The inventor of a useful discovery has quite as much, or more, chance of making a fortune as the manufacturer who confines himself to the beaten tracks, and only employs the known methods; this last has had quite as much risk of being ruined as any searcher after discovery. We believe that they are on an equality as to position; for if the inventor may be ruined in not finding what he seeks, the manufacturer may see all his looms or his machines rendered useless, all his outlets closed, by the introduction of a cheaper means of production. Why make a golden bridge for him who enters the arena with arms more subtle and more finely tempered than those of his adversary? Notice that the manufacturer also renders a service to the community—no doubt in seeking his own profit; but is it not so with the inventor? Why then demand a reward for the one which is not asked for the other? The manufacturer who, in using the old looms, manages his factory so as to reduce his prices by 10 or 20 per cent., and who in consequence can furnish stockings (supposing him to be a stocking manufacturer) to a number of those who were not rich enough to buy them at the old prices, undoubtedly does a service to the community equal to that which it would receive from the invention of a machine which would make the stockings 10 or 20 per cent. cheaper. The farmer who by superior ploughing, more skilful manuring, or more careful weeding, increases the yield from two to three quarters per acre—does not he also render a signal service to the community? The sailor, who finds the means of shortening voyages by utilising certain currents or winds, in modifying the spread of his sails, &c.—does not he increase the gratuitous natural forces placed at the disposal of the community? Why, then, if there is question of rewarding this class of services, should they not ask for privileges, favours, and exclusive rights? Why not go so far as forbid any one to arrange his factory on the plan of the manufacturers of whom we have been speaking? Why not forbid any farmer to weed, plough, or manure, like his neighbour; or any sailor to follow the track of the first, without paying to those who gave the example a previous and perpetual royalty? IV. “The property of an invention having required for its creation the same labour as that of the soil, and this work offering less chance of success and results of probable less duration, it is as legitimate at least as landed property,” says M. le Hardy de Beaulieu; “and there is no argument against it which may not be applied with equal force to the individual and permanent occupation of the soil.” The soil, to render all the productions that the community has a right to expect from it, ought to become and remain a personal individual property. Invention, on the other hand, cannot give all the results that society can draw from it, unless it be public property.