Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1802-06-18
LITERARY FAIR
.-s4dHrsfs ef fbe Printers and Bo0sfellers t
5beir Bretb,ea ot.fbe u. States.

A HAPPY fuggefion addreiied to your
good fenfe has. as ifby magic, produced
the fri Literary Fair, which commenced
! ia the City of New York, on the fre Of
the preient month, and has been conaant-
ly and aaivelysattended every day to the
!, prelens. B1iiaefs has been traniaeted to
an extern exceeding the mott fanguine ex-
pe7ations, and from the experience we
! have already had, the greateR advantag-
es may be anticipated 10 the art of print.
. ing, and she interefs of literature in our
fortunate country.
The project had to ltruggle with many
apparent Disadvantages. Its novelty the
want Of Previouily fixed regulations the
remeteneis of the perfons concerned, from
each other; the expence Of travelling, all
ieemed TO throw impediments n its way;
but in country, where every thing aP-
pears to be newly created and original ::
where cities are founded and itates Great
ed, with facility unprecedented IN hif-
tory; and where the activity of the hu-
man understanding has, in various reipetts,
Iivalled and furpaaed the experience and
wifdom of the old world, it is not fur
priGng that prejudice ihould not prevail,
even with thefe obeacles combined. Its
: iuccefs has been equal to all other bold ef-
! forts, founded on a deliberate itudy of To-
ciety in the. United States; and already,
without any other fyaem than what re-
> fults from iiberality and good fenfe, indi-
: Gates how advantageous il mutt become,
when il obtains exteniion and maturity.
1t is TO accomplish this object that the
booksellers ai1embled at the hrf Literary.
Fair, have thought proper to addrefs their
$ brethren generally, and to Prefent to them
) fuch views as may engage theirsco-o opera
-tion.
By the Gmple operation of exchange,
perhaps not 'lefs than half a million OF,
volumes are put into circulation, which
5 might have lain on the fhelves,for years,
under the limited operations of trade hi.
therto exiting. Activity is thus given
to dead capital individuals are benefit
ed by the variety of their flock new,
connections, leading to more extenGye
and certain trade, are formed and In
duary acquires not only additional fnite-
nance, but more vigorous life. :
Amongst the mott important COME,
euences of this infitution, lit has been
provided that the humble printer or book
-.{eIler, with fnall capital, is placed upon
equal terms with his opulent neighbour
he il faved from the expences and fatigpes
hitherto 70 Encouraging, attendant Oh ira
veting the Union, to difpole of the fruit,
,ofhis labour--he has now fixed market,
where hemay exhibit the whole of his
work, or iample-and be may partici
pate in she profit, by exchange with the
more opulent capitalia.
In more extenive view, the we'll
known principle is applied to our bninefs,
that trade multiplicity itsown activity,
as much as by the wants which originally !.
gave birth to commerce; any it applies
smore itrongly; for, beGdes the demand
for books, from the ordinary necellities
of education and entertainments, the de-
sznand will be found to increaie with thes
improvement Of morals and taite-with
the growth of wealth and the progress Of
: fcience-with the PROPERTY of commerce,
and even with the facility of obtaining
works of utility and genius, in every city
and every town; even the improvements. /
in the art of printing the embellishments
-.of the paper maker, type-founder, printer,
engrsver, and book binder--arts, which
are called dependent, in various degrees,
on our exert;ons and activity, will en-
creale our trade.
Every means by which we can improve
vtheie arts, tend TO the public good, as well
as TO the good of the individuals: we
ihould therefore enter into generous emu
lation--not the rivalry of jealouiy among
sOurinlVaS ktlf n sco,pNa t;fton with thp!e