Star.
London, England, 1830-01-05 00:00:00

HIGH RETAIL PRICES OF BOOKS.

Saturday evening last, at a meeting of the managers
of the CUT of London Literary and Scientific Institution, at then
mansion In Aldengate-street. the Secretary, amongst other com-
munications made to them. read a letter from their bookseller,
which letter announced that, in consequence of a general resolution
entered into by " the trade," be could now only allow a discount •
of 15 per cent. from the publishing price of the works he supplied.
In consequence of the large purchases previously made for the
Institution, and prompt payment, 25 per cent. had been the cue
tomary discount.
One of the managers stated, that as administrators of the funds
of the parent and chief institution of this nature in the metropolis,
it became their duty to set an example with respect to this combina-
tion of the booksellers. It was an attempt on the part of these
tradesmen to sustain the old and indolent system of trade, or large
profits oo small sales, against the new system of trade, or small pro-
fits on large sales, with better payment. The attempt could only
end in proving to the public the folly and ignorance of the body
by whom it was made. It could by possibility succeed only to
the extent of causing books to be sold clandestinely, at the
same moderate and reasonable prices at which they were now
beginning to be sold openly. Members even of the monopoly would
eventually, by covert allowances, sell goods at the reduced prices.
and the only effect of the change would be to foster habits of false-
hood and dissimulation. Thirty per cent. (he believed the booksellers
got more) was a retail probe far greater than ought, as compared
with other trades, to be demanded; but be that as it might, it was
a greater profit than the public would continue to pay. The days
of the booksellers' favourites, the costly quartos, were gone; it was
impossible that the trade could recall them : and the rewJrd of
the general support of all classes to the recent publications in
cheap. convenient, and elegant forms, might have shown the neces-
sity of conforming to the new direction of the public taste and will.
If, as was complained, rents of splendid shops were high, those
rents must be reduced. for the public would not continue to give
high prices to pay them ; nor would statements of lasses from
bad debts be
„listened to. The large profits of the old system in-
dneed tradesmelt to give credit too readily, on the calculation of
making the good debts pay for the bad ; or, in other words,
ea! making the regular and honest who do pay, become answerable
for the defalcation of the irregular and profligate, who do not pay.
The system of dealing for small profits, by diminishing the habit
of giving enormous credits would be attended wish no inconsider-
able moral advantages. Anything, however, which tended to keep
up the prices of books, and render knowledge less accessible, and
literary pursuits more expensive, ought to be especially repre-
hended and repressed. Ihe managers having to purvey intel-
lectual food for their SOO members, were bound to obtain
the largest quantity of books which their funds could procure.—.
Even if the regular supply could not be at once obtained at a cheaper
rate than that now proposed, be considered that this, and other
similar institutions, and all book-secieties,nught to withdraw their
custom from their present tradesmen, if they were members of
the combination, and, as a lesson to similar conspirators, deal with
the more bumble of the trade, who would be grateful fur whatever
patronage was given to them. But he had no doubt that amongst
the trade numbers would be found " unprincipled" enough to sell
books at moderate prlces,—" unprincipled" enough not to forego
small profits when large profits were inaccessible.
A Gentleman here stated that one large house had refused to
join the combination, and he had no doubt that there were many
others who would never accede to it.

The gentleman who had Bra spoken on the subject, said that in
that case a list of the members of the solemn league and covenant
against knowledge being sold too cheap, would show with whom
the public could deal with the least advantage.
Another member stated that his bookseller (whom he would
not name, but who was one of the Covenant) had that day told
him not to think of removing his custom, for, as an old friend, he
should still be supplied at the old reduced price. (A laugh.) The
attempt was perfectly ridiculous.
It was, however, urged, that no countenance should be given to
it ; and a resolutieo was moved, and carried unanimously, that all
further orders to the bookseller who had announced his intention
of acting Inconformity to the resolution of the trade should be sus.
prude&

Madame PASTA has contracted an engagement for the
winter, at the Copenhagen Theatre. She is also en-
gaged to attend a Carnival at Verona, where she is to
receive 1200 Napoleons d'or.
New ITALIAN 0-PRILA —On Sunday, the 13th ult.
a new Opera was produced at the Theatre Italien, iu
Paris. It is called "Le Nozze di Lammermoor," and
of course is taken from Sir WALTER Scorr's Novel.
The music is by M. CA RATA, and is spoken very In!-Itly
of. It was completely successful. The part of Lucir
was sustained by Mademoiselle Sowrso ; that of Lady
Ashton by Madame PESARONI. Doxzez.t.l,ZuenEi.t.l.
SANTINI, and GRAZ IA No, also played principal parts.
Mr. COURTENAY, the Vice-President of the Board of
Trade, is at present at Florence, where his Lady's con-
finement has just taken place.
We understand that a meeting took place on Tuesday
morning, between the Hon. J. and J. B.
G—RIE, Esq. of —, near to Newland Bridge-end
Toll, Peebleshire. After an exchange of shots, the affair
was amicably adjusted.—Edinburgh Courant.
The new Society, culled the " Literary Union," is
about to occupy the house in Waterloo-place, just vacated
by the members of the Athenaeum.
In spite of the doctrine of Malthus, and the unfavoura-
ble state of the times, matrimony seems still to be " the
ruling► passion" with both sexes. Friday is generally
looked upon as an ominous day on which to enter .into
" the holy bond ;" but, when Christmas and New Year's
Day happen to fall on Fridays, it seems to alter the case
in some districts ; for on Friday week there were seven
marriages, and on New Year's Day twelve, at the parish
church of Blackburn ! Some of them were so impatient
to tie the " knot" that they arrived at the church before
eight o'clock in the morning, notwithstanding the cold-
ness of the weather !

The iron and lead trades continue in a very depressed
state. A great quantity of iron is disposed of ; but so
much has the production of the article been increased by
the opening of new mines and Works, that the prices are
kept very low.—Sheffield Mercury.
Meat has experienced a further reduction of price in
various parts of England, but it has advanced consider-
ably in Dublin since Christmas. This is solely attrilut-
talhi to the combination of the butchers, which exceeds
all other combinations in the system and dexterity with
which it is carried on. If the graziers made the experi-
ment of forming a slaughtering company, as their
brethren have been compelled to do in several parts of
England, they would get much higher prices for their
cattle, and the markets would be greatly lowered to the
consumer:—.Uttblia Morning Register.
As might be expected at this period of the year, the
trade in our bashour has been in a languid state for some
weeks. Owing to low prices, the importation of grain
from Ireland has nearly ceased, while some shipments of
the same article have been made to Liverpool in the ex-
pectation of finding a better market. The foreign arri-
vals are but few, and a considerable number of the steam-
ers are laid up, both here and at other ports.—Glasgow
Chrouick.
We have just been informed that the deficiency in the
'revenue will not prove so great as has been anticipated
by some of our cotemporaries. 'This may in some mea-
sure be accounted for by the circumstance of the East
India Company having paid to Government the- sum of
five hundred thousand pounds fur duties within the last
forty-eight hours.