The Sun.
London, England, 1852-04-15 00:00:00

. .
APRIL 1852:
. _
,T, ,Ts .
N° 18 585.] LONDON, THURSDAY— „. .1 -,''. - ." v, , .
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•
NEW WORK ON THE WEST INDIES.
Now ready, in 2 vols., With Illustrations, 215.,
FIVE -YEARS IN
lIE E ST. 'INDIES.
By
CHARLES WILLIAM DAY, Esq.
Colburn and Co., Publishers, 13, Great Marlborough-street.
To be had of all Booksellers. • • •

SPERMATORRTICEA AND STRICTURE. • '
Just published, Bvo., in cloth, price 3s. 6d., by post (free), 45.,
ATREATISE on the CURE of S rRICTURE
of the URETHRA ; containing the True Reasons why that
Disease so often assumes such an intractable 'character; with Rules
and Instructions for the successful Treatment of every Form of
Urethral Contraction, based on the results of extensive and pro
longed experience. To which Is added, Practical Observations on
the Treatment of Sperrnatorrhma by Cauterization.
By F. B. COURTENAY, 51.R.C.5.L. • '
"These who complain most loudly are those only who know not
how to use the common ,Instruments. . . .
tice of surgeons has been marked with all kinds of violence, and in-
difference about the simple cure of diseases, and a passion lfo.r
• The prac-
Operations, and all the excesses and horror of surgery."--John Bel
11. Bailliere, 219, Regent-street, London.• .•••

HIND °STA-N.—This Graid MOVING D 10,-
R tiMA is now open daily at Twelve, Three, and Eight
o'clock, at the Asiatic Gallery, Baker-street Bazaar, Portman-square.
Admission Is., 23., and 2s. 6d..Painted by Mr, P. Phillips,•Mr. Ilarhe,
and Mr. Knell, from Lieut -Colonel' Luard's own and other original
drawings. The Museum is open half an hour before each exhibition.
" The spectator is made to ascend.the stream from the flat region
of Calcutta to the glorious range of the Himalayas, and everything
of interest in the way is mapped and pictured with the fidelity of a
geographer and the skill of an artist."--,AthenMum.
_ _

AT THE PRINCE of WALES'S BAZAAR,
209, REGENT- S fREET.
COSMORAMA, DIORAMIC, and PANORAMIC EXHIBITION.
Now exhibiting, the following Splendid 'Views, Historical' and
Scenic :
Edingbureh during a Conflagratiou,Are and smoke in motion=
The Interior of St. Peter's, at Rome, with Dioramic effect—Mont
BlancCastellainare, near Naples—Grand Cairo—Park of Versailles

•Motint St. Bernard, and the Ruins of Pastum.
Open from Ten till Six. Admission 'la.; Children Half-price.

THE NEW ALTERATIVE.—No cheap patent
Medicine has ever yet been known sr) powerful and beneficial
as LEWIS'S' CONCENTRATED ALTERATIVE PILLS and BAL-
SAMIC OINTMENT. The Alterative Pills are an excellent family
medicine, calculated' to supersede entirely the use of mercury or ca-
lomel. Speedy and safe enough for the nursery. The Balsamic
Ointment is unrivalled in cases of scrofula, tumours, bad legs, can-
cerous affections. &c.
Wholesale and retail depot, Messrs. Hingston, Hutch, and CO., 1,
Old Bond-street, London ; and sold by alfrespectable medicine ven-
dors.

FULLY EQUIPPED, and. READY for any
COUNTRY.
No matter whether east, west, north, or south —for any profession,
either shepherds, agriculturalists, mechanics, or gold-diggers—for a
ong journey or a shorter one, every accommodation is afforded by
the universally approve OUTFITS furnisiaed at a cheap rate by E.
MOSES and SON. These Outfits are not only cheap, but they are
every way complete and portable, and are the most surprising proofs
of the advantages secured to every Emigrant applying to E. MOSES
aad eON for his Outfit. The unprecedented patronage bestowed on
the Outfitting Department of E. MOSES and SON'S gigantic busi-
ness is the most satisfactory evidence of their unrivalled qualifica-
tions to supply the most suitable Outfits far all classes of Emigrants.
Possessing an Outfit from E. MOSES and SON'S; a gentleman or a
working-man may consider himself fully equipped and ready for any
journey or any country. All articles comprehended in the peerless
Outfits supplied by E. MOSES and SON are of warranted superiority,
being designed for the Emigrant's daily use either during his journey
or at his destination. E. MOSES and SON furnish these OUTFITS
for 31. 155., Si. 155., 111. I Is., and upWards. A detailed list can be
had on application, or forwarded, post free, to any part of the
kingdom.

