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

the face of the man that offered it, If this vat amount
and dire reality of work is done for pay, why should
not pay be even more efficacious for the mere child's
play, the gap. 79 of seldiering, contemplated fey the Bill
now in tho Commons? If counties and ply will an-
swer the purpfne, surely it is a needless exhibition of the
ultima ratio to parade before a peaceful and to al people
the terrible apparatus of the conscription. The English-
man will often do spontaneously what he could never be
forced to do, and it is not at all unlikely that many
will refuse to volunteer, merely from the feeling that
they might perhaps be made to serve against their wili,
and that they may very likely have to stand in the same
rank with involuntary conscripts, or worse still, with a
low class of substitutes.

After all, it is a question whether the conscription is
any longer possible, and whether the volunteer principle
is not the utmost limit of enlistment in these days. How
ere we to keep hold of the militia conscript in the long in-
tervals of service? Mr. Cobden possibly makes out our
labourers and artisans to be worse than they are, when
he says that they will volunteer for the sake of the
bounty, and then invest the money in a passage to the
States; but we will not answer for the loyal of men who
may conceive themselves the victims of an unjust mea-
sure. At all events, if a man is drawn for the militia
and hates the service, but cannot or will not pay for
a substitute, there is nothing whatever to pre-
vent him from transferring himself, his family, his
property, and his allegiance to another Power.
No writ ne exeat regno will hover over the heads
of the reluctant militiamen during the many months of
freedom that must necessarily intervene between the
closing inspection in autumn and the first drill in sum-
mer. In this country we have no such system of sur-
veillance as there is in France. Here the ballot will be
inefficacious unless the conscript is kept under guard the
whole year. There is nothing to prevent him returning
home the day that he is drawn, selling his furniture by
auction, taking solemn leave of his friends, wad departing
amid the condolence or the congratulations of his neigh-
bours, for any part of the wide earth that he may
think more eligible than his own country under such
circumstances. England is now the easiest place in
the whole world for a man to get out of, as is
evident from the fact of many thousand Germans
and other foreigners coming to England as the most di-
rect, smoooth, and cheap channel to America or any
other transmarin© country. Any man, indeed, with 10/,
in his pocket may make up his mind after breakfast to
try the valley of the Mississippi, and by walking to the
London Docks may engage a berth, purcha::e a cem-
plete equipment from some of the neighbouring out-
fitters, find himself at the Nora by teatime, and by 12
P.m., if the wind favours, sailing merrily down the
Channel. What is to hold a people who are fast beco-
ming birds of passage, always on the wing, ever flitting
and fleeting? No legislation is so injurious as that
which aims at a power which the State does not actually
possess, and can never acquire; but that is the fault
which, as it seems to us, has been deliberately and ob-
stinately committed in this instance.—Times,

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.
POBTSIIOUTFI, MONDAY.—The QUM), 116, Captain
Wise, will be ready to come out of dock on Friday, when
it is reported she proceeds Immediately to Plymouth, to
be paid down.
The Philomet 8, Commander Forbes, awaits orders at
Spithead.
WOOLAICII, MAY 17.—The Herald, 23, Captain
Henry M. Denham, is still at Grcenhithe, with her
tender, the Torch steam-vessel, Lieutenant-Commander
Chimmo. The interest taken in the South Sea explor-
ing expedition has followed it to Greenhithe, and among
the numerous visitors who have gone on board the ves-
sels since they left Woolwich were Mr. Augustm Staf-
ford, M.P., Secretary to the Admiralty, Mr. Adderley,
M.P., Mr. Robert Stephenson, M.P., and Mr. Ricardo,

M.P.
The cards of admission to the booths and standing
room under and immediately adjoining the slip from
which the Agamemnon, 90, is to be launched on
Saturday next, the 22d inst., about three o'clock P.M.,
have been printed, and the west side of the slip
has been reserved for the Board of Admiralty,
Commoloro Henry Eden, and their friends. The
booths and standing room on the east side have been
placed at the disposal of the heads of the various do-
partments of the dockyard, and it is calculated they will
distribute 800 cards, each to admit one person. The
whole of the arrangements for the launch of the Aga-
memnon appear to be of a better description than any
ever witnessed at this dockyard. The woodwork of the
booths is not carried higher than 5 feet, and all the seats
ere under that height, so that thousands of the public
who will have standing-room on the parade-ground on
the west side and on tho east side, and on the gently-
sloping pavement in front of her bows, may have an
excellent sight. The admission of parties having cards
to the booths and standing room under the slip will be
at the rear of the seats, which which will be a very
great improvement over the plan hitherto adopted of
passing to the seats betwixt the spectators and tho vessel.
The Dockyard Battalions will commence their drills
this evening, the following having been issued for their
guidance:—

