The Sun.
London, England, 1833-10-16 00:00:00

MANSION HO USE.

Yesterday Mr. Till, the print.eeller of Fleet-
street, appeared before the LORD MAYOR, without
being summoned, to meet the charge of Mr. Turner,
the celebrated artist. Mr. Martin and other gentle.
men of high professional character attended.
The LORD MAYOR said that Mr. Turner had ap-
plied to him to interfere, to prevent Mr. Tilt from
continuing to do what the former considered to bt
an act of very great unfairness. The matter cer-
tainly was not within his jurisdiction, but he did
not confine himself to the strict limits of his magis-
terial duties in cases which were brought before
him, and as he felt for the honour of his fellow-
citizens, he frequently took cogniz tuce of accusations
and imputations for the purpose of rendering other
proceedings unnecessary.
Mr. Turner had been employed by Sir Walter
Scott to paint illustrations of the antiquities or
Scotland, and engravings had been made on copper
from his labours. Mr. Tilt had got hold of these
engravings, and procured a professional man to en-
grave from them on a smaller and steel plate, and
published copies as illustrations of Sir Walter Scott's
works, attaching to each copy his (Mr. Turner's) name
as the original artist. Now, such a mode of carry-
ing on trade was disreputable, inasmuch as the
plagiarism was calculated to deceive the public
and to diminish the reputation of the painter,
and necessarily his profits. Mr. Turner produced
copies from the original plates and copies of the
imitations, and submitted to the Lord Mayor that
the latter were likely to prejudice him in the estima•
tion of the discerning part of the public. Mr. Call
cot, another Rlal Academician and a gentleman of
very great eminence, was subjec.ed to similar treat-
ment, so that it became a matter of necessity to
check a practice which threatened to fasten upon
patnters the blunders and want of genius to mani-
fes:in the attempts of others.

Trie LORD MAYOR asked what the custom of the
trade was? Mr. Turner said that the moment the
plee had been used for the specified number of
copies there was an end of it, and it could be no
longer used in any way against the interest and con-
sent of the arts*. The plates he objected to had
never been done from his drawing, al,hough his
name was attached to them. The gentleman who
had engraved " Rosalyn Castle" fiir Mr. Tilt had
very properly, upon being appealed to, refused to
assist in continuing the deception, and it was only
reasonable to expect that Mr. Tilt would not, under
the circumstances, fill up the place of that engraver,
in justice to the whole profession.

Mr. Tilt said that Mr. Turner was never more
mistaken in his life than in supposing that there was
anything illegal or unfair in what he complained of.
Mr. Turner had been one of those in whom the
property in the plates from his drawings was vested,
and as soon as the plates had done their work the
proprietors thought proper to sell them to the
highest bidder, which he (Mr. Tilt) happened to
he. As the property in the article was thus regu-
larly transferred, he certainly had a right to do as he
pleased with it. He considered the copyright as
vested in him. He had purchased the plates
openly ; he had informed Mr. Turner of his intent
tion ; there had been no mystery or concealment ;
and as to the imputed injury to the reputation of
the artist, that was a point on which a difference of
opinion might and did exist.
The LORD MAYOR.—Did you buy the copper-
plates as old copper or as plates? Mr. Tilt said
that the value of the plates as old copper could not
exceed .50a., and he had given for them 1101.
The LORD MAYOR —I wish to know why, if the
plates were done with—if, as has been said, they
had done their work, and could not be fairly applied
to any use of art—they were not destroyed, instead
of b tag sold ?—(A laugh.) Mr. Turner—They
were sold without my consent.
The LORD MAYOR—But the sale is not disputed,
it was sanctioned by your partners in the work.
Mr. Martin had called upon Mr. Turner and Mr.
Callcott, and told them what was about tube done.
Mr. Callcott did not offer the slightest objection,
admitted that the purchaser of the plates had a
right to do as was stated, and only hoped that Ins
reputation might not be allotted to stiffer by the new
plates ; upon being assured that every care should
be taken, he was, perfectly satisfied. Mr. Turner,
however, refused. to consent, although assured that
if he objected to the impressions, they should be at
once put behind the fire. He had also been re-
quested to retouch the illustrations, but nothing
could reconcile him to the circumstance.

Mr. Turner—l don't see why an artist should
retouch without remuneration. But how could I
retouch copies when the originals are in the posses-
sion of Sir Walter Scoit's executors ?
Mr. he fact is, I made offers to Mr.
Turner, in conjunction with other artists, but he
refused, as he could not get the whole job to him-
self. I wished for a division of the labour and pro-
fits, but Mr. Turner wished to monopolize, and
would not give a share to his brother artists. Ile
knows he has not a leg to stand upon, or he would
not resort to this mode of complaint. I am pro-
prietor of the plates, and I dare him to the test of
our claims in a court of law or equity.,
Mr. Turner—l intend to try the case on its me-
rits in another place.
The LORD MAYOR---I regret that this affair can-
not be settled amicably by me; anti all I can say is,
that an appliption for an injunction from the Court
of Chancery, is the only mode I can recommend.
Mr. Tilt—Mr. Turner knew perfectly well that I
would not relinquish my right, and I am ready to
meet him.

Mr. Turner—l trust, however, that the public
will be put in possession of the way in which these
things are done, that works by other persons are
foisted upon them as the works of distinguished men.
Mr. Tilt—Oh, Mr. Turner, you ought to let your
brother artists have a little slice.—(Laughter.)