§ MR. CONINGHAMsaid, he rose to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty, Whether a Petition addressed to the Queen by Mr. John Clare, jun., the inventor and patentee, as alleged, of the Warrior description of vessel, and praying for a settlement of his claims, has been received at the Admiralty, together with three Peti- 657 tions presented this Session to Parliament; also, the printed Affidavits of Mr. John Morrison and of Mr. Clare, respecting the evidence given by Sir Charles Fox, in the case of "Clare v. the Queen;" and whether these have been reported upon by the Legal Adviser to the Admiralty, and what that Report is?
§ LORD CLARENCE PAGETsaid, in reply, that the Petitions referred to had been presented to the Admiralty. The case of Mr. Clare had been tried by a Court of Law, and the jury found a verdict against him on all the issues. Subsequently, Mr. Clare moved for a new trial, and the Court of Queen's Bench unanimously refused the application. Therefore, so far as concerned the allegation of an infringement by the Admiralty of Mr. Clare's patent, that question appeared to be set at rest by the Court of Law. The affidavits respecting the evidence of Sir Charles Fox had been referred to the Admiralty solicitor, who was of opinion that Mr. Clare had no claims on the public, and he had been so informed.