The Sun.
London, England, 1852-06-01 00:00:00

BOOKSELLERS' ASSOCIATION.

On Friday a general meeting of the association was
held in the Lower Room of Exeter Hall, for the purpose
of receiving a report from the general committee on the
subject of the late conference, and for the general par-
poses of the association. On the platform we observed
Messrs. Longman, Murray, natehard, Bigg, Bohn,
Seeley, Dalton, nice Mr. W. Longman, jun., was unani-
mously voted into the chair, and was loudly cheered.
The CHAIRMAN said that, with the permission of the
meeting, their proceedings would commence with the
secretary reading the report of the committee of what
had taken place since their last meeting.
Mr. EARLE begged to know whether this was a public
or a private meeting?
The CHAIRMAN replied that the determination which
had been arrived at'by the committee was, that all per-
sons interested should be invited, and that no reporters,
whetter members of the society or not, should be ad-
mitted.(Cheers.)
A motion was made that reporters should be requested
to withdraw, on the ground that this was a private
meeting. •
The CHAIRMAN said that the subject was one which
bad been well considered by the committee as to whe-
ther reporters should be present or not. It was cora-
sidered by the committee that when so large a body *as
invited, 1,200 invitations having been issued, it would
be in vain to hope to exclude a report of some kind trora
the nevispaperS—Ofeare—tt was therefore felt that it
would be desirable to have a•careful impartial report, by
parties duly authorised,. rether than any report which
might be sent to the newspapers without the knowledge
or consmt of .the meeting at large.
Mr. SEELEY conjured the meeting not to
accede, to
the proposition which had been made. He begged the
meeting by no means to exclude the reporters.
Mr. BIGG said he should move at once as an amend-
ment that reporters be admitted. The committee had
arrived at the conclusion that it would be impcssible to
exclude a report from the newspapers. Those who
knew anything of newspapers knew that if authorised
parties did not furnish the report some other parties
would send a report of some kind or other. Now be
would suggest that. it would be better they
should have a faithful report of what passed. If they
refused to have reporters present, they might have a
report from some gentleman who_ might be favourable to,
or opposed to, their views. He wished them to do jus-
tice to all parties.
the motion for the exclusion of reporters was ulti-
mately withdrawn..
Mr. SAMPsoN Low, the secretary, then read the fol-
lowing report of the committee:
geport of the Committee of Publishers and Booksellers
sleeted at the Meeting of the Members of the Book-
sellers Association, held pursuant to public advertise-
ment• on placard, in the Lower Room, Exeter Hall,
on the• 14th of July, 1851:
" Subsequently to the meeting of the members of this
association in July last, the attention of the committee
was directed to the settlement of points on which there
was variation of practice on an equitable footing to all
parties; and after many conferences with those more'
immediately interested, rules on the subject of the allOw-
anCe to clergymen, and also on that to schools and
teachers, were adopted, which rules were finally, at a ge-
neral meeting of the committee, unanimously agreed to.
" Proceeding steadily to deal with those and other
undecided questions which were felt to be unfair, and
received both from the London and country trade the
most cordial support, the committee was led to entertain
the hope that the report of the present year would be of
a Met satisfactory claaractor.
".13ut the tiesueceesful working of the association
soon produced a result which, however, it might be
lamented, could excite no surprise. Those booksellers
who, as knower undersellers, had been refused books by
the wholesale houeeseapPlied to several eminent authors;
in the light of aggrieved complainants. Thus a discus-
sloe commenced:which threatened results so serious as
to compek your committee at last to propose d reference
of she whole question to certain distinguished members
of the literary-world, by whose decision your committee'
pledged itself to abide; in this pledge it will be obvious
that nom) but the committee will be included, nor will
its members as individuals lie prevented from taking
part in any ulterior deliberations that may be thought
desirable.
" At a special meeting of the general committee, held
April 1, 1852, present sixteen out of the whole nieeteea
members, the following resolution was unanimously
adopted:— . .