PARENTS AND GUARDIANS SHOULD IMMEDIATELY INSPECT THE
SPRING STYLES IN JUVENILE CLOTHING. THEY COMPRISE GREATER
NOVELTY IN MATERIAL AND DESIGN THAN EVER BEFORE DISPLAYED
IN THIS DEPARTMENT.

MEDICAL ADVICE ON TNE SECRET INFIRMITIES OF
TOUT I AND MATURITY.
With Plain Directions for their Prevention and Cure.
FIFTY COLOURED ENGRAVINGS ON STEEL.
ust published, in French, En:dish, German, Dutch, Spanish, 'and
Italian, in a Sealed Envelope, 2s. 6d., or post-free from the Author
ior Forty-two Stamps,

LF-P R E SER V A T ION; a
11/4, Medical Treatise on the Physiology of Marriage, and on the
'secret Infirmities and Disorders of Youth and Maturity, usually ac•
mired at an early period of life, which destroy the physical and
mental powers, diminish and enfeeble the natural feelings, and ex-
.anst the vital energies of Manhood; with Practical Observations on
D.. certain Prevention and successful Treatment of Nervous Debi
ity, Local and Constitutional Weakness, Syphilis, Stricture, and all
Diseases and derangements resulting from Indiscretion, as adopted
oy Lallemand, Iticord, and other eminent members of the faculty of
France. With Fifty coloured Engravings, illustrating the Anatomy,
Physiology, and Diseases of the Reproductive Organs, explaining
their structures, uses, and functions, and the various injuries that
Are produced in them by solitary habits, excesses, and infection.

By SAMUEL LA'MERT, M.D.,
37, BEDFORD-SQUARE, LONDON.

Doctor of Medicine, Matriculated Member of the University of Edin-
burgh, Honorary 'Member of the London Hospital Medical Society,
Licentiate of Apothecaries' Hall, London, Member of the Hunterian
Medical Society of Edinburgh, &c., &c.

This work contains a plain and complete description of the ana-
tomy and physiology of the reproductive organs, and of their relative
:onditlons in health and disease. Dr. La'Mert, who has taken the
highest medical honours, as evidenced by the diplomas and testimo-
nials inserted in the work, is the only legally qualified medical man
who has exclusively, and for many years, devoted his studies to the
treatment of these complaints. He may be consulted with advan-
tage by all those whose constitutions may have become debilitated
through secret practices acquired in youth, or by the excesses of
ir.ta.r years, whereby the pleasures of life are marred, the objects of
marriage frustrated, and existence itself rendered a term of unceas-
ing misery and regret.
Published by the Author, and may be had of J. Gilbert, 49, Pater-
aoster-row ; Hannay, 63, Oxford-street ; Starie, Titchbome-street,
Haymarket; Gordon, 146, Leadenhall-street; Mann, 23, Cornhill ;
or free by post for forty-two stamps, from the author's residence,
who may be consulted on these disorders personally. or by letter,
trstin Ton +ill Tr... Anfl from Rix to Eight.

THE SILENT FRIEND,
IN Mx LANGUAGES-FORTIETH EDITION.

CONTAINING VIE REMEDY FOR PREVENTIoN OF DISEASE.
itiustrated by One Hundred Anatomical Coloured Ekgravinga.
at ,PHYSICAL DISQUALIFICATIONS. GENERATIVE' INCA-
PACITY, AND IMPEDIMENTS TO MARRIAGE.

I Now Edition, enlarged to 196 pages, price 2s. 6d. by post, from
the Establishment, 3s. 6d. in stamps.

..HE SILENT FRIEND, a Medical Work on
I, the exhaustion and physical decay of the system, produced by
acessive indulgence, the consequences of infection, or the abase of
mercury, with directions for the use of the preventive lotion, fOl-
- by observations on Marriage, ana the disqualifications which
prevent it. Illustrated by 100 Coloured Engravings. By ft. and L.
PERRY and CO., Consulting Surgeons, 19, Berners-street, Oxford-
street, Lonlon. Published by Sherwood and 3, Paternoster-
row, and sold by Bonney, 53, and Sanger, 160. Co.,Oxford-street ; Gor-
don, 146, Leadenhall-street; 95, Farringdon-street ; W. Sutton, 10,
Bow Church-yard; W. Edwards, 67, St. Paul's Church-yard;
Butler, 4, Cheapside ; It. Johnson, 68, Coriahill.
PANT I. treats of the anatomy and physiology of the re-productive
organs, and is illustrated by 28 Coloured Engravings.
PA= 11. treats of the consequences resulting from tacessive in-
inlgence, and their lamentable effects on the system, producing
mental and bodily weakness, nervous excitement, and generative
ncapacity. Illustrated by 10 Explanatory Engravings.
PAST 111. treats of the diseases resulting from infection, either in
the primary or secondary form, and contains explicit directions for
their treatment. This section is illustrated by 62 Coloured Env av-
lags.
PasT IV. contains a Remedy for the Prevention of Disease by a
si nple application, by which the danger of infection is obviated.
• -

