The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1840-11-30

7 LITERARY PRoPERTY.-The American, of Sat
urday, has some just remarks upon the causes
that operate in this country against the formation
of = higher literary standard than we now have.
Until our own literary men are afforded some
protection for their property, beyond that given
BY COPYRIGHT law affecting only American
works, we cannot have a standard literature.
What publisher as going to give to an American
author any thing like an adequate price for a
valuable and laberious work, when he can go
into the English market, and get any book he
wants to publish, and that for nothing. We cam
not blame the publisher for not taking risk on
a work that, owing to its cost, cannot yield him
any profit.
The subject of thoroughly national literature,
for this country, Is one of more Importance than
it is usually considered, We are a new nation,
in every sense of the word. Our civil institu-
different aims than thoss that govern in the Old
World 1t is every way important, then, that
there should be full expression, such only as
an untramelled and standard literature can give.
The minds of the youth in this country are con-
staAtly hindering their healthy development, by
the great influx of cheap foreign books, abound
ing in views of life and sentiments, in no way
accordant TO those entertained by such have
felt and yielded to the force of national impulses
and opinions. Cut off, or obstruct those streams,
and our swn clear nils will flow more steadily
and freely, unstained by accessions from other
and less pure fountains, until they widen into
streams, and then into broad and deep rivers,
whose health-giving waters will 1ow throughout
the land, giving new life and vigcr to our
tional character We are not of the Old World.
We are young and vigorous nation, full of in
vention, and independent and deep thought. We
have taken of the wealth of British literature,
and appropriated its riches. We can improve,
even upon this in its deeper scientific researches
and discoveries, and in its light and more grace
full attitudes. But to do So, our own writers must
be encouraged. 1t is law of social organiza-
ton, that every beneficial labor must bring its
appropriate reward TO the laborer. Literary men
wants, as other men, and their wants must be
supplied. Nor will it be any Injustice to that
nation, whose literary and scientific treasures
have been so freely thrown upon our shores. 1t
will be justice to her literary men; for, with
reciprocal law of copyright, they will be pro-
tected as we'll as our own men Of letters. Look
ing, then, to the great reading world, for profta
bic sales of books, English writers will consult
our tastes and our views, in consulting their
own interests; and, thus, with fewer English
books, we shall have them of better quality
We hope, with the American, soon to see more
decided public action upon this subject than has
vet been; and, in furtherance of this object, copy
some Of the remarks of that paper
"The literature OF people, including their
constitutes the apex or cuimina-
ting point towards which the national genius
tends and becomes concentrated, We have
hardly yet reached that state Of existence, as
nation, in which the various elements Of native
growth, becoming homogenously blended, give
forth that quintessence or highly refined spirit
in its pefection. When the practical, lhomebred
qualities which mark our ordinary doings in
political, commercial and other every day mat
ters are thoroughly transfused into the literature
of the country, then will it stand out as an ex.
istence SUI generis, stamped with indisputable
marks of its origin and imbued with spirit
with which the people can sympathise. In
the mean time, having no natural notes, we catch
the sounds Of foreign strains, and, like the
hooking bird, repeat Them. If it is desirable
to hasten the development of national litera-
ture let the law givers of the land begin by
doing Justice in literary things. Let them re-
cognize the sanctity of the right of property
in literary productions even though they should
happen to come from abroad. Ii any man lay
hands on an English bale of broadclo.h and
appropriate the same 10 his own use without
making compensation, he is called theft, and
may chance to go to the penitentiary. But if
he seize upon a British book which cost, in the
production, an outlay of labor and intellectual
power more valuable than whole cargoes of
broadcloth, the laws sanction the act and the
author must console himself as he may.
Thus stands the case in point of justice.
The consequences which follow afford 10 ex-
tenuation, When British books can be had for
nothing, and in any abundance, and of all quail
tiles, good, bad and Indifferent, it is not 10 be
expected that publishers should care much TO
pay for American productions. How can fair
traders thrive when smuggling prevails To the
gluttiag of the market? The thing will be
amended, no doubt sooner or later-but the
sooner the better.
GENERAL MEscER.-The ashes of General
Hugh Mercer, one of the earliest and most il.
lu5trious martyrs of the revolution, were remev-
ed yesterday from Christ Church, in Philadel-
phia, 10 the new cemetery at Laurel Hill.
The remains were escorted bv the military,
public societies, and citizens generally. Among
those present en- the occasion, we notice the
names of Governor Gilmcr, Of Virginia, Govern
Pennington, of New Jersey, Governor Por-
ter, of Pennsylvania, the Hon. Jehn Quincy Adj
ans, and the Hon. Henry A. Wise.
General Mercer was native OF Scotland, lib
orally educated to the profession Of medicine
who emigrated at an early age to a settlement
| IN Pennsylvania. He was engaged under
Washington in the Indian wars of IT'S, and at
the outbreak Of the hostilities between the col
onles and the mother country, hastened to join
the patriot army. By the favor and confidence
OF Washington, with whom he afterwards dis
tinguished himself at the battle of Trenton and
Princeton, he attained the rank of Brigadier