Horace Gray

“ It has been decided that a bill in equity in the circuit court of the United States by the owner of letters patent, to enforce a contract for the use of the patent right, or to set aside such a contract because the defendant has not complied with its terms, is not within the acts of congress, by which an appeal to this court is allowable in cases arising under the patent laws, without regard to the value of the matter in controversy. ”

“ Sandford, and repeated by the court in Hartell v. Tilghman, and in Albright v. Teas: 'The dispute in this case does not arise under any act of congress; nor does the decision depend upon the construction of any law in relation to patents. ”