- -
Parr V. 1,1 devoted to the consideration of marriage, and its du-
tin. The causes of unproductive anion are also considered, and the
whole subject critically and philosophically inquired into.
Tir2 CogmAL BALX OF SVELIACVM is exclusively employed In
t 'eating nervous and sexual debility, impotence, &c,, 1 ls. and 335.
par bottle. The Concentrated Detersive Essence, an anti-syphilitic
remedy, for purifying the blood in cases of infection, secondary
fymptores, eruptions, and the abuse of mercury, 11 s. and 33a. per
settle. Perry's Purifying Specific Pills, IS. 9d-, 4u. 6d., and 1 is.
per box, a certain remedy for gonorrhma, gleet, stricture, and
shronlo inflammation of the bladder. Consultation fee, if by letter,
Lt. h. minute detail of the case is required: age, habits, and posi-
tion in society. 51. Packets, with advice, to be had at the rAta-
blt.tment 0:41y, ,37 'which the fee, 11., is saved. Messrs. Perry,
Aargeons, are in attendance, daily, at 19, Berners-street, Oxford-
itreet, London, from Eleven till Two, and Five to Eight g on sun=
tv.rn TlpvpA to Cr.

Belo &Sr au. liwdha re It:
disturbance. a
A BALLOON ASCENT.
p a ddsisre balloon ascent took place in the Champ
announcing
been discovered : Duringmom en t
the appeared eared
previous likely
week
eteok lead
l .liege
solanicer
that up in all the quarters of Paris,
sure system of aerial navigation had
, and .the mode gentleman, when anundatlye, lukudaenrd
tthheatdairneeatsicoenntowf would
take Pl"e on thl; 11.
ocpportunity would be afforded to
the scientific world
the apparatus which
he had invented
of persons in consequennaceode of workin it. Thousands
Mars, paying io sous each fifoocked toghe Champ de
in the centre, and view the r leave to enter the space
appeared going on with gren,tPrecleldings. Everything
balloon, which was certainly a sptinadriitY, as round the
seen a strange collection of d one, was to be
wheels
jumbled together, with the words and
paddles, all
• in gigantic characters,on a boardste '
d Hille,
written
dat last becameove Th.
so great that the mounted mu i-
eciro
awl
guards and the troops placed around were obliged
be on the alert, to prevent theA barrier 1144®s betd
broken down by the pressure.
the
:are. considerablge
delay, four or five persons entered
, and the next
the balloon rose
moment . from the earth, amidst loud
ointment from the spectators;
cries of anger and disappointment . ,
was the arest point of at.
for the famous systerge, which
remaining where its•
traction, was left behind, quietly
allday!Wha
mechanism had been puzzling the crowd
ck sters
made the matter more annoying was that
the tri
below, as if in
in the car keat saluting the poor dupes
mockery at the anger which they testified. A tremen.
doss rush was made towards the machinery, BP,-narently,
with a design to tear it to pieces; but the municipal
guards made such good use of their horses that they
succeeded in checking the movement, and eventusll9, by
their forbearance and good humour, induced the crowd
to retire.

THE FEEDING OF TROOP HORSES.—Colonel Car-
lovitch, on behalf of his Imperial Majesty the Emperor of
Rnssia, has entered into a contract with Dlessrs. Richmond
and Chandler, agricultural implement manufacturers, for the
supply of machinery to carry out a new arrangement in the
preparation of provender for the Imperial Regiment of Che-
valier Horse Guards, Sr. Petersburgh. The process to which
the food is to be subjected will save the often over-fatigued
animal much labour,
and, at the same time, effect a great
national economy.

THE BOOKSELLING SYSTEM.

