I know of an instance down East, for Southerners can sometimes "tak notes, and prent 'em too." A gentleman took a friend to his room, and showed him an invention for which he was about to apply for a patent.

The friend walked off with his hands in his pocket; his principles had met, and passed an appropriation bill; the invention had become his own--in plain English, he stole it.

Washington is always full of people claiming each other's brains.

The lawyers at the Patent Office have their hands full.

They must keep wide awake, too.