The Express.
London, England, 1857-11-28 00:00:00

LITERARY INTELLIGENCE.

PROPRIETORS OF ENGLISH COPYRIGHTS.

(From the ltioutratel Imam New.)

We have before as, by the kindness of a friend,
a vary curious bluebook in English literature, &folio volume
of some two hundred pages, containing the names of the
existing proprietors of sours of the most remarkable copy-
right. in Euglisi literature. It Is, of muse, incomplete,
and in some points, we moped, inaccurate; but what it
professes to gin it elve—ii list of works in respect to which
notice hes buss even to the Commissioners of her Majesty's

Cognate fiat a ;spy** data, and that the introduction
of *Usti eosin front shroud must be prohibited under an
aet et the prosent reign by the officers of her Majesty.
Costotom. It be, at least, a list of notioss given by publisher.,
though Mr. Mozart, strange to say, has not attended to his
own property and to the property of Ms authors. The name
of Mr. Tennyson, for instance, le not to be found throughout
the folio.
This

_ _ Wm-book dispels nanny popular br
eurtent In society. Thus the often-repeated story that
Lard Macaulay had sold his Whig history to the Menee-
LCOrlikla fir an !annuity is to be upset by the Custom-house
feet that the old historian Is the proprietor of his own oopy-

right. We could mention other currently-mpremed opinions
that will not stand the test of the book balms us. These,
homier, we shall not at present seek to displace, bat shall
content ourselves with mentioning the more remarkable revs.
lotions to be gathered from a careful perusal of this
guide for CoMmn-hoar officers at the me-ports
of England, Ireland, Scotland, the Isle of Man,
and Berwielompon-Twool. Thus, though Lard ;Mo-
rtality possum the copyright of his "History," he is
not by the nem mods from the Row the proprietor of Wm
"Essays•' and his . Lays." The Metre. Longman owe the
&goys" end the "Lays." Mr. Murray is the proprietor
of Lord Habeas "Moto" of England." Lord CampbsE
Ms kept his "Lives of the Chief Judaea," but has sold his
Lime of the Lord Chiliadic's." The Hams. Blackwood
ems ties hetentede proprietors of Sir Archibald Mimes lilr
Cory. Mr. Hallam retains his own copyrights. Mr. Carlyle
is the owner of the "French Revolution;" bat MGM.
Chyme' sad Hall are the proprietors of " Crootwan
Speoshaa." Mr. Dickens has a share in every one of his
works; but he only one copyright entirely is
his own bands—" Oliver Twist"—bought back from
Mr. Bentley for, we believe, Ave times the sum Mr.
Bentley gave first. Mr. Thackmay is a first shareholder with
Bradbury and Evans in " Vanity Fair" and " Pendennis,"
and joint shareholder with Smith and Elder in his "History
of Henry Eszaced." Sir William Napier's " History of the
Peninsular War" Is pert the anther's and part the property
of Messrs. Boom. Mr. Borrow holds " The Bible in Spain,"
but has sold " Lamaism." Mr. Cunningham is the proprie-
tor of his " Handbook of London," and Mr. Ford has sold
his "Handbook of Spain" to the Tama of Albemarle-
street. Dr. William Smith has not a single share in any of
hie admirable Dictionaries. Bradbury end Evans poems the
copyright of Mr. Forster's " Lifo and Adventures of Oliver
Goldsmith." Dr. Laysrd is the proprietor of his
three books about Nineveh. Mr. Ruskin holds
all his own copyrights but one—" The Seven
Lamps of Architecture," and that ie the property of
Smith and Elder. Mrs. Jamren pormess her " Legends
of the Madonna," and her " Legends of the Monastic
Orders." Mr. Warren has no pecuniary interest I. his
" Ton Thousand a Tear," or his " Diary of a Late Pity-
skarn." Aytoan has sold his " Lays," and Sorry Cornwall
retains a half share in his "Soup." Sir Bawer Lynes.'
copyrights we cannot understand. Mr. remise owns some of
' his novels; so, Mao, does Mrs. Gore some of hers. How
additionally interesting would this book be did It only mu-
tain the prices at which the several copyrights were obtained
from their authors by their present porreeseore. For instance,
what did Lord Marialay rot for his " Lays," and what did
Professor Aytoun obtain for his

(Free Memo. Laessases' Noks an Books. Nov. 30 ).