Yesterday a body of gentlemenrepresenting the
Bookselling Association of-London and the provinces
waited upon ,Lord Campbell, 'at Stratheden-house,
Kensington, to confer with his Lordship and other
gehtlemen of literary distinction on the present posi-.
tion of the bookselling trade., • The deputation con;
silted of Mr. W. Longman (the chairman -of the
Booksellers' Association), Mr, Murray, Mr. IL B.
Seeley, Mr. J. H. Paiker:(oiford), Mr. Pickering,
Mr. Deighton (LiverpOOl), Mr. Simms (Manchester),
Mr. Douglas (Edinburgh), •,Mr. J. J. Mills, Mr. H.
G. Blfin, Mr. Dalton, Mr.-Taylor, Mr. Beilby (Bit-
mir4.,Yhadi), • Mr. Rivingtob,- and Mr: Sampson Low
(secretary to the London_Aspciation)., The Noble
and Learned Lord, who_ Was. accompanied by the.
Dean of St: Paul's (the Very Rev. Dr. Millman)
and. Mr., George Grote, received the deputation with
great courtesy.
Lord CAMPBELL observed, that he had been called
upon to render his assistance in settling the important
question which had arisen in.the bookselling trade,
and 'he certainly should be:Very glad if, associated
with such gentlemen a-s-Dr. Milman, Mr. Grote, and
otheri-Who might afterwards assist them, he could be
of any service in arranging a matter ,of great im-
portance to the bookiellers.of this country: • The cir-
capsta.nces under which therhad Met would be best
explained by the following- letter,
_which he had re-
ceived from. Mr. Low, the secretary td the Book,
sellers' Association :

" 169, Eleet-street, April 8, 1852.
"My Lord,:—l am directed to inform your Lordship
that the committee of the Booksellers' Association have
this day met, and, impressed with the importance of
givibg serious consideration- to the present position of
the bookselling trade, they have " instructed me to re-
quest.your Lordship to permit a few of their body, to
have the honour of conferring with your-Lordahip and
such other literary gentlernein as it may be agreeable to
your Lordship should be present on the occasion..
" I beg-to acquaint your _Lordship that,Mr. William
Longman, who took the chair, informed, the meeting
that, having consulted Mr. Macaulay, he was-encouraged
to hope that your Lordship would not object to such a
conference as the committee have the honotir Eo request,
and that Mr. Longman added that Mr. Macaulay sug-
gested it might be desirable that Lord Granville and
Mr. Grote should be associated with your Lordship. To
this view the meeting gave their cordial assent.

" Ism further direcied to submit to your Lordship's
consideration the addition of Sir'Bulwer Lytton, Sir W.
Page Wood, and the Dean of St. Paula, or the Rev.
Canon Wordsworth. • • ;

" The committee would esteem -it a favour if your
Lordship would inform me whether this proposal meets
your approbation, and, if so, whether your Lordship
would wish me to take any steps to convene the meeting.
" I have also to inform your Lordship that the follow-
ing resolution was proposed by the chairman, and was
unanimously agreed That a conference be in-
vited bewteen Lord Campbell, in conjunction with a few
of our principal authors, and certain members of the
baokselltng trade, for the purpose of deciding whether
the Booksellers' Association shall be carried on under its
present regulations or not, it being understood that the
decision of Lord Campbell and the other literary gen-
tlemen shall be binding on the committee, who agree, if
the decision be adverse, to convene the trade and resign
'heir functions.' "

He at once acceded to the suggestion, and he would
have been most happy had the other gentlemen men-
tioned in Mr. Low's note been present to-day, .but
unfortunately Lord . Granville was prevented from
attending by ill health, and neither Sir L. Bulwer
Lytton, nor Sir P. Wood were able to meet them.
Having considered it only right that on a question of
this nature both sides should be heard, he had requested
that Messrs. Bickers and Bush, Mr. Bentley, and other
gentlemen who took an opposite view to the Booksel-
lers' Association should have notice of this meeting,
and be requested to attend. aeThad received, in reply
to that invitation, a letter .fro.p. Mr. Chapman, corn.
plaining that longer notice of the meeting -had not
been given him. He (Lord Campbell) regretted that
there should he -any ground-for such a complaint,
but he did not know- that, under the circumstances,
longer notice could well have' been given. He had
also received a letter...from . Messrs. Bickers and
Bush in reply to the invitation addressed to them,
stating that they felt that upon-this-.question compro-
mise.was impossible; that the' inevitable tendency of
the age was to open an unlimited free trade ; and
that they felt assured no other ,arrangetrient would or
could be final. They added that a letter from them
appeared in the Times of that (Wednesday) morning,
explaining their view of the case.• He (Lord Camp-
bell) could only say for himself and the kentlenien
by whom he was assisted,_ that 4 they had not formed
any opinion upon the question it issue, but that they
desired that the most ample opportunitiea should be
afforded to all parties who took an interest in it to
lay before them any statements, or to adduce any
evidence bearing on the mate:
Dr. Milman and Mr. Grote expressed their concur-
rence in the observations of the. Noble Lord.