" BRIGADE ORDERS.
" Adjutant's-office, May 12.
" The drills for the season will commence on Monday
evening next, at half-past six o'clock, with the Artillery
and Ist company of the Boat Battalior
" The Infantry and 2d company Boat Battalion on
Tuesday evening at the same hour.
" The Artillery to have their waist-belts without bay-
onets.
"The Boat Brigade waist-belts and swords.
" The Infantry with carabines.
" Dress—blue cloth with forage caps.
" By order of the Colonel-Commandant,"'
DETONPORT, SUNDAY.—Rochester, lighter, Savage
master, sailed on Saturday, with stores for Plymouth.
Sprightly tender arrived to-day with supernumeraries
from Portsmouth and the Marine Artillery for the
Buzzard.
Sanspareil steamer will be taken out for tho trial of
her engines on Tuesday or Wednesday nest, manned
from the Impregnable and St. George, with some extra
riggers from the dockyard.
The Basilisk came into harbour on Sunday evening.

FIRE IN PORTSMOUTH DOCKYARD.
PORTSMOUTH, MONDAY.—About eight o'clock this
morning a fire broke out in one of the deparseeents of
this dockyard, which, but for its timely discovery and
the immense exertions promptly made to extinguish it,
might have resulted in the destruction of an incalcu-
lable amount of national property, and crippled for a
long time the efficiency of Portsmouth as a naval deptt.
From information we have gathered on the spot on per-
sonal inspection, it appears that while the process of
boiling the tar for tarring ropeyurns was going on in the
tarring-house (which is one section of a large building
forming the white-yarn and tarred-yard store in the
centre of the dockyard), the bottom of one of the two
copper tar boilers gave way, and the contents ran into
the fire, giving out an immense volume of flame. Four
ropemakers, a bey, and one stoker were hi tho tarring-
house at le time; these instantly rushed out and
gave an alarm; the fire bell was rung, the police
were called, the engines manned and run up to the
scene of the disaster; and such is the system and
order under which these matters are managed in this
dockyard, that within three minutes after the alarm was
given ono of the ropemakers' four engines (which were
the first at the fire) was got into play. About 40 en-
gines, altogether, were soon at work, and there being a
good supply of water and thousands of hands, within
the hour (from eight to nine) the flames were extin-
guished and the damage ascertained. Nothing could
exceed the praiseworthy exertions of all the parties en-
gaged in this work; it was suprising, as well as in the
highest degree admirable—every officer and man was at
hie post, and plied the means at his commend with a
vigour perfectly indescribable. The result was the
saving of a most important section, if not the greater por-
tion, of the dockyard. The building containing the
offices before enumerated is about 40 feet high, as many
in width, the partitions being of brick, with iron-bars to
the windows. In this building at the time of the fire
were about 1,500 tons of tarred yarn, 14 er 15 cwt. of
yarn in the tarring house (the seat of the fire), which
was destroyed, and in an adjoining store of the same edifice
were several tar barrels, and three full ones, besides the
stock in use at the time of the accident. Had this im-
mense inflammable mass ignited, there is no doubt but
that the Dockyard would have been ono wide-spread
scene of devestating fleme, on one side of the tarring-
house being a long range of roperies, extending nearly
the entire depth of the yard, with low wooden sheds
within a deem feet of the tarring-house, timber in im-
mense loads strewn about and stacked around, and on
the other a long range of offices, police store, armoury,
&c. How such a building as one in which tar seems
to be constantly boiling could have mintwd in such
a central position seems perfectlylligible. The
boilers in which the tar is heated aro of copper, holding
about five buckets each, and it was the newest of these
vessels which burst. Tho part of the building in
which
they were is gutted, and the roof burnt through. The
preservation of the other sections of the building s_cieomms.
truly providential. Admiral Sir Thomas Brigg Coma
truly was among the first on the sjs)o' t, and
most prompt and energetic in giving his commands.
Rear-Admiral Superintendent Prescott, who was
p tion, has
confined to his bedroom by
ordered a oourt of inquiry to inveinstdiigsjatesi the cause
of the disaster. The Court will report trh, the Admiral
Surrintendoet the result of their exhaamienastiiionthwe
per-
we believe will fully exonerate from 1
sous employed in the tarring-house. A number of the
seamen of the ships in dock underjefiaieneht)he
wereyard (es-
most
pecially those of her Majesty's gapers
promptly on the spot, and they, their respective
officers, rendered eminently important service by their
agility in sealing the roofs of. the burning and adjoining
pediments to the free flood
buildings, breaking
of water, and renderianwgdas.' essistanee. Thin, R
force, too, under their director,
rn, Lieutenant Hull, R.N ,
rformed essential service u
itshheedoc:c_asion. The fol-
lowing " orders" have been bl
" Victory, in Portsmouth Harbour, May 17, 1852.
General )demo—The best thanks of myself and
fi
Rear-Admiral Superintendent Prescott,
8., are here-
with tendered to the officers and men ol her Majesty's
keeps and vessels at this port who were present assisnne
fffire iu th. d k
Yarel th;
at the extinguishment of the
orning for their energetic e orts, Inch were happi
crowned with success.

