The Sun.
London, England, 1852-05-18 00:00:00

THE BOOKSELLERS' ASSOCIATION.

Yesterday, according to appointment, the discussion of
the rules of the Booksellers' Association was resumed,
at Stratbeden House, before Lord Campbell, Mr. Grote,
and the Dean of St. Paul's. On this occasion the
undersellers attended, or were represented by Mr.
Griffin, Mr. Perrin, Mr. Chapman, Mr. Bickers, and Mr.
Bush.

The arbitrators having taken their seats at one o'cicck
precisely,
Lord Campbell called on the complainants to begin.
Mr. Bickers commenced and went over, for about
twenty minutes, the usual common-places about free
trade,•exploded systems, monopolies, and the like. He
was followed by
Mr. Chapman and Mr. Bush, both of whom gave in-
stances of the " coercion " practiced by the publishers to
put down underselling.
Mr. Griffin endeavoured to show that the association
was an illegal combination, but was stopped by Lord
Campbell.

a nMn e
ha e
sctheers Manchester,
booksellersstated that several soenvleyr
joinedal (si x
Me i rg.4 Poe
or rf i nt,hfer omm
or
the association from compulsion.
Mr. LONGMAN, on the part of the booksellers, showed
that the association had been formed at a meeting,?pub-
licly announced and advertised, at which allthe trade
was invited to be present. At that public meeting
the
rules of the association were unanimously adopted, and
the committee nominated. Mr. Longman then pro-
ceeded to animadvert on the recent speech of Mr. Glad-
stone in the House of Commons. Admitting, as he was
bound to do, Mr. Gladstone's talents and general infor-
mation, he was surprised and grieved at the numerous
inaccuracies which deformed that speech. Scarcely a
single fact was correctly stated. It was represented
that by " monopoly and combination" prices had been
so unnaturally raised that " the sale of books had been
reduced to its minimum." Now, in point of fact, the
whole current had been running, for past years, in a
totally opposite direction. Forty, or even thirty, years
ago, every important book was first issued in quarto, at
the price of two or three guineas. Now, quartos were
never seen. The most celebrated works were now content
to appear in octavo, and their own house (Longmans')
and Mr. Murray, provided for the public, " Read-
ing for the Rail," and " Home and Colonial Libraries,"
at a cheap rate. The whole tendency had long been to
greater and greater cheapness. The reason why new
works did not instantly circulate in large numbers was,
that people had not time to read, or shelves to hold, the
multiplicity of now works that were perpetually pouring
forth. As to the colonies, to which Mr. Gladstone had
referred, it had long been a particular object with the
leading publishers to provide supplies for the colonies at
the cheapest possible rate. Mr. Longman then adverted
to the taunt, that there was no one in the bookselling
trade who bad now the spirit to bring out a " Johnson's
Dictionary." He observed that he and Mr. Murray had
long been in search of an author who could produce a
new edition of Dr. Johnson's great work, but no such
person could be found.

- Mr. MURRAY followed Mr. Longman, and observed
that however successful one underseller at the present or
any other time might be, it had been found, as the result
of a long experience, that underselling, generally, only
ended in insolvency and ruin to all parties concerned.
Mr. J. H. PARKER and Mr. BIELBY followed on the
same side.

