The Express.
London, England, 1868-06-01 00:00:00

COPYRIGHT FOR "ALIENS."

ONE branch of the 11w of copyright has just re-
ceived lucid ex potation from Lord Chancellor Ca ass.
Miss CUMMINS, an American authoress, now
deceased, went by arrangement to Montreal,
Lower Canada, for a few days in 1864, while her
book, " Haunted Hearts," was being published by
Messrs. SAMPSON Low and Co., in London. The
point raised was whether a work published under
such circumstances was entitled to the protection
of the English copyright law; whether "an alien
" publishing in London during his or her tern-
" porary sojourn in a British possession," is in the
same position as a native-born subject of the
Crown, and this has been settled in the affirmative
by the LORD CHANCELLOR, with the concurrence
of Lords WESTBURY, CaaNwoErN, and CHELMS-
FORD. The decision is eminently satisfactory.
The intention of the Copyright Act is,
it is now stated on authority, to obtain a benefit
for the people of this country by the publication
to them of works of learning, of utility, or of
amusement. This, as Lord CAIRNS was careful to
state, " may or may not be a benefit to the
" author, but it is a benefit given, not for the
" sake of the author of the work, but for the sake
" of those to whom the work is communicated."
The literary class may be congratulated upon their
interests being so far identical with those of the
public, that a wise and liberal interpretation of
the law is held to imply protection under the
circumstances described. But until brain-crea-
tions are considered property as much as beeves or
lands, there will be constant irritability and dis-
satisfaction among those possessing them.
There is something especially irritating in the
improper appropriation of works upon which men
have expended their highest culture and best
thoughts. Lord MAC AULAY once wrote to the
newspapers that a publisher announcing an
unauthorised edition of his speeches was
" emulous of the fume of CURLL ;" Mr.
CARLYLE was never more caustic than when as
" a writer or maker of books" he penned the letter
claiming protection for the work of his hands ;
and Mr. CHARLES DICKENS recently gave the
grievance a practical form by explaining that with
an American copyright law ho would in the place
of " moderate savings " be now in the possession
of a very large fortune. Why should there not be
a universal copyright law The wisest heads of
all countries are interested in securing it ; and it
would be for the common benefit if we had such a
" federation of the world."

WE publish in another column the Report of
the Royal Commission upon the Neutrality
Laws. The recommendations of the Commis-
sioners may be summarily stated. They ad-
vise that the Foreign Enlistment Act be amended
by prohibiting the preparation or fitting out
in her MAJESTY'S dominions of any military or
naval expedition against the territories of a foreign
state with whom her MAJESTY may be at peace, and
that the violation of this prohibition shall be a mis-
demeanour. The Szcatirraitv of STATE 13 to be em-
powered to issue a warrant to the Commiui mere
of Customs for the seizure of any such ship as he
may suspect of being built or equipped against a
friendly power, and to detain it until it shall be
condemned or released by process of law, or un-
til the owner shall prove that it was not intended,
or shall give security that it shall not be employed,
for the purpose imputed. Indemnity, in
case of wrongful detention, is to be
secured him. The Commissioners recom-
mend further that hiring men under false
representations for hostile service against a
friendly power shall be a misdemeanour ; that
prizes captured by vessels equipped in England
shall, if brought within the jurisdiction of this realm,
be restored to the owner or his agent ; and that
vessels of was built in England, in violation of the
neutrality laws, shall not be admitted into any
port of her MAJESTY'S dominions. If the spirit of
these recommendations had inspired the conduct
of her MAJ I:STY'S Government some years ago,
we should have been spared the Alabama claims.
They concede all that the United States de-
manded. There can be little doubt that the
English Legislature will give proof of fair
and friendly feeling by adopting them. In recom-
mending these changes the Commissioners practi-
cally admit that during the American struggle Lord
RUSSELL acted in harmony with the law as it then
was. Nothing more can be required of any nation
than that it should change its policy as soon as
events and calm deliberation have shown that such
a change is desirable. This England is ready to do.

!Arrests fnin the Abyssinian expedition to the
Bth of May have cme ti hand this morning. The
rearguard hail retraversed more than a third of the
distance which lies between Magdala and our ships.
The army was moving, in two brigades, two days
apart. The pioneers were in front as an advanced
guard, said the elephants, which give trouble
when many other animals are on the road,
marched in separate column and kept be-
tween the two main bodies. The sky was
daily clouded, and rain fell in large quantities.
but without serif nney impeding the march. About
a dozen Ilindun'ani followers, chiefly muleteers,
had been waylaid and killed by the inhabitants,
and some twenty r 'eaves had been shot by our
men. The latter were chiefly Abyssinians,
as the ;alias, the most murderous
of robbers, displayed superior caution.
The troops, who were in good health,
were receiving not mly full rations, but
luxuries, such as sugar s and vegetables, at an in-
creased rate. The commissariat, having made pro-
vision for a more prolonged campaign, were obliged
not only to issue items usual.:T reserved for Euro-
peans to the Hindustani followers, but to have
behind or destroy large quantities of the heavier
articles. We End it mentioned Mat amongst the
baggage on its way, are 90 mule foods of books,
collected by Tarootnts from .the numerous
churches which he ransacked.

The news of the winner of the Derby ~.te always
telegraphed to India, where there are beta arnouAtiDg to
thousands of pounds depending on it.
The basket makers of Plymouth are on strike.