The Sun.
London, England, 1827-01-12 00:00:00

them independent of their former calling; or let him visit
the flash houses incog., first paying his fee for the
honour of becoming a member, and there

- what scenes shall meet his wondering eyes,
Catching the manners living as they rise !
But we must not pursue this subject too far, lest a
too close acquaintance imply a guilty participation—and
gain us the distinguished honour of being considered
,free masons of the order. Truth is said to lie at the
bottom of the well, and as stolen waters are sweet, it
would be just as well that the Right Hon. Gentleman
should steal a march upon the workers of iniquity by
getting a fore-knowledge of their secret arts, that he
may thereby legislate more effectually for the prevention
of their evil doings.

In our Paper of yesterday we recorded a trial in the
King's Bench, involving the rights of Authors to
their own property. It appears that a Work commen-
ced sometime before the passing of the last Act, re-
gulating the Copyright of Audi-oil, had been demanded
by the Trustees of the British Museum, and resisted
by the Publishers on the ground that it did not
come within the meaning of the Act. The Learned
Judge was clearly of opinion that the law was not in-
tended to have a retrospective effect, and therefore
directed the Jury to find for the Defendants, which
they accordingly did. Indeed, we do not see how
they could have done otherwise, although his MA-
JESTY'S Law Officers fought hard to convince them to
the contrary,—but law and common sense, as in the
present case, do not always agree, and the friends of
literature will not be sorry for the event.
It has long , been a reproach to this free and en-
lightened country, that every species of property is
held sacred by the law except that which is beyond
all price—the immortal produce of mind. Corn and
potatoes, like other articles of consumption, are guaran-
teed to the grower ; but the Author of a book—the
essence of mental exertion, is considered legal game
for privileged bodies. The corruptible production of
the earth, valuable only for a season, is protected . by
Legislative enactments, while the divine inspiration
of genius---that which outlives, while it adorns, the
Present generation, and is destined to recommend its
name to posterity,—that alone is doomed to the scorn
and neglect of those who profess to be the admirers
of talent, and the patrons of learning. We are utterly
unable to reconcile such doctrine with common sense
°it; common justice. Much as we boast of our fiber-
itiltY in science and the arts, yet the French are infi-
i
tlittteerlayrysuperior to us in their protection of Authors and
property. The law of copyright ought to be
as secure as the law of entail. Every man has an un-
doubted right to his own, and why should there be
any exception made in the case of Literary Pro-
? We all know that many arguments have
Peene~y advanced in support of the present oppressive
lax on literary property, but then the parties were inte-
rested in the result. According to the existing law,
every book published is liable to piracy, unless the
author or publisher enter it at Stationers' Hall, and
deliver eleven copies gratis to be distributed among
the Universities of the three Kingdoms, the British
kuseum, &c. This secures the copyright for 14
Years, subject to a renewal of 14 more, if the author
survive the first period. Now it happens that in cases
'here only limited impressions of expensive works can
be afforded, that the delivery of eleven copies operates
as a bar to the work being published at all, so that the
public are thus often deprived of works of the rarest
merit and ornamental illustration. For instance, a
Work which may, perhaps, cost 2001. each copy, would
cause a loss of :2,200/. by the delivery of eleven copies !
We know that in former times the law was intended
0 supply the seats of learning with copies of all
Works published, both in order to preserve the works
and to enrich the libraries, which were then too poor to
Purchase copies. But surely the same necessity does
not hold at this day, when our Universities are as rich
In endowments as in liberal learning. And even if they
,Were not able to purchase all books, why should authors
be compelled to give their labours gratis when all
other people are exempt ? The produce of his mind
's as necessary to an author's maintenance as the cor-
?.oreal labours of others for their subsistence. But if
the Universities—the Museum, and other enlightened
corporations, for whom we entertain the highest re-
'Peet, must have literary productions, let the nation
l'ovide them, since the establishments are national.
a it just —nay,
is it patriotic—is it liberal, to com-
pel those who by their genius are the greatest bene-
factors and the brightest ornaments of their country, to
be the greatest—to be the only sufferers in a cause
Where all are interested, but few are generous ? If such
ta to be the reward of genius—it is doubly cursed in
t liirg he stirring impulse of Heaven,
and bearing
speeirasteinvoere. exaction of men unworthy of the divine in-
But such men can only rate the aspirations
°fgenius by their own subdued feelings—they cannot-
------ tell how hard it is to climb
for The steep where fame's proud temple shines afar—
Orttillieey have never felt the agony of apprehension,
nation
tfeoverish joy that burns for immortality. A
essence
be truly great should cherish the bright
f
1°- Inind—the only record of her fame in after
ages, when the memory of her warlike deeds would have
otherwisethe passed away with the heroes that wakened
strife
Vixere fortes ante Agamemnona
Multi : sed miles ilkerymabiles
Urgentur, ignotique longa
But her Noete, carent quia vate sacro.
Literature will endure with each successive
generation, and perpetuate her glory to the end of
.

Of the lamented Duke of York it has been justly said,
that he never forgot a friend : the following anecdote from Oundle
4 an illustration of the retentiveness of hisin emory as well as the
goodness of his heart. Some years ago, his Royal Highness heing.on
a visit at the Earl of West
basket of fine figs was morland's seat in that neighbourhood, a
seat to Apethorpe by a gentleman at Oundle
who knew that the Noble Earl had not any in his gardens. The
kleasenger was a helper in the stables of the gentleman at Oundle,
sucl had formerly been a dragoon in the army in France com-
Manded by they been
of York. On his sear approach to
APetho House, the Duke
h' rPe • Passed him in his carriage ;
,6 I know you,
is Royal Highness immediately recognised him, stopped
bill carriage, and said my man." " Yes,"
suld the old soldier, " and I know your Royal Highness ; I
was your orderly when I was in the __-- regiment, fighting under
you in France." " Good fellow," added the Duke, " I remember
You ; call on me to-morrow." The last time his Royal Highness
had seen Min was a great many years before ; the man had been
and when he got home was discharged
Wounded in several places,
,4 a pension. The veteran, faithful to the appointment, called on
the Duke next day at Apethorpe, and was at first refused by the
foot nest
who were astonished at his demand of seeing the royal
:',";.°l'; but he knew too well the value of obedience to orders, and
e.-7ellgth succeeded in his object. The Commander-in-Chief re-
Ced him with kindness as an old companion in arms, gave him
Nioelodfleas, and by his condescending manner delighted poor
lati,itr, it, who is still living in Oundle, where he feelingly re-
'l44 anecdote---Stamford Mercury.