The completion of the English edition of the Chevalier
Bunsen's work on " Egypt's Place in Universal Iletory," is
preparing for publication, tisosloted, with the author's sanc-
tion and co-operation, by C. H. Cottrell, Esq., M.A.
The fourth volume of Humboldt's "Comae," completing
the work, is divided into two puts, of which the first is
finished, and is preparing for publication is English, trans-
lated with Baron Humboldt's sanction and co-operation,
under the superintendence of Major-General Edward Sabine,
ILA., D.C.L., V.P. and Treas. K.S. The fourth volume of
. .

- - .
" Coamos" is an extcneion and • more careful elaboration of
tho general repreeentation of Nature contained in the firm
volume. It purposte to describe more pardeularly those spe-
ciel results of observation on which the present state of
our knowledge in regard to the phenomena of the globs is
Lased. The Bret part of the volume which in now shout to
be published in Germany, and of which the English transla-
tion is already far advanced, comprch.lids the venous sub-
jects treated of in the tint volume under the different beads
of magnitude, figure, and density of the earth ; its internal
heat, and the distribution of heat at its surface ; terreatrial
magnetise and aurora, earthquakes, thermal springs, springs
of vapours and gases, and volcanoes.
The fourth end fifth volumes of Dr. Barth'. Travels end
Discoveries in North and Central Africa ; being the Journal
of an Expedition undertaken under the auspices of her
Britannic Majesty's government, in the years 1819-18.56,
with map, wood engravings, and illustrations in tinted
lithogrsphy--sre in the press. These volumes competes a
full 1100.Ukt of the author's repidencein Timbuiltax.
_ _

Mr. Eyre Brans Crowe's new "llistory of Franco" ii
preparing fur publication.
The Lettes• of a Betrothed," in one volume, will be
publtahed in the preeent maime.
Mr. Matthew Arnold's new week, " M: .e: A Tragedy
With en Introduction," will be publiaW in December,
uniform with the Author's poems.
Mr. Forester's Tour in the Islands of Conic end Sardinia
will shortly be ready fur publication; illustrated with nume-
rous wood-engravings and plates in tinted lithography, from
.ketchesmade daring the tour by Lieut.-Cob:eel Biddulph,
B.A. - . -

" Impression. of Western Africa, with Remarks on the
Malaria., Fevers, and llamas, of the Climate, including a
Report on the Peculiarities of Trade tip the Rivers in the
Bight of Biafra," is the title of a new book of Travels, by
Mr. T. J. Hutchinson, N.B. Majesty.* Conant for the
Bight of Bala and the Island of Fernando Po, Author of
the Eiger Tehaddi Entire Erploration, de. It forma one
volume, and kJ nearly ready.
Memoirs of Ram-Admiral Sir William Symonds, Kat.,
C. 13., PALS., late Surveyor of the Navy published with the
sanction of hie Executors, as directed Eby Ms Will," bare
been prepared kw the prom by Mr. J. A. Sharp.
A copyright English edition of M Alfred Maury's new
wort, annotated from the French, with the author's unc-
tion, will shortly appear, under the title of " The Rath end

The Rev. Baden Powell, MA., F R. 8., F.R.A.S., F. 0.8.,
Pavilion Profaner a Geometry in the tinivervity of Oxford,
fa now preparing for publication two work., in continuation
of And supplementary to his mays on the " Unity of Worlds
and of Nature," and they will shortly be publiehed, each in
one volume uniform with that work. The tint of these new
productions, entitled "Christianity without Judaism," for=
a second mice of sways embracing the diming= of as
important theological subject touched upon in several places
In the former series. The second work, entitled " The
Order of Nature considered with Referent* to the Claim' of
Revelation," constitutes a third series, which will further
carry out the same design by treating of the general influ-
ence of science on the claims and reception of revelation,
including the question of miracles end the other evidences.