. _
Mr. LONGMAN then preceeded at considerable
length to explain the objects of ace Booksellers'. Asso-
ciation, and the 'questions in•dispute between that
association and a portion of the bookselling trade,
termed " undersellers." The Managers and members
of the association were, he said, most anxious to afford
to the gentlemen who had consented to act as arbitrators
or judges in this matter the fullest information; and the
most ample means of arriving at a. just conclusion. He
was deeply sensible of the heavy responsibility which
he incurred in undertaking to open this question, but
he was fortunately supported by a large body of gen-
tlemen connected with all branches of the trade, not
only in London, but in Scotland, in Manchester, in
Birmingham, and in other" provincial towns, who
would be able to afford' information on any points
with which they were more familiar than himself.
He had firmly made up his - mind that he would not
notice any letters, or statements, or articles which
had appeared in print; otherwise, he must say, he
would have felt inclined to give an indignant denial
to a great deal that had. been published. The prin-
cipal object of the Booksellers' Association was to
prevent those who received the•privileges of the trade
on certain implied conditions from enjoying those
privileges without fulfilling the conditions. The main
privilege was that of receiving a certain discount
from the retail price, and the condition on which the
privilege was granted was that the retail price should
be observed. The retail bookseller, on buying frOm
the publisher, received a certain agreed allowance, on
the supposition that he was to obtain a certain profit.
Occasionally the ,retail price of a book was reduced,
but the practice of the trade in•such a case was to go
round and " call in " the books from those retailers
who had bought them, :and afterwards to sup-
ply to the retailers'•' eithei the new editions
or the same books at - a...reduced • price„ so
that a fresh contract was Made between the pub-
lisher and the retail bookseller. He believed that

the trade was conducted on these principles up to
1812. The case of Mr. Lackington had been men-
tioned as that of the first unelerseller. Now, it was
extremely difficult to ascertain precisely upon what
principles trade was conducted some 70 .or 80 years
ago but he (Mr. Longman). was convinced, from Mr.
Lackington's Life, that his system of underselling
was totally different from . that of the present day.
Mr. Lackington's system was one which was exten-
sively practised at this time; and which met with the
approbation of the publishers. Mr. Lackington was
the Bohn of former daqs, ' and Mr. Bohn was the
Lackington of the present day. Mr. Lackington
bought " remainders," the copies of unsuccessful
books which romerned on the publishers' hands, and
sold them at a reduced price: Who were the first
underseliers he did not know, but the first book-
sellers' association of which he could find any notice
was • set on foot by the retail booksellers in 1812.
It was important, in passing, to observe that
these associations had all been established by the
retail booksellers, and the publishers and whole-
sale booksellers had considered it their interest
to support such associations. About 1828 the
association was remodelled, and •it was just pre-
viously to that time that the present system of
underselling arose. It was 'his. firm conviction that
the interests of publishers and authors in this ques-
tion were entirely identical, and that what was for their
interest was also for the interest of literature in ge-
neral. He thought the fact that the present system
soelations had
was for the benefit of. the booksellers was shown by
the enormously Preponderating majority of booksellers
who.. were in favour of the regulations. The present
country.
Bpueboikicterrilleeres;in Association,
ofth e
trade
iwhichin
8 48 waswestablished
revivifica-
tion fiacta a.
booksellio
ti" Of the association of 1828, and many similar as-
%%rare,
since been -fOrmed throughout the
,:itdeidenonsidered that the peculiarities of the
which differed from all others, af-
forded the ground for supporting such associa-
tions.lethink that free trade principles
H
only class
ealtassslloafppalrit,iacbites _the the bookselling trade. The
opinion, approached thatenfeharacter of which, in his
dealt, was patented artioletshc'se in
ticles
which' booksellers
The bookselling trade
price,
and i a
which ?rewwasa
as
davisoasbslieb itloi tyb
buy
was the only one . in- which there
I._ there
.was complete
instance, silk
many
might easily
,goods and-hats—
m they had
!. ,dives of the Chief Jae-
Confidence 'b '
identification of the article.
parsons who e
Therequality. was, however, no
doubt as to the identity of. a book. If
-- a Purchaser
ffirxoinn igtraaardrteiectsaimeiwlgeFinst:vovf:Tou d
go s
ofsttch
lir,?
ecause
wanted Lord Campbell's .

