The Express.
London, England, 1850-01-01 00:00:00

THE PUBLISHING TRADE.

We (the thenigum) alluded some time since to the
healthy condition of the London publishing trade, and of the
state of the book market throughout the three kingdoms.
What we observed then has been more than confirmed by
the result of Dir. Murray's great annual trade sale at the
Albion Tavern, in Alders/ate-street, during the present
math. Few of our reader, are, perhaps, aware that it is
the custom of the two great London houses, Murray's and
Latvians', to put their books up to a kind of suction
every year; that the sale is prefaced by 'a dinner, at
which all the booksellers of " credit " in London are in-
vited to be prevent,--end that as soon as the cloth is
removed, Mr. Hodpoo, the auctioneer, of Fleet•street,
commonerr the business of the cloy by offering the
books seriatim, r in the printed catalogue to the atten-
tion of the guests. The practice is not, as at other
audios, to laical the lot down to the highest bidder, but
to put the book up at a certain pries below what
in usually called " subscription-price,"—or, in other words,
below the Nun at which the book can be obtained on any
other occasion. It is also the custom to put up books not
I ready for delivery, but only nearly so ; and it is carious to
watch the interest that is felt throughout the room when a
book of name is offerrd for the first time. It is a =gar of
ancient and proper deference to the great houses to let " the
Row" begin. Thus, with a popular work, Longman will
start with 350,-3inspkin with the same useaber,—Whit.
taker with 230,—Hamilton and Adams with the same num-
ber ; till at last It comes to " twenty. fives " and " fives,"—
sad at times toasty " one." Not less infnmtisg is it to be-
hold the eager way in which the numbers ea out are
passed peemptly on paper by the several booksellers—or the
quit isudesman-lik• manlier in which they east op the
several totals, sad look with mute astonishment one at
another at the grataer of the demand. Bala of this de-
migods. are limited to the two houses we have mentioned,
—and are always looked fennel to with interest as
eilesdiag an latisxof the approaching sewn. Mr. Murray's
lesAa±...wse the best he hae had since his hither's death ; be
(Ikea, sa that day to the amount of 19,00 W.
Ift=this be wondered at when the numbers sold are out
together. For instance, the trade took on that occasion
2,000 et Lord Campbell's " Chief Justices," 6,000 volumed
of " The Colonial Library, 1,400 of La yard's "Nineveh.
1,400 of Byroak Weeks int
one volume, 1,300 copies of Mr.
Borrow's new week " L'Avsagro," 900 of the new edition
of Mr. Cunaiegham's " Haati•heok f r London," 760 of
Mr. Grate's "Greeas," 760 of Mr. Carson's " Levant,"
and 600 of IL (taiga', new work. Bohol books sold in still
greater proportions!' 6,000 Markham's "Histories," 4,000
Little Artkuies Mieteey etßegland," 2,000 Wordsworth's
" Lode Grammar,' 4,290 tiomervila's " Geography," and
even Mrs. Ruadell, though thotsght to be antkasted,
midetaleed her repo:atlas with her se•w dame sad k..
new drew Asthma besefit se wail as bcoksellan by a sale
Mks Nu.

• NAVAL.
Poareetorrrit, Bac. 31. The Terrible, atem-frigate,
Gisela Mope, C. 8., arrived hare this neoraing from the
eastward, and will probably sail to-norm for Drreeport,
prior to proceeding to Lisboa or the Kediterransan.—The
Meister*, navel etere-aldp, Master Commander Welling-
M. mired here this efterneon, and after eabarkiagDminfarl
stores he ships on the African station, will pressed to I
pert, where Ike Advmare will either complete atone' for
bee septge, er to teem and ma bi turned over to a
larger dere ship for the sant. purpose. .The Comet, survey-
ing eteees-veseel. arrived early We morning bow the met
of fkotiend, and eanie tato harbour. The Bangalore, non-
viet-ebip, estbarked a auniber of epeeists at this port this
eseraine, sad pawed. for Mentos Bay.
Wooiwzan, Dec. 31 —,Promaithm, et•-•brop his been
down to tbie yord boat Deptford, having' been rive.
gm.
repaired by the ehlywriglite er that yard. Her
lak*gime been repaired berm, Will b• fitted by
saidasseasibor._ . si,T. alasb wised at this Fait ha
weak. Is so wasits saw Whin, sad to have her sassaisay
repaired.—VlM Amer, st.-peeket, is pawl" to reseive
ha sew beliere.—Jetegjggeter and Buterythe, Antis die-
ieaway shim areready 311 their 6 ' - lint the terser
sot near 4 sable . Wilt
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