" That a conference be invited of Lord Campbell and
certain members of the booksellers' trade, for the pur-
pose of deciding whether the Booksellers' Association
shall be carried on under its present regulations or not,
it being upderstood that the decision of Lord Campbell
and other literary gentlemen shall be binding on, the
committee, who agree, if the decision he adverse, to con-
vene the trade and resign their functions.' •
" Replies accepting the invitation were received from
Lord Campbell, the - Very Rev. Dean Milmen, and
George Grote. Biqa. and; the first meeting of the con-
ference was held at Statheclen House,. on the 131 h of
April, at which meeting the gentlemen above-named
were met by a numerous deputation of the London and
provincial committees, who severally explained the na-
ture of the trade regulations, and urged the necessity of
the existence and support of the same.
" At the conclusion Lord Campbell said, he would
be happy to meet the gentlemen again upon an early
day, when he hoped those who opposed the trade regu-
lations would also attend to state their case.
"Subsequently the same meeting was fixed for Mon-
day, the'l7th of May, on whiobboccasion the same depu-
tations attended, anti else the opponents, and atter a
patient hearing of nearly three hours, Lord Campbell
stated that he and the gentlemen connected with him
would be prepared to deliver their opinion co the fol-
lowing Wedeeitley.
"Oa which cley his Lordship read as follows (vide
Lord Campbell's -peners)..
"The committee,' bo AriVer, it rezrete the decision come
to by these gentlemen, aud however it tufty deplore, the
reiutti which it untietputes may ensue elve no elterna-
five but to reAiilti , its functions, agreeably to the r'esidu-
tion of the Bth of April; and it will now consequently
rest with the trade - itself to determine if any ulterior
measures are necessary, and of what character these
measures should be.
"In the peculiar position in which the committee findi
itself placed,•iedees not feel it expedient to accompany
its resignation by the suggestion of any definite course
of action.
" The whole 13 tely of the trade, however, now assem-
bled is, of courseefree to adopt any measures it shall
deem expedient "
The CHAIRMAN said their worthy secretary, Mr.
Sampson Low, having read the report of the committee
be had but little to do.; nevertheless, he desired to re-
capitaliteto some extent the circumstances which: had
led to the calling the trade together on this occasion,
and in'44-)E &fere them the business which it would be
necessary to ge through. They (the committee) hid
been duly impressed wile the responsibility tvbion the
association generally had placed upon their shoulders,
and with the duty which was imposed upon them to carry
out the objects of this association. The committee had
left no stone unturned to carry out those objects, and
really thdie success was tits cause of their,-downfall.
—(Cheers.) Actuated by the moat conscientious
motives, that committee considered• what curse they
should adopt,- and they determined to make an appeal to
crtikin authors—to such' msn as Lord Campbell, the
14'ra Chief Justice of England, and other eminent men,
°•111111e upon them to pronounce an opinion. In the mean
tqi,Toesleathhecit press had taken up the subject; and having re-
sideratiou
to the
Campbell and others to give their con-
Setees to
e question, the committee pledged them
with whom by his . Lordship's; decision, end those
heaseted, whatever the result might be. The
Meeting were
chairmen, eng,trore what the decision was, and he, as
bowther trntletwa who had acted as the
committee,. hag
ing to the (netting °us* to, perform the duty of return-
power which they. had been
return-
. leases to piece la their
Iliands. They had now to con-
. The form another association, or
would remodel this.
hmmittee could not dictate
to those present. what fib done at esent. When
itth weyas fretairretdhotsheeywchoounileitehea pr
l
rexspsress their opinion, but
ebar tko determine whe-
ther the asseciation should
thought it right to. state, whether
the en up or not. He
+differed from him
aridithe.rett of the committee, eyo
not bat rogrpt the dissolution ef
ant, that they could
• f which the booksellileads had
under th
had been SO
auspices o ,°
long advantateoUslY writhe On.
by those who
the
, hear it
mast net be forgotten
they, could not eta t ,
.members
of the society—indeed,
annot be
the matter in dispute
c°,3ethete it—
the as a Conimittec,
carried one without the greatest amount ef
tention on the part of those who were entraeterris_„cl. at-
affairs of the association. Without an immense amount
the
of care: slid attention not
tubnt
Nib an association could
carried 03. He felt it his duty' to state that the teiid:
as at piehent conducted, could not be exercised. with;
the adoption of practices which must be repugnant
his feelings. It must not be forgotten that such an as_
sedation ai this could only be curried on with the ut-
most vigilance and exertice; yet Will there haddlwuya
existed, and would east, a great amountOrviolation or
pledges,- which nothing could preinnit,---
Which did injury
to the honest man, and which afforded protection only
to those whom no pledges could bind. The honest
trader anted up to his
pledgite-heeeiss Stabbed in the
dark, and knew not freas whence the' blow came.—
(Cheera„) He hoped, however, that under new arrenge-
meats which might be framed it would be possible fur
the:trade as between booksellers and publishers still,no
be carried on with success and in a eeertehte-
-6 manner,
and that those who were most opposed to the viewer of
the association would, fie& it nu longer profitable to
disassociate them-selves from the association. Ha hoped%
however, that out of these facts benefits .would ultimately
arise, and that none of them would regret whet had
centered., Ile thanked the meeting for having listened
to him, and hid Only to add that he now resigned his
functions. .
