BESSEMER

The Patent Office - now the Intellectual Property Office - was established by the Patent Law Amendment Act of 1852, which simplified the procedure for obtaining patents of invention and reduced costs. In 1883 another Act of Parliament brought into being the office of Comptroller General of Patents, with, according to the National Archives, 'a staff of patent examiners to carry out a limited form of examination; mainly to ensure that the specification described the invention properly, but without any investigation into novelty'.

Closely and neatly written on five bifoliums. Text totalling 14pp., 12mo. In fair condition, on aged and worn paper, with minor damage at head of third letter, and wear to extremities of the fourth. The first two letters (1856 and 1859) addressed formally, the third to 'Angela & Minnie', and the fourth and fifth to 'Angela'. She writes the first letter (1856) before her sister Clara's 'approaching visit to England', to thank Macirone for writing to express the pleasure she had received from Charles Cowden Clarke's sister's writing.

Two pages, 12mo, good condition. He presumes on the acquaintance struck up when Bragge was in Montreal two years previously and knowing your great practical interest in the Bessemer I take the liberty to introduce to you Mr [Barner?] the agent of my friend Mr Holley - the manager of the Troy Steel Works who has introduced some very important improvements in the management of the Bessemer process, now successfully adopted in America & visits England for the purpose of there making them business.