Note 4 — THE CENTURY OF INVENTIONS.

Lord Orford describes this bill to have passed on the "simple affirmation of the discovery that he (the Marquis) had made;" but his lordship's palpable want of candour in this statement will be apparent when it is known that there were no less than seven meetings of committees on the subject, composed of some of the most learned men in the house, who, after considerable amendments, finally passed it on the 12th of May.—Vide, Journals of the Lords and Commons for 1663-4.