The Chairmen then left the chair, and was sue-
;seeded by
Mr. Hatehard, w;io wits received with deem
Mr. Rime:tilos said, he oh:iv:tree' tUat by the
the eettenittee, it appeared they bad pledged report of
to abiee by h„ d ; ; , ,„ themselves
ec,,,on of 1111) tE•ti. Wore they
pr par -d:Suggs
tetitof cnrri; any fresh sueee:eion for the be.
Lostcm ner''; '
the toteireoe „,,eist_eht ,ey fled better stick close to
had to c,-,,ndider fie presumed that what they
on
or
net mien ;hwahether this assoCiatiou should go
others of.the committee ques.tion was decided he and
would be •-e a
any 'questions which ehot be p, p red te answer
lIGIABERLET the put to them. '
first
the tha.ake of this meeting .resolution—" That
thelate committee for . their exdeurl to tne members of.
conduct of the association during the past att"tiqz.l._tntha
theireearnest endeavours to obtain theitest yeer, and. fisr
lonia The outcry whichsysn of unie
raised-- uriainated —with -the nudersci,i„! been-
Pegs, as if the bookseller got Red' awl
clear profit

Mr. JOHN•CHAPDIA.N entered into a :variety of techni-
cal details, and great noise prevailed. •
The motion having been seconded by Mr. SPona, was
°EurLied unanimously.
;„',l*-.Bzz.t.uir urged that.thedneeting should not be in
-.4. a hurry to dissolve the association. They should
oeulettre,Alvs. till they'had matured some other plan. Ha
of the „3,:tr able speeah '1,4 moving" That the question
trade he'4`e Ado in future adopted with regard to the
Mr.-Lotion.:
xv. Trtiar,the following gentlehten. -
NEV.-SANDERS seconded the resolution.
disselution of tzth's:iid, that. however• much-he felt the
seriously eeii,ici_t association, he thought they must.
As arm tiividuarzhat they social(' do tor the future.
tire fo the assoc. felt himself bound in tonour to re-
attempt t-_, r_vive. iltti°49 which it would,. be -vain to
fir' 014.tivIca advocated
.
association was, ter:ett„ed the principle on which the
~._?..
„ere reduced the re
DO too greet. .If the„u sviThe present allowances were
ee11,..i5 must give up tairbook.
occupation. munn s and rstire to soma other
• Mr. fjyINaTON, who took the chair - Mr. Reichard
stated that be felt ' • - "
nuhself bound
rtloy followset. . the
bee :War satisfaction at
er;tiiirrninpre,
gr. muita4a looked with
which rile. L10g02,,
11A a? prope
par.
this large me4idg. It hurt .
'whom he addressed had been re,de `flerted that those
the tools of the pur-
ers of worko..,' WO it!'" the ease?_(o . -
would
ho.'') He hoped tat reply be
cun ries of "NJ, -
other things to- k Times. jle believed, joerd, among
;truth would prevail; Ile had hitherto thouo'll'etver, that
public opinion,there was Owe bptce of ;,,.„ that in
; nee the .I"',_"ce, but be .
was sorry to may in this 41:fits y had peen 'f'•
.dealt with. Vrhst were the retail booksellers isun attly
for? No encroachment of enlargemeet of
1)1.0yr/ding
E 4 Re
;was sorry to say 'that the public were not favourable to
them, when their on pocket was eeLeerngtis and he
iwas afraid.. that- they should not get justice frain,the
public. It was for , that .reason that, after due me.
aideration, as far as:he was concerned, he must re-
algn
.hi office.lle .eirenily advised the great body.of
the trade to WO* that unanimity Visa 5 ttength. rieutid