§ MR. RAIKESasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether Her Majesty's Government intend to make any use of the invention of Mr. James Duffey for the protection of gunpowder from explosion, which was tested at the Horse Guards in July 1869, in the presence of Sir Hope Grant, and on Wimbledon Common in 1870, in the presence of His Serene Highness the Duke of Teck and other officers; whether he is aware that the invention has been pronounced to be one of considerable value by them and other military and naval authorities; and, whether he is willing to assign any reward to Mr. Duffey for his discovery, which he patented in 1870, but for which he has not sought an extension of his patent in consequence of his belief that the favourable opinion expressed by the Quartermaster General would be acted upon by the Government?
§ SIR HENRY STORKS,in reply, said, the Government did not intend to make use of the invention, the advisers of the War Department having 907 expressed a decided opinion that it was unsuited for military purposes. No award could be assigned for inventions which were not adopted into the service.