The Sun.
London, England, 1841-02-06 00:00:00

SCOTT'S COHMEXTABY OX THE BIBLE.

Mr. K. BUCTE applied this morning ex parte to his Honour the
Vice-Chancellor, on behalf of Messrs. Seeley, the eminent pub-
lishers in Fleet-street, for an injunction to restrain Messrs. Fisher,
the publishers of Newgate street, from selling or disposing of any
copy of the numbers or parts of the announced edition of the Rev.
Thomas Scott's work, or any future number or part the' eof,
having with or upon it, or the cover or wrapper thereof, the state-
ment or announcement respecting the nature and contents of such
publication, and from in any manner printing or publishing, or
causing to be printed or published, any advertisement, state.
ment, or announcement to the purport or effect that
any edition of the Commentary, or work published, or to be
published, by them, contained, or would contain, the whole of the
Commentary and Observations of the Rev. Thomas Scott, as
written by him, or as bequeathed by him to the world, or the whole
of the last correction and improvement made by the Rev. Thomas
Scott to his Commentary or work, into any like effect The
Court would collect from the language of the injunction asked,
that it was one of a rather unusual and singular nature, tut he be.
lieved he should be able to show that it was one that came within
the principles upon which the Court usually acted. The present
w..; not a case of pira-y, but one of untrue announcement to the
world, expressed in such a manner as to Induce the world to be-
lieve that the work announced by the defendants was that which
it really was not.

The VICE CuaNcEit-Lon—Holding out that the defendants'
work was that uhich belonged to the plaintiff.

Mr. K. BRUCE—Just so, Sir; no doubt the Court was well ac-
quainted with the great value of Scott's Bible.
The Vice CRANCELLOa—Yes; I recollect years ago arguing that
for Mr. Scott upon an application for an injunction.
Mr. K. BRUCE—It was, perhaps, one of the best editions of the
Bible ever published, and the notes and commentaries of Mr. Scott
were considered peculiarly valuable. The fourth edition of this
Bible was published in Mr. Scott's lifetime, and the plaintiffs were
now, so far as the copyright was in existence, the proprietors of it.
The practice which had been adopted by the defendants was this—
they were, by monthly parts, publishing the Bible; and a fifth
edition being required by the public in Mr. Scett's lifetime, he pre-
pared that edition, to which he appended many additional anno-
tations and remarks, which were of great value, and which he had
completed up to the second of St. Paul's Epistles to Timothy, but the
notes to the remaining part of the New Testament, though completed,
were not arranged for printing at the time of Mr. Scott's death,
which took place in 18'21. Part of the money for the purchase of
the copyright of the sth edition was paid to Mr. Scott during his
lifetime, and the remainder was handed over to his representatives
after his decease, and that part of the work which Mr. Scott had
not finished was arranged by a gentleman who had acted as his
amanuensis, and the sth edition complete was published in 1822,
about a year after the death of Mr. Scott. The copyright of that
edition, with its additional remarks and annotations of 400
pages, was entirely in the plaintiff, and would exist in him for
some years to come. Now the defendants, the Messrs. Fisher,
in order to induce the world to believe that that which they were
publishing as a reprint of the fourth edition contained all that was
in the fifth edition, had thought fit to make the following announce.
ment on the outside cover of their work :—" Fisher's illustrated
edition of the Rev. Thomas Scott's Bible. The extensive patron_
age bestowed on the inestimable commentary of this learned and
scriptural writer, has induced the publishers to prepare and present
a now and most carefully revised edition of this great work ; and
although they have engaged the services of an eminent scholar to
read the proofs during the progress of printing, they pledge them-
selves that no alteration or interference whatever, either in the
spirit or the style of the commentary, shall take place. Accuracy
in 'typography, and verification of references, being their
sole objects in incurring the additional and considerable ex-
pense ; they wish also to add that the work is printed from a
beautiful and clear type, entirely new, and cast expressly for this
undertaking. The invaluable character of the Commentary ren-
dering any infringement or abbreviation mischievous, economy in
bulk has been effected by the employment of a smaller type and
expanded page, so that three quarto volumes may contain the whole
unadulterated labours of the author, not as re-edited by an indiffe.
rent hand and inferior mind, but precisely as the amiable and
learned commentator bequeathed them to the world. This edition
is printed from the last which the author published in the vigour
of life. For, being well satisfied of its appreciation, he de-
voted the latter year of his useful existence to the fornaation of an
Index. To prevent the possibility of a misconception the pub-
lishers state distinctly that this edition will include, beside.' the
authorised text of the Holy Scriptures, the commentary, notes,
marginal references, and practical observations, as the author wrote
them, without interpolation or omission. Inferior, there-
fore, to no edition of Scott's Bible in the fulness and general cha.i
racier of its contents ; it is a work which they confidently anticipate
will soon become not merely the popular, but the standing edition of
"Scott's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures." This was, in
fact, therefore, telling the world that the work which they
the Messrs. Fisher were publishing was the genuine edition, and
which it was impossible could be the case,lconsidering the state of
the fifth edition.

The VICE CIIANCELLOR—it IS selling their work at the expense
of the plaintiffs. It is pain that they are selling their own work,
whatever it may be, with a representation that it is that of the
plaintiffs.
Mr. K. Baccg—lt is a fraud on the plaintiffs clearly. I don't
say that it is a fraud on the public, as they had the option whether
they would purchase it or not.

The Vtca CHANCELLOR—It IS clearly ceiling one work f,r another.
think you have stated quite eno.igh to entitle you to the inju nc.
ion.—lnjunction granted.

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.

OLD COURT.
(Before Mr. Justice \VILLI•MS and Mr. Justice COLTML N.)