tices," he could not be put off with the late Mr.
Townsend's " Lives of the Judges." If Mr. Grote's
Historywall's could not be substituted. This gale the power
of fixing a retail price, and, as those who dealt in
such articles
of G
ieles mfuesetche'e'vweaas asked for, Bishop Thirl-
profit, it was necessary that
a certain agreed allowance or discount should be
given to the trade. It had been suggested that Woke
should be published without a retail price, but he
thought that would be throwing away one Of the great
and peculiar advantages of the trade, and instead of
removing the existing
would aggravate them
materially. Books would then be sold at one price
in one street, and at another price in another; the
that public would have no confidence that the right value
wwfoatsuhlpedutbtreaudpteloirn was, the allowance which was made
thems anywhere, into confusion. Another peculiarity
where, and the whole trade,
to booksellers became known to the public. He might
so far deviate from his intention of not noticing any-
thing that had appeared in the public prints on this sub-
ject as to observe that a letter in that day's Timesstated
the allowance to the retail bookseller to be 33 per cent.
The writer of that letter further stated that the
retell booksellers did not speculate. But if they did
n not get that allowance—they
on to say that retail booksellers were surely the best
wootusldpeoc only
yate receivet hey co2usld
percent. The writers went
judges of the scale of profits which would enable them
to carry on their business. That was exactly what
the Booksellers Association said. The retail book-
sellers,
as a body, came to them and said, " Our pre-
sentisTnhoet public seemed to entertain a false
on that point he agreed with Messrs. .Bickers
nd
cpourolfit
aißush.
we ask you to maintain
impression that the profit of the retail booksellers was
larger than that of other trades.
eitlicililloetlifearettradaesas were
infinitely greater than in the bookselling trade. From
40, 50, and 60, to 100, or even more than 100 per
that
, theAn d
allowancesl stat e n efnoti
cent., were no unfrequent profits in other trades, but
the public had no means of knowing anything about
it. Now, from the facts of having a fixed retail price,
of complete identification, and of the necessity of an
agreed and admitted allowance to the bookselling
trade, arose a power of competition which did not
exist in any other trade. It was very easy for a
bookseller who wished to undersell to advertise that he
would take off 10, or 15, or 20 per cent., and the
public had ample means of knowing that they got
such a reduction ; while a haberdasher, a hatter, or a
glover, might advertise his goods at a reduction
of 20 • per cent., but the public had no means of
knowing that such a reduction was really
made. A power of competition, as he had
said, existed in the bookselling trade which did not
exist in any other trade, and, if the power of, repress-
ing that competition should be taken away, a wild
system of underselling would arise such as had never
been seen in this country in any trade whatever. Un-
derselling, instead of being the exception, and there-
upon, perhaps, profitable, would be the rule, and
thereupon, he believed, the ruin of the whole trade.
He believed that the result of doing away with this
power of repression would be the concentration of
the trade in the hands of a few large monopolist re-
tail dealers, to the injury of literature, the incon-
venience of the public, and the ruin of hundreds of
booksellers from the Land's-end to John o'Groat'a
house. The effect would be that the stock of country
booksellers, except in very few instances, would be
confined to small, low-priced, and probably not very
valuable publications. He believed the change would
tell especially upon the productions of new authors,
and that the interests of literature would in conse-
quence suffer most materially. A new author had
difficulties enough to contend with already, but he
was satisfied that the abandonment of the power of
repressing undue competition would increase them
tenfold. He regarded the retail booksellers as a body
of men who rendered essential service in promoting
the progress of education and the extension of litera-
ture throughout the country, and he hoped the Noble
Lord and his colleagues would, on consideration,
arrive at the conclusion that, if the plan of throwing
the trade open should destroy such a class, the small
and temporary advantage which might be reaped by
the public would be purchased at too dear a price.
Mr. MURRAY obseried that he was satisfied it
would be found impossible to carry on business upon
the pretended profits of the undersellers. The same
underselling had prevailed in other businesses, and
had been found 'to be ruinous. To show that the
plan adopted by the Booksellers' Association was
carried out by other trades, be might mention that
he had in his possession a circular from a firm in the
neighbourhood of Manchester, who were manufac-