Mr. SEELEY observed that one of the opponents had
spoken in scorn of the Booksellers' Association, and had
asked, if it had succeeded, why were we all here? He
replied that the present meeting was a proof that the
association had succeeded. Other attempts in former
years had failed, and little had been heard of them.
But in the course of the last two years the present asso-
ciation had proved its efficiency. It had so hampered
the undersellers that Mr. Bickers was fain to write to
Mr. Gladstone and to Mr. Macaulay, and to Lord Camp-
bell, complaining of " persecution," and talking of being
" starved." This was the proof of the efficiency of the
association. It was this that brought them all there to-
day. And let the association go on quietly in its course
for another year or two, and even Mr. Bickers himself
would be fain to join it. Next, it was represented that
the undersellers were the advocates of free trade—of
" commercial freedom." He denied it. The cause of
free trade was represented by the booksellers,
not by the undersellers. They, the booksellers,
were really contending for commercial freedom.
Let this be closely looked at. He observed
that a writer on the other side said, " That which
is purchased is the property of the purchaser, who
has surely as mach right to sell it at a small profit as to
give it away." Who denied this? Who questioned it?
Not the Booksellers' Association. The truth was, that
those who wanted to infringe on other people's liberty
were the undersellers, not the booksellers. For thus
stood the case:—A publisher brought out a new book,
selling at 21s. Ho sold it to all the trade, without re-
serve. Among others (he was now supposing the case
as :it stood three years back) he soli some to Mr.
Bickers. But Mr. Bickers chose to ticket them up at
17s. Tee consequence of this was that Mr. Bickers
soon sold all his copies, but none of the other booksell, rs
around him could sell any. But did any ono contest
Mr. B.'s right to sell them at 175., or at 103. if he
pleased, or to give them away? Did any one want to
prosecute him, or to visit him with fine or imprisonment?
Nob had dreamed of such a thing. But presently,
Mr. B. having disposed of the first supply, comes back
to the publisher for some more. The publisher says,
" Yuu are spoiling the sale of this book; all the trade
tell me that they cannot sell it; you are damaging
-
me, the character of the book, and the trade
at large; I shall not sell you any more."
Now is not the publisher at liberty to take this
course? May he not have his share of " commercial
freedom?" Are not his books his own to do as he pleases
with? Mr. Bickers says that they are not; for when
the publisher says, "I will not sell to you," Mr. B.
answers, " But I will make you. I will go and com-
plain to Lord Campbell, to Mr. Macaulay, and to Mr.
Gladstone, and I'll soon force yon to sell to me." And
this is done in the name of " free trade!" Mr. S. next
observed on the delusion sometimes attempted to be
practised by representing this as a contest for high
prices and for dear books. The two questions had no
relation to each other. Books were being rapidly
cheapened, by the fair competition of publisher with
publisher; and this cheapening no one wished to stop.
But all the cheapening proposed in the present case was
that of selling a book at 263. in lieu of 293.—a cheapen-
ing which could have no sensible influence on the sale of
books, though it might ruin,many retailers. For the re-
maining few minutes, however, Mr. S. said he would con-
fine himself to the tract which be held in his hand, and
which contained the letters of nearly 100 authors, ad-
dressed to Mr. Parker on this question. This publication
was an absolute triumph to the Booksellers' Association.
He was quite willing to rest the whole case upon these
letters. It might be said, " What! do you claim that
as a triumph, when there are 80 authors cut of 90 who
declare that you are wrong?" Yes, he still claimed it
as a triumph of the most decided character. For, let it
be closely looked at, and the replies would range them-
selves under three heads. First, those authors who
t
answer, generally, without reasons. The question put
had been—Shall I sell your books to undersellers?
sleilloawn Mary
sale,of andhese
they gentlemen
The answer
authors
,yes; Oseokllsmoyf
no reason or motive
was a very natural one; but having
answered
were
et
once,thet e"Oh,
books to anybody who will buy h
than fifty letters of this character.
contro-
versy. There were more
d of eight gentlemen, who re-
plied,but a selfish one, it could have no weight in this
The second class consisted
the right.
and convincing.
They letters were argumentative
in the main, that the association was in
They were written by Dr. Bernays, Mr. Bush-
nan, Mr. Coleridge, Mr. Melville, Dr. Latham, Mr.
Merivale, Mr. Scott, and Mr. Walcott. A single passage
assigned with
from Mr. Coleridge 's letter may suffice as a specimen.
He says—" I think the avowal of a retailer that he
intends to sell at a low rate of profit is a good andtl
s.
who
sufficient reason for any publisher refusing
to deal
2eo writes,
r s at
iot thee
lsd
him on trade terms." But there was a third class,
profit M r .
from Braylf do double
f
decided against the association, and reasons.
And these reasons showed the real tendency
nldt ere
competitione 1 l era 'movement.re
dao:the
For
retailers'
per cent., half must retire, and tThetiostwheilrl ha
of course tend
to
of booksellersb in small
btorven ofs men
that the num-
wortbk. the annihilation
ilDatoinoabldosfontbseayosi—as 'ss
r.Kiemployedngsl eyi
in says,shopwork
that he
should
ld b
diniinished." And Mr. Ward says that "th by
e"
all means
buyers are paying for some 800 or 900 e London book
more than are needed." And the establishments
e remedy
" to reduce the number of ,the retail establishments."
he
proposes is
He adds, also, that he would extelltablishments."
the
" to retail trade of every kind ;" same principle
" in London alone several millions ashe
considers that
pro-
bably wasted on duplicate retail e t per annum are s a
nearly all who oppose and blishments." Tbus
condemn the Booksellers'
Association, and assign reasons
desire tck get rid of—to exterminate,do so with a declared
in fact, foutefiftlis
or seven-eighths of the present
scriptions. Follow out M. w retail tradesmen of all de-
Bard's plan, and you would
reduce London to the size
of
ristol, and Bristol to the
size of Bedford; and ship off seven-e th
pre-
sent traders to Van Dienaen'
Land. hths of But it was time
ne t
conclude; and he would do
this by simply reading a pro-
mise, or a hope, held out inThurs-
day evening journal of tact. In that journal it an
Lord Camp-
bell, Mr. Grote, and the was said that to , hole
Dean of St. Pease,' the wh
ole
matter might be safely committed for satisfactory settle-
ment and disposal." Ile
trusted that this would be the
case. He trusted that nothingunsettled, but
would be
that the whole matter would now be "satisfactorily
disposed of." And in this trust he left the question
with confidence in their hands.
Lord CAMPBELL then consulted with the other arbi-
trators, and announced that their opinion would be pro-
nounced on Wednesday next, at two o'clock.

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• .
COURT CIRCULAR:
Her Majesty and his Royal Highness Prince Albert
went at half-past nine o'clock yesterday morning, to
Marlborough Heine, Pall-mall, attended by the Ho-
nourable Mary Seymour, Lard Charles Fitzroy, and
Lieutenant-Colonel Hon. A. Gordon. The Queen and
Prince inspected the Exhibition of the Department of
Practicsl Art and School oe Design, and also viewed the
Vernon Gallery.

