Allow me, while adverting to the case of the poor, to express my belief that the Patent system has an effect on wages which demands the serious consideration of the friends of working men. I believe it helps to keep wages low. The abolition would work in this manner: whenever, in any establishment, an improvement is introduced, the fact of its use becomes, of course, speedily known throughout the establishment and in other establishments. The _employés_ who in their ordinary occupations must come to know what the improvement is and how to work according to it—for this is a matter of necessity, especially now that operations are conducted on a large scale, with the indispensable aid of men intelligent and independent—very soon find they are in request. To prevent their leaving, they are offered an advance, which itself in its turn may be outbid. The rise which indisputably would result in the case of individuals will, in my opinion, tend towards a general rise. If I am correct in my anticipations, operatives and artisans are much injured by Patent-Laws. But independently of this hypothetical advantage, a good system of dealing with inventors will be beneficial directly to operatives, by removing from trade the present hindrances. Having seen how little store there is set on Patents by eminent engineers, by manufacturers, and by the public services, let me appeal to eminent statesmen. Among these I name foremost the apostle of free-trade. Mr. Cobden told me, many years ago, that he was opposed to Patents; and at a later period, Oct., 1862, he wrote:— “I have a growing doubt of the value and justice of the system, whether as regards the interests of the public or the inventors.” Lord Granville, then Vice-President of the Board of Trade, the Chairman of the Committee on the Patent Bills, told the House of Lords, on July 1, 1851—