First published in 1862, this report by John Brown investigates the legal and ethical implications of Samuel Crompton's invention of the mule spinning machine. Crompton claimed that he was entitled to a second remuneration from the British Parliament for his invention, but faced opposition from his competitors and the government. This report provides a detailed analysis of Crompton's claim and offers insights into the complex legal and economic landscape of the early Industrial Revolution. An important milestone in the history of British technology and intellectual property law, this report remains an essential resource for scholars and historians today. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.