Chapter M: VAN VOORTHUYSEN will not enter into many details, the subject having

been considered both from a juridical and an economical point of view. He will, therefore, restrict himself to a few remarks on M. Heemskerk’s speech. The hon. member acknowledges the satisfaction the project gives him; it gratifies the feelings to which he has given vent a great many times. It has been said that the measure was a step backward, as Patents have taken the place of exclusive privileges to guilds. At the time the Patent-right was assuredly an improvement on the then existing system; but we have been progressing so much since then that at present nothing short of abolition will satisfy the wants of progress. He also refers to the conclusion arrived at by Lord Stanley, which point M. Heemskerk has left unnoticed—viz., 1st, that it is impossible to reward all who deserve to be rewarded; 2nd, that it is impossible to reward adequately to the service rendered to society at large; 3rd, that it is impossible to hold third parties harmless from damage. And, in fact, the alleged instance of the Daguerre prize having been divided with another who equally proved his claim to the invention, speaks for itself. It is doubtful who was the first inventor of the steam-engine; there are several, at least, who claim the invention as their own. There is another point he feels bound to refer to. M. Heemskerk has said that abolishing Patents constitutes an attack upon the right of property, and that deputy cautions against a first step, perhaps to be followed up by others. This being a very serious inculpation, the hon. member has asked the opinion of an eminent jurist, whom he will not name as yet, whose authority M. Heemskerk is not likely to deny, and who is in many respects congenial with that esteemed deputy. The hon. member reads that opinion of one of the foremost opponents of Patent-right, who calls it an obnoxious and intolerable monopoly. And who is that clever jurist? It is M. Wintgens, who very likely owed to his extraordinary acquirements in law matters his appointment to the Department of Justice in the Heemskerk van Zuylen Ministry.