The Rajah of Coorg, accompanied by his daughter and
an attendant, was presented to the Queen at an audience
yesterday, at Buckingham Palace, by the Right Iron.
J. C. Ilerr'es, President of the Board of Control for the
Affairs of India.

The Duchess d'Orleans visited her Majesty yesterday.
His Royal Highness Prince Albert went, yesterday
afternoon, to the Royal Institution, Albemarle-street,
attended by Lieutenant Colonel Hon. A. Gordon.
Her Majesty had a dinner parts last evening at Buck-
ingham Pnlaee. The company included her Royal
Highness the Duchess of Kent, the Duke and Duchess
of Buccleuch, the Marquis of Lansdowne, Lady Fanny
[Toward, the Baroness de Speth, Viscountess Melbourne,
Viscount llardingo, Viscount Mandeville, Lord and Lady
Burghley, and Lieutenant-General Sir Charles and
Lady Napier.
His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge honoured
Lord Adolphus Fitzclarence with his company at dinner
yesterday, at his residence in St. James's Palace. The
party to meet his Royal Highness included the Earl
of Maln3eahury, the Earl of Bessborough, the Earl St.
Germans, Lord Elcho, Sir George Wombwell, Lord Fre-
derick Fitzclarence, Major Harvey, and Mr. Tomline.
A deputation on the subject of the Charitable Trusts
Bill, consisting of Sir Robert H. Inglis, Bart., Mr. Wiu.
Tootie (treasurer), Mr. Michael Smith (chairman of the
board of management of the Middlesex Hospital), Mr.
James Nisbett, and Mr. Alexander Shedden (secretary),
had an interview with Mr. Secretary Walpole yesterday,
at the Home-office.
Captain Cramer Roberts (Assistant Inspector-General
of Constabulary),
and Captain Stanley Carr (Chairman
of the Committee of Australian Colonists), had an in.
terview with Sir John Pakington yesterday, at the Co-
lonial-office.
Dr. Paris had an interview with Mr. Secretary Wal-
pole yesterday at the Home-office, to present the annual
report of the National Vaccine Board.
Mr. Horsman, M.P., and Mr. West, M.P., bad inter-
Walpole. views yesterday,at the Home-office, with Mr. Secretary

Dispatches were received at the Colonial-office yester-
day from the Governor of St. Miens, and from the Go-
vernor of Vancouver's Island.

SURREY ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS.
anything but propitious for theoccasionw,
The Surrey Z )ological Gardens
opened for the season,
many pleasure-grounds that
and although the weather was
are certainly as popular and
neverexceedinglytefavri
thatnt o of
he
eh the
shouldpubli c
enjoy wt h attractive as
numerous. Among roheatchAa aetymteeti
majority
ntnlaeojgdrroadrnttaihhctyyeee
extensiveand liberality, it is
ambutusfeamirethes
which we are rejoiced to know is conti patronage
upon him. During the winter many nually bestowed
improvementssuggested
which
the experience of former seasons has
been carried out. New parterres have alleensteddhdave
grottos formed, and walks laid out; while the whole
added,
whole of
the grounds are trimmed and kept in a state of scrupu-
lous neatness and good order. The menagerie has also
received some valuable additions, among which are two
very fine lion cubs from South Africa. They are both
about the size of large mastiffs, and the mane of the lion,
which is just growing, gives him a peculiarly rough and
" seedy" appearance, very unbecoming in a king cf
beasts. The principal feature of the attractions of this
year consists in the colossal panoramic view of Mount
Etna, which has added another laurel to the many
already gained by Mr. Denson, the artist. In spite of
the many specimens we have seen at these gardens of
Mr. Danson's artistic skill and ingenuity, it is quite
surprising how, with the limited space at his command,
he has been able to convey such an excellent idc aof
great extent and fine perspective as he has done in this
picture. The foreground, which is bold and rugged, is
occupied by the mountain caves of Vulcan and the Cy-
clops, which appear almost to stand out from the can-
vas, while stretching backwards into the distance is the
snow-capped height of Etna. The whole of the colours
in this picture are harmoniously blended, and with an ad-
mirable view to effect. The slumbering volcano pit, with
its mimic forests and villages, and surmounted by a rugged
crater, form altogether one of the best panoramic views
which these gardens have put forward for some seasons.
In the early part of the evening the orchestra performed
some of the most popular musical compositions of the
day, while at intervals the elephants and other tame
quadrupeds went through a variety of tricks under the
direction of the keeper, which afforded infinite amuse-
ment to the juvenile portion of the company, for whose en-
joyment these delightful gardens are peculiarly adapted:
At dusk there was an eruption of Mount Etna, which
faithfully exhibited on a smaller scale the horrors of its
vast original. The fire-works at the end were remark-
ably beautiful, and the appearance of the mountain,
with huge streams of burning lava pouring down its
sides, was very well managed, and elicited much ap-
plause. We strongly recommend those of our friends
who are partial to outdoor recreations—and who is there
that is not?—to place this charming retreat for a sum-
mer's evening upon their list of amusements.