The Express.
London, England, 1846-09-04 00:00:00

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LONDON, FEIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4.
THE International Copyright Act has just come, for
the first time, into operation. By an order in coan-
nil dated the 27th ult., and published in Tuesday's
Gazette, it is announced that a treaty of reciprocity
• an this point has been concluded with Prussia; and
that henceforth all books, prints, sculpture, dramatic
• tare and
compositions, and any other works of
and the fine arts, which now are subjects of
' • aopyright in this country, will enjoy the same privi-
r • Lige in the Prussian dominions; and similar works
• published within those dominions will be entitled
here to all t"-et advantages of British copyright. It
is further ordered that the Customs Duties shall be
reduced to the following :
On honks °dewily Fatima ta ths Mated melee, sad en-
Rtlir ...:4hataherdasl.6,l .1111110 r 1=1.1.1.8 seat
pisoTonisia las releases( Ed hiblifladis dd.
',teeny vogues& la dr Della 1104 m. a dal, el IlAirmahiodeed
weight. Oa pielield et re
paw eashelaesdrimbrireedZe4e7.4 sadt ; Woad ar
arm, 14d. the doom*
The first doss of books was, prior to this order,
prohibited, as a measure of protection, for which,
now, there is no further occasion. The requisite secu-
rity, as to living authors, is obtained by a Prussian
copyright ; or rather by the Prussian recognition of
the British copyright. The duty of Ms. the cwt.
is designed, we presume, to operate in favour of the
- British re-publisher of English works whose copy-
` right is out.
• The provision as to the second class of books pre-
- Tints an avoiding of the paper duty, by printing
an English work within the Prussian dominions;
s and is tantamount to levying that duty on Prus-
sian publications before allowing them to circulate
in this country. Such publications are left, by the
last tariff, subject to the duty of 60s. per cwt.
' Prints and drawings at present pay twice the duty
above specifiod ; and will continue to pay it if im-
ported from other countries besides Prussia.
Negotiations for this treaty, and a similar one with
France, were mentioned by Sir ROBERT PEEL as
pending when ho resisted Mr. Ew&nr's motion for
the total relinquishment of a revenue from the im-
pOrtatiac of literature. That resistance was one of
his most palpable inconsistencies daring the progress
of the Corn and Customs Bill. He was driven, by
the discussion, into a temporary oblivion of his free
trade principles, and had recourse to the old topics
of reciprocity and protection, Even the question of
revenue was introduced; although the entire taxa-
tion upon foreign books and prints only realises
between 20,0001. and 30,0001. per annum. It
will now be said, perhaps, that his policy
is justified ; and that, by the retention of duties
on works of literature and art in the last tariff,
advantages have been obtained, in both coun-
tries, for men of genius and talent, which could not
otherwise have been gained. But this is really only
an offshoot from the great controversy between Free-',
Trade and Protection. It must be decided by the
same principles.
We rejoice that the treaty has been concluded, be-
cause, so far as it goes, it is a good. The English
writer, engraver, or composer, is not now liable to be
plundered in Prussia, nor the Prussian in England.
Piracy has lost thus much of its privilege. The

property of intellect is internationally recognised.
Our musio-sellers may no more make free with
MENDLUAOHN'S notes, than he himself may with
those of the Bank of England. Even in poetry,
it is allowed that there may be property. The
mitigation of the duties on works produced in Prussia,
will not be unfelt, Sums too trifling to be regarded
in the great articles of commerce, gain consequence in
their relation to what is frequently the no-moneyed
interest of mind. But the principal advantage is
that of Protection, in the unexceptionable meaning of
the term, as opposed to the liability to Plunder.
Within the limits reigned over by the contracting
parties, the outlawry of intellect is reversed ; books
and prints are as secure from theft as oorn and
timber.

But is it so very manifest that this reciprocal recog-
nition of literary and artistic rights was contingent
upon the retention of the import duties? We do not
believe it. We cannot suppose the Prussian Court so
mean as only to become a party to a simple act of
justice towards its own and highly-gifted authors and
artists, on condition of being favoured by a half-price
admission at the Custom-house. There was no such
paltry bribe in the joint arrangements for the
Bishopric of Jerusalem. It is a spot on the picture.
It transforms right into privilege. It gives a petty
bargaining ohmmeter to the transaction. It alloys
the dictates of wise policy with sharp huxtering. It
expands exclusively. And the gain must in all cases
be so utterly insignificant, that it is ridiculous to put
Lath as an inducement to such treaties. Inter-
. asdianajnerangements for securing copyright are just
as likely to advance without this unseemly appendage.
If properly urged, we believe they will be multiplied
smite as rapidly, though no duties be =Wind in which
zssioll a difference between the countries that will
and those which will not negotiate.
One absurdity is that people here are taxed