States grant Patents at all. Among those which do, some grant sparingly or only to their own inhabitants; and to take Patents in all places where they are granted would involve the command and risking of so very much capital that few indeed, if ever any, would embrace the whole field; and, if perchance they did, the labour of superintending a business so vast, in languages so diverse and many, would require superhuman powers. The right to demand “compulsory licences” as a mitigation was suggested at the Liverpool Congress. They would be an improvement, and should be practicable, seeing something of that nature exists elsewhere, although the Royal Commission has reported against the plan. But it would be a serious mistake to anticipate from their adoption as a reform any very important relief. I hope it is possible to propose some substitute which will not be liable to these reproaches, one which will give rewards having proportion to merit, which will give them within a reasonable period, which will entail little trouble or distraction on the nation’s assumed protégé, the inventor; one which, being regulated by fixed principles and controlled by officers who will sift the wheat from the chaff, will satisfy the yearnings after awards having some proportion to merit, which now are disregarded; and which, above all, will elevate the inventor from what you will surely allow me to call his present equivocal position—that involves little or no honour, and too generally something approaching the very reverse—to a position that implies merit and gives status. I do not speak of mere honours, whether in the form of certificates or medals, or trifles, although all of these I recommend. What I have submitted already to the association, in a paper to be found in the Edinburgh volume, I repeat as still in my opinion practicable and expedient—viz., to grant national rewards in money. I would allow these to be claimed immediately after inventions are specified. It would be the duty of a competent board, after due consultation and inquiries, to award each a fair sum, within certain limits, such as prudence, combined with liberality, would prescribe for their regulation. Or, the patentee might prefer postponement of the adjudication for three years. This should be allowed, or even encouraged, in order that time may be gained for practical expression of the benefit conferred by actual use of the invention. In that case, the reward should be ampler.