"THOMAS BRIGGS,
"Admiral and Commander•in-Chief."
" To the respective Captains and Commanderr,
" Portsmouth Dockyard, D,Diy 17.
Memo.—Tbe Admiral Superintendent has received
with the greatest satisfaction reports of the energetic
and excellent conduct of ali classes—officers, subordinate
offwrs, police, artificers, and labourers belonging to the
dockyard on the oecarion of the fire this morning.
Their exertions were happily crowned with prompt
owes, and the are, which first threatened miens con-

sequences, was extinguished without doing material
injury.
" The Admiral Superintendent will not fail to make
known to the Llrds Commisiioners of the Admiralty bis
sense of the prai:,.ewerthy ba.s.viour of those under his
ccmlnancl,

" 11. PRESCOTT, Admiral Superintancicat."
We are happy to say no accident of moment occurred
—t! is fire. A man nam'd Tyler fell whil3t at work
aloft upon the building, but we believe is cot seriously
injured. Such a building as the one gutted, if permitted
in future in so thickly surrounded a spot, should be of
iron or °Chemise firfproef.

THE BOOKSELLIERS' ASSOCIATION.
Yesterday, according to appointment, the discussion of
the rules of the Bookielien' Association was resumed,
at Strathe.len flout; before Lord Campbell, Mr. Grotp,
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.

Tho arbitrators having taken their seats at one o'clock
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.
was Mr.
a nG
illegalfi n e ncdoema vboi
nu
ar et
ido
nt.o
bsuhto
ww
atsh
satt
otphpee
da s sboyc i aLtoi or nd
Campbell.
Mr. Perrin, from Manchester, stated that several (six
or eight) of the Manchester booksellers had only joined
the association from compulsior.
Mr. Lonarcier, on the part of the booksellers, showed
that the association had been formed at a meeting,pub-
licly announced and advertised, at which all the 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 thet " 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 prios 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 (Longreans')
and Ur. 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 circulnto in large numbers was,
that people had not time to read, or shelves to hold, the
multiplicity of new 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 had now the spirit to bring out a "Johnson's
Dictionary." Ile observed that he end Mr. Murray had
long boon 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 undersellor 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. 11. PARKER and Mr. BIELBY followed on the
COMO side.