turers of muslins, stating that they dealt with no
customer who did not sign a paper engaging, under
the penalty of a fine, not to sell under certain prices.
Tne same principle was acted upon by a great house
in the oil trade ; and he was informed that Messrs.
Strutt and Evans, of Derby, who manufactured a
particular kind of thread, wouldsupply it to
only
dealers on condition that it should be sold at a parti-
cular price. It had been urged against the book-
sellers that their system was an infraction of free•
trade principles ; but he had the positive assurance
that when Mr. Cobden was in business for himself he
never allowed his muslins to be undersold. He had
been informed also that Mr. Bright, who was manu-
facturing a new description of carpets, would deal only
with those persons who would engage not to sell them
at a depreciated price.--(A laugh.) He might ob-
serve, also, that barristers and physicians had fixed
the amount of their fees, and would not receive less
than a certain sum. The effect of the change which
certain persons were endeavouring to effect in the
bookselling trade wouli be this, that though there
might be no diminution in the number of standard
books, by authors ef name, that would be published,
books by unknown authors would scarcely be re-
ceived. The result of an alteration in the present sys-
tem would be that he must d
re uce very much the
number of books he published ; for he certainly would
not trust undersellers, because he did not believe
their profits were such as to keep their heads above
water.
Mr. DOUGLAS, of Edinburgh, stated that the sys-
tem of underselling had been established in that city,
but a meeting of the trade was held, at which regu-
lations were adopted for repressing the practice, and
those rules were subscribed to by 173 out of 175
booksellers and publishers in Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Mr. Low, in reply to some inquiries from Lord
Campbell, stated that the number of booksellers and
stationers in London Was rather more than 1,200,
not more than half-a-dozen or ten of whom were
undersellers.
Mr. DALTON contended that the profits realised by
booksellers were much sneakier than those obtained in
other trades, and that if th trade were thrown open
the competition would reduce their profits to a
ruinous degree.
Mr. TAYLOR (from Mr. Hatchard's) entered into
some statements with regard to particular works, to
show the extent to which it was in the power of re-
tail booksellers to promote the sale • of books which
they were inclined to recommend.
Lord CAMPBELL observed that there could be no
doubt that retail booksellers were quite indispensable
to the success of literature; but the question was,
whether that class would be best encouraged by re-
taining the regulations of the Booksellers Association
or by their abolition.
Mr. Simms, of Manchester, said he represented the
whole trade of that town, for all the undersellers
without an exception had there joined the association.
Lord CAMPBELL—The heretics are all reconciled
to the true church.—(A laugh.)
Mr. SIMM3 proceeded to say that the opinion of the
Manchester publishers and booksellers was that any
reduction in the allowance to the country trade would
materially affect the sale of all new books. He then
went into some calculations to show, as a proof that
the present trade allowance was not too high, that the
retail booksellers in the smaller towns did not on the
than 1301. a year, after
average clear more defraying
the necessary expenses of their_ establishments, and
that their profits were far less than
,those of persons
engaged in other trades, as grocers, drapers, &o.
•
Mr. BEILBY, of Birmingham, showed, considerably,
in detail, the expenses entailed upon booksellers by exe-
cuting the orders of their customers for small pam-
phlets and the cheaper class of serials, which expenses,
he contended, were only met by the profit they ob-
tained on the higher priced class of books.
Mr. PICKERING briefly expressed his approval of
the objects of the association.
MT. PARKER observed that the booksellers of Ox-
ford were unanimously in favour of the present regu-
lations. In reply to questions from Lord Campbell,
he stated that in Germany the usual trade allowance
was about one-third of the retail price, all new books
being sent by the publishers on sale or return, and
that regulations existed against underselling. In
France no system at all existed, but the allowance to
booksellers varied from 5 to 50 per cent. There
were in Paris no wholsesale booksellers, and if a
person wanted a dozen or:twen y
t books he had to go
for them to nearly as many different
booksellers.
Mr. BORN confirmed the statements of Mr. Parker
with regard to the foreign trade, and expressed his
hope that the system of underselling, which led to
perpetual misunderstandings between the London
booksellers and the country retailers, and between
both parties and their customers, would be put down.

