. And would it be fair to withhold from those who promote