Mr. SF.ELEY 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? Ile
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 lot 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.
Lot this be closely locked at. Ho observed
that a writer on the other side said, " That which
is purchased is the property of the purchaser, who
has surely as much right to sell it at a small profit as to
give it away." Who denied this? Who questioned it?
Not the Booksellers' Association. Tho truth was, that
those who wanted to infringe on other people's liberty
were the underaellers, not the booksellers. For thus
stood the case:--A publisher brought out a new book,
selling at 21s. He sold it to all the trade, without re-
serve. Among others (he was now supposing the case
as ;,it stood three years back) he sold some to Mr.
Bickers. But Mr. Bickers chose to ticket them up at
17s. The ,consequence of this was that Mr. Bickers
soon sold all his copies, but none of the other booksellers
around him could sell any. But did any one contest
Mr. B.'s right to sell them at 175., or at toe if he
pleased, or to give them away? Did any one want to
prosecute him, or to visit him with fine or imprisonment?
Nobody 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 saya,
"You 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?" Aro not his books his own to do as ho 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 you 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 29a—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 he 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
es a triumph, when there are 80 authors out of 90 who
declare that you aro 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
answer, generally, without reasons. The question put
had been—Shall I sell your books to undersellers?
Many of those gentlemen were the authors of books of
slow sale, and they answered at once, "Oh, ygo; tell
answermy
books to anybody who will buy
or motive
was a very natural one; but having no
reasonthis
but a selfish one, it could have no weight in.
thew." Th
The second class consisted of eight gentlemen,. .
contro-
versy.
There were more than fifty lettersofthtsch:.rhaoctrser:
plied, in the mein, that the. associadoa wee in the right.
These letters were argumentative and convincing.
Dr. Bernays, Mr. Bush-
. Coleridge, wereAiC or.lwesrrciidotgttete,n,
anMhdyamMr.elv!vialllaeo,
Walcott.
Lsiantghleampa,
ssmagre.
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 and
sufficient reason for any publisher refusing to deal with
him on trade terms." But there was a third class, wh
decided against the association, and assigaed reasons.o
And these reasons showed the real tendency n
ttsshhaaron ar e need e d . „
undersellers' movement. For instance, Mr. Bray writes,te
'i
otherr3p willrohfi halfnffr ohlnodno2r
course
doublet
tend
ein °d
e It competition reduce the retailTer:
ioho sellers in small
per cent., half must retire, and the
thhya tatlhl the twoo work."
hlt
a." a
nDn
irh. i
IDonaldson
hsea yatsh)---aast,s‘boef
elf er.mKpilnogyseldeyiirssasYhs4work svousldesb‘e‘
r. Wardsome 6
800 s that ' ' the Linden book
ed;AyinndgMfor
proposes is
Andthe ore 900 estabishments
btoewrnosirn"
dbini,uhaitoyo:neerreduce the number of the. rretraaieldyestlishments."
He adds, also, that he would extend the same principle
" to retail trade of every kind;" as he considers that
"in London alone several millions per annum aro pros
bably wasted on duplicate retail establishtnents." Thus
nearly
Association,
lwh a condemn the Booksellers'
andooppos® and
Oassoign reasons, do so with a declared
desire to get rid of—to exterminate, in fact,
or seven-eighths of the present
reduce London to the size of tl:d's
scriptions. four- fifths
w retail tradesmen of all de-
Follow out Mr.
size of Bedford; and ship off plan, and you would
Bristol, and Bristol to the
pre-
sent traders to Van Diemsn's Lsevell-ei
or a hope, held out in an conclude; and he would do this by But it was time to
ghths of the
simp.ly reading
day last. In that journal it is by a pro-
mise,an evoeing journal of Triers-
matter might be safely
Me. Grote and the 1) was raid thst to Lard Camp-
bell,co,,een. of Se Paul's, " the whole
case. lie trusted that nothing
matt and disposal." IL)
trustedseusttted for salisfacluaryboulc
' the
disposed of." And in this
ould now he "sa
question
their
t n hands.o ,
2i 1t , d
that this eseu i, 4 , but
would be ust.steit:fiei,
that the whole matter eerily
iserust be loft in° `I
, and annoneesd that' their opinion
~,,_
wtriaLtthor)rre2donCfiAdNenPcßeEillsu '
would hs pro-
nounced on Wed sh neeeay neet, at two o'clock.
with the other ttrbi-

I 7 1.. a i London, on
[NDVERTISEMENT.] —Bells ...-, - n-.
Sunday.
next, May the l' 's:the Derby
tons, with a glance of the probable winners
fthe Epsom Meeting
and Oaks, by Pegasus —A pro;
ranune o d countiy—Horses
p 0, i anticipate
23d, will contain-
-The latest state of the odds in town
and
Somerset County
arrived, and en route for Epsom—
Batohfetnhe peliod— C,ieket :
Races, and all the exciting turf news. -
The Al] England and other intereangnanit
match for the Chnm-
A few Words about the fortheom r_l f
i'l!Cole—Pedestrianiim7
a_tzhs—Aquatics:
Pionship, between R. Coom
R bires, andnd all the Sporting intelli-
gence Pigeon-shooting—
genee of the week.ThOeiliegi7Bo,
in London, 6d. Strand. nice of lull's Idle