If the discount were reduced be was satisfied it would
be impossible to support the agencies throughout the
country.

1• Tr. expressed his conviction, from personal
knowledge, that the gentlemen who managed the
Booksellers' Association had been actuated solely by
regard for the interests of the trade, of the public, and
of literature generally. After referring at length to
some of the statements in the letter of Messrs. Bickers.
and Bush, he observed that if the Noble Lord and his
associates should, upon consideration, be of opinion
that the Booksellers' Association were right, they
would 'succeed in their object—that of maintaining
peace, and law, and order in the trade. On the other
hand, if the Noble Lord and the gentlemen by whom
he was assisted decided that the Booksellers' Associa-
tion were wrong, the end would be chaos, confusion,
and disorder.

Mr. MILES entered into some details with reference
tothe position of houses in the bookselling trade (with
one of which he is himself connected), whose business
consists exclusively in acting as " middlemen"
between the great London publishers and the coun-
try retail booksellers, their dealings being thus con-
fined entirely to the trade. lie showed the large ex-
penses which were necessarily incurred in conducting
such establishments, in consequence, especially, of the
vast increase of cheap periodical literature ; and con-
tended that, even with the present rate of trade allow-
ances, the profits realized by such buses were not
excessive—not amounting on an average to more than
about 4 per cent.

sanoofes twheas gentlemen
largw hAasd
loenxgpraess.stehde.ythhesidr
ornessentetndseydstteons,shhoowwethvearte. , ttlhieerperewseasntgarmesotusnetopeof
Mr. LONGMAN then said he thought the state-
olla
theiplei:nwpit
fetunderselliage ikee-pectiliaritiet-'ef the trade ren-
dering underselling very easy. As the result of that
underselling, he feared that a competition might
arise which would destroy the retail booksellers; and
lie, and the gentlemen by whom he was surrounded,
were of opinion that if the retail trade were concen-
trated in the hands of a few large monopolists, great
injury would result to literature, to the trade, and to
tchheanpguebsliucg.gestd
Thee bmyaitnhequopesptoinonentrosi
twhheeatherthe
Booksel-
lers' Association would injure the retail booksellers
or not. His opinion was that the competition that
repres-
sive wouldsy
satrei
wasm would
necessary,deatroy th them.
must
bea Then,
cve one.
coercive if
Mr. Macaulay bad said to his brother—" If you think
that Mr. Bickers or anybody else injures you, or in-
jures my book, by selling it at and under price, by all
means have no dealings with them." Now that
seemed perfectly sound advice, but, unfortunately,
it would not accomplish the proposed end, unless
they had a coercive system. Mr. Miles, or Mr. Bohn,
or a hundred other gentlemen, could supply Mr.
Macaulay's book to Mr. Bickers or any one else.
It was necessary, therefore, that the trade should
come to some arrangement among themselves, but
that would be useless unless a penalty was imposed
for an infraction of the regulations. He believed
that if unrestricted competition took place hundreds
of retail booksellers would be ruined. Mr. Bohn
said the other day—" If Mr. Bickers can sell at 5 per
cent. profit, I can sell at one," and he feared the trade
might be driven to act upon some system of that kind.
He believed they would fight until they reduced
their profits to the lowest possible ebb—to a percent-
age which would not pay them ; and then the present
system would be re-established by an engagement
among themselves not to sell under certain prices.
After some desultory conversation with regard to
the bookselling trade in America,
Lord CAMPBELL said the case bad been very ably
argued on the part of the, association ; but, although
a great deal of valuable information had been afforded
on the subject, he and his friends, Dr. Milman and
Mr. Grote, were not at present in a situation to ex-
press an opinion upon the question. He thought
the great desideratum was that they should hear
the other side, for in his opinion they ought
to act upon the maxim, " Audi alteram partem."
Even if be were convinced by the arguments he had
heard in favour of the association, he would like to
hear the other aide, who might convert him.—(A
laugh.) Lord Eldon never would decide any cause,
however clear it might be, without hearing the side
against whicn he was inclined. He (Lord Campbell)
must say that his mind was quite unbiassed on this
question, until he had a further opportunity of infor-
mation and discussion, but he thought it desirable
that they should hear the arguments of those who
took a different view of the question, without its being
expected that those parties should be bound by any
opinion which he or his friends Mr. Grote and Dr.
Milman might express. If Mr. Bickers, Mr. Bentley,
Mr. Chapman, or any other gentleman wished to be
heard, he would be most happy to meet them, with-
out expecting them to say‘that they would change
their mode of dealing in conformity
with any opinion
expressed by himself or his friends.

After some conversation it was arranged that if any
of the " undersellers" desired to argue the case against
the association, Lord Campbell, the Dean of St.
Paul's, Mr. Grote, and probably other literary gen-
tlemen, would be prepared to hear their statements,
between the 16th and 21st of May.