The Marquis of Normanby's " Year of Revolution"
is to be translated forthwith into French, and published in
Peels.

A translation of Mr. Wilkie Collins' story, " The
Deed Secret," is about to be published in Paris. The tram
Wm are paneled how to translate the title. There is no
equivalent in French for the English phrase a" dead semi,"
sad in this use the original tide contains the very eree•te of
the story. The profound secret" is a men persplusss,
and the maim a substitute for the English title.
The Memoirs of M. Onizot, which are to appear
soon, will perhaps disappoint, in a certain memo, the
expectations of a elm of readers who are on the look-
out for questionable confidences for ever trembling on the
verge of *caudal. These Memoirs (a private letter from
Paris mitres the Leader) contain scarcely any facts: they
ore a sort of series of political pipers; nearly all discussion,
and little or no narrative.

M. Emile Forgoes, the literary executor of La-
menials, is actively engaged in preparing for publication the
Lettere et Lerssassia, and in writing an introduction which
we (.isneros) Ist& sot will add greatly to the interest and
vales of the ronespondenos. One VOIUMS, we hear, is
in print, but M. Forgoes laaa wisely resolved to
skeishi tom publishing wail all is completed.

THE PROPOSED CHANCE IN VIE QPITRN-
KENT OF INDIA.

(From the Economist)
Our readers may have seen an annonnoement in
some of the semi•offcial organs that, on the meeting of par-
liament for the despatch of general business, the ministry
ere prepared to bring forward a meanie for the abolition of
the doable system of Indian government, and the subjeetico
of this great empire to the direct supervision of the Clown.
We love not conceded our own conviction that this ohmage
is at once inevitable and most desirable for the efficient and
responsible management of our Indian affoire. That there are
dangers on this tide, too, to be anxiously guarded against,
we not only admit, but are extremely desirous to point out.
But the premed option has been long becoming be. and keg
of a reality. The Court of Director. are elected by a wholly
irresponsible body of men who are little or not at all directly
interested in the efficient government of India. The best
and ablest servants of India have always been naturally re-
Indent to undergo the humiliation of a canvass foe a met at
the beard. The fault of political error end weakness bee
never been traceable to any one distinct centre. Her
blejesty's government have been nsgatively raven-
eiblo fur every error that has been made, and yet
directly and positively responsible foe very little.
In future, should this measure peas thehoussa, there will, no
doubt, as before, be error and chance of error, but the no-
eponsible minister will know on whom II will he charged,
and will have every motive that full responsibility can give
for taking the blot robins and securing the most effective
administration. We are sure the English nation will, on
the whole, see ample reason to desire the substitution of one
strong centre of supreme authority for the present double
focus of government, established under circumstances in
which neither focus has any advantage of information or
locality over the other, each of them merely repeating, and
therefore weakening, the moral force that either might pos-
sess alone.

(From tho Prem.)

In itself the proposLl to an excellent one, and the Old Lady
of Leadenhall-street will die unwept end =pitied by all. It
has been the fashion to say that the company won for us
India, but that is not the fact. India has been won for us in
spite of the company, by crown-appointed governors, by
mown-appointed generals, and, for the most part, by the
is:ldlers of the royal army, who have borne the brunt of
every battle from the earliest period to the pretest. Thom,
members, too, tf the company's service who have moat dim•
tinguialted themselves have not in general been the directors'
profiles. They have been unfriended men selected
by the governor-general for the °Mose in which
they have made their name. All that has been
done by the company has been to thwart and try
and drive from office, every leading public functionary
in India who has been opposed to their monopolies, their
nepotism, and their jobs. Wellesley, and Ellonborough, and
Napier, and Metcalfe, and Rose—the most liberal of their
own servants, the higheat-minded of the crown's—all fell
alike under their displeasure, were objects of their hatred,
and paid them back in return by their contempt. In fact,
the best argument the friends of the directors now produce
for them is that they have always been a drag-chain upon
the government abroad. Sordid mediocrity has ever been
their character, till at last even by the Hindooe themselves
they are despised. To maintain such a body longer would
have been an insult to the nation, end they will properly be
swept sway.