William Snelling, a.,ed 17, lately a clerk in the office of
Messrs. Pineger and \Vestmacott, solicitors, Gray's-inn, was con-
victed of forging and uttering a cheque or order for the payment
of 501., with the intent to defraud the Trustees of the London and
Westminster Bank, and sentenced to be transported for ten years.

Louis Frederick Swantz, aged 18, was indicted for
stealing a box and other articles, the property of John Bap-
tiste Rousseaux.

The prisoner was convicted and sentenced to two years'
hard labour in the House of Correction.

William Searing, aged 26, was convicted of assaulting
William Atkins, a police constable, and sentenced to be
imprisoned for six months.
James Howard, 19, James Elliot, 22, and James Edy,
19, were convicted of breaking and entering the dwelling-
house of John Ballantyne, and stealing six handkerchiefs,
his property ; and the Court sentenced them to be trans-
ported for fifteen years.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

MAN SION-HOUSE.

Mr. Lixsdell,umbrella-miker, of No. 84, Canon-street,
was summoned by Mr. Butt, one of the ward-officers, for
having refused to pay the sum of 1/. Bs. for Police-rate.
The complainant proved that the rate was due, and said
that the defence set up was rather an extraordinary one.
The defendant said that he considered the rate not only
most reasonable, but so small that he would rather pay
23 per cent. more ; but then be should wish to be bet-
ter protected. His objection to discharge the amount was
that on May last one of the policemen had used a lamp-
lighter's ladder to get hold of and pull down an umbrella
which he had been allowed by the Commissioners of
Sewers to fasten as a symbol of his trade over the door,
and which had remained in that position, without offence
to anybody, since the year 1830.
The Lotto MAYOR observed that the police were em-
powered by the Act to remove from a house anything that
projected and obstructed the way, and his Lordshiplaaked
whether the umbrella formed an impediment.
Mr. Butt replied that it appeared to him to be no im-
pediment, as it hung nine or ten feet above the ground.
The defendant said that he also objected to the payment
of the rate on the ground that six policemen had, without
the slightest cause, entered at night the roam in which he
and his wife slept, and dragged him off to the station-
house, conduct which the Recorder bad severely repro-
bated at the trial at Guildhall, but for which the principal
delinquent, although convicted of the assault, had not been
removed from the force. Both the assailant and the
umbrella remained with Mr. Hersey the Commissioner,
and the defendant considered it rather too hard to be called
upon to pay the rate under such circumstances, although
he knew that there were most excellent men in the force.
Mr. Butt said that in the latter case the defendant
attended to a crass indictment, in which the defendant and
the policeman were alternately complainant and defendant,
and in which each was convicted and fined the turn of 5/.

The defendant said that be was good at following up an
enemy, and he" had therefore stuck to the men who had so
grossly assaulted him and insulted his wife.
The LORD Mayon said he was sure that the Commis-
sioner would see justice done to the defendant in the care
of the umbrella upon being applied to, as well as in any
other case in which the City Police were concerned, and
that the Jury had done justice on the occasion of alleged
aggression already.
Mr. Butt—My Lord, Mr. Linsdell cts to pay, be-
cause, as he says, his umbrella is detained.
Mr. nobler stated that the payment of the rate was a
distinct thing from a complaint against the police,
and advised the defendant to pay the amount and
apply to the Commissioner. The Sewer and Pavement
Act directed that notice should be given to the person
whose goods were seized, in what place they were depo-
sited, and that they should be given up on payment of
penalty and expenses.
The defendant said he felt bound on principle to resist
the payment of the rate until his symbolical umbrella,
which he stated to be worth about 7s. or es., should be re.
stored to him; and

The LORD MAYOR directed that, if he persevered, the
usual warrant should be issued.

A WIDOW WANTED.--An extraordinary and
thefot.
fora housekeeper
r M
ludicrous scene took place on Wednesday in To
E. M. Stroud, stat. erwaenrd-
street, at the house of Mr. E
gmakoccear'siaotnar Mark-lane.
superintendni leoon
patentstroud ledgerhivin
his domestic arrangements, advertised for a
widow and her daughter, to take charge of the upperdw, part
of of a tradesman's house, and to cook for him." The
wages were stated to be 301. per annum, with coals, candles,
&c., and application was directed to be made between I I
and 3 o'clock yesterday, at No. 69, Tower-street. Be-
fore the clock struck 11 the widows bogaa to arrive, and
coon the street was rendered impassable by the number of
fain ones crowding towards the house, and in a few mi-
nutes, Mr. Stroud's shop and parlour were filled with women
straggling to gain the attention of the advertiser, and
..clamorously setting forth their qualifications for the situa-
tion. A report soon got wind that Mr. Stroud had ad-
vertised for a wife, and people from all quarters flocked to
see the ladies in search of a husband. The widows, young,
middle-aged, and old, the thin and stout, the dark and
the fair, some in their weeds, others gaily attired, and
many poorly but decently clad, continued to arrive, and
were greeted with laughter and shouts by the mob, who
gave free vent to their jokes and ribaldry as the widows
arrived and departed. At length the confusion and noise
became so great, that a posse of the City police were sent
for, who preserved a little better order, and afforded free
ingress and egress far the applicants.
HAYMARKET THEATRlL—Thursday a new
farce was prodaced here, entitled Good for Nothing. The
chief idea was that of a decent, good-natured fellow, with
lb.th bade reputation, which made him the responsible father of
'keg and follies of other people in all directions. The
moral of the farce was " Ci vo a dog a bad name and hang
him." The actors of the farce were Wrench, Osberry,
Strickland, and Rees, who did their best for its redemp-
tion. The result of the farce was an equivocal termination
between sibilation and encouragement.