Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-05-24

this hut because has creed in this respect is without
the abatement OF one ot or atom, NINE; and because
have never considered, and never will consider, this
question any other light than as one oil pam right or
wrong Justice or injustice
am, sir your faithful servant,
CHARLES DICKENS.
To the american People.
We the undersigned, in transmitting to one OF onr
most eminent English authors the following memorial
for an international copy right between the U. s. and
Great Britain, willing that our claims should be
considered apart from our interests IN urging them
Addressing great nation, chiefly united TO US ny
common ancestry, speaking the same language, and IN
deb,ed the hereditary sources for models III H.
te,sture ar authorities scence, we venture 10 nope
that PRAYER which ask for abors not less useful TO
America than Great Britain, those rewards winch can
only be proportionate 10 the estimation IN which by
Anne ricans the abors NAV be held will need little argu-
,nent to advance with The Legislature and people OF
the IT, s. provided that counerbaancins d'sadvan-
tage can be proved to arise from its concession.
Independently OF grace generosity to ourselves,
we conclude that the question of nteInaticna! copy
right can ouy be viewed hg enlightened Americans,
first as affecting the interests OF American authors Sc
condly, influencing those OF the American reading
public.
With rerard to the first. We respectfully submit that
greater curse cannot be inflicted on American authors
nor more serious injury on American literature, than
state Of law which admits graiuitousy the works OF
foreign authors in the same language IL is imposs'
BILE that an American hope for an adequate
can be met by the publishers with declaration that
they can publish the best English works without pay
ing a iarihing for the copyrights The necessary con-
sequence must be- that the energy OF American INDUS
try and genius, remarkable in every other depart
ment of human intellect, Will be greatly chilled and
oppressed in the general departments OF literature
Against all possible exerton OF native authors array
ed wholesale system of competition, existing only by
means of piracy and smuggling Ana we are con-
WINGED that the ultimate consequence oil 'nundaung
H.. ,Eefu lisl s,
no remuneration paid to the authors, must be the ex
tnction OF American literature as an adequate nde-
pendent and honorable profession.
With regard TO the second: The only interest the
American public can have is in the supply OF English
works i'm as cheap form at present. and there can be
no doubt that this would continue 10 be the case were
copyright established. Works sold at low or
high price, not IN proportion as there is copyright or
not but in proportion they can obtain larger or
smaller community of readers. The noble cultivation
of the American people, which forms reading public
almost commensurate with the entire population, rem
ders the obvious interest of every author nnd every
publsher) to adapt his price TO the means OF all his
readers and venture TO predict that were an inter
national copyright established not one popular English
work would be sold in the u S. at higher price than
ut present. So far, If this be true, the American pub
lie will be no losers. But will they be no gamers if
they have removed from their own writers and men OF
genius the great impeachment to purely national ilcra
lure?
We do not pause 10 inquire if there be any separate
or olrarchca against on this great question
because we venture trust that, IN country the IN
stilutons of which based foundations broad the
minor and selfish interests which cannot BE- superiority
simple Justice are not suffered 10 prevail, aud also be-
cause We cannot conceive that concession 10 our prayer
could disturb or invade one solitary vested right
On the other hand in our sanguine antcipations
from Legislature wiling to be Just 10 others, and
honoraby Jealous Of the fame Of the People repre-
sents in arts and letters less than in and CON-
merce we look forward with pleasure to the new and
firm bond that the law we pray for must establish be-
tween our American brotherhood and ourselves
Such law must naturally and obviously bind the
large body of writers 10 peace and anty with a
public they may then Justly consider as their own.
And whatever tends TO connect the intelligence OF
one country with that of another must exert deeper
and more permanent influence than they who super
fcally regard this question of mere pecunIary
profit to English authors can oresee, upon the tran
GUILTY. and civilization Of the world.
Edward Lyltcn Bulwer, Henry llalam,
Thomas Campbell, Sydney Smith,
Alfred Tennyson, IL. ii. Mllman,
II. y. TaifouId, Samuel Rogers,
Thomas Hood, John Foster,
Leigh Hunt, Barry Cornwall.
LONDON, March IS, 1912.
Dear Dickens: The deep interest take in the eff
forts YOU have been making for the cause of nerna-
tonal copyright, mPes US to express to you our car
nest sympathy with your course, aud cord al wishes
for lis success Our feeling, like your own, not
prompted merely by the desire that authors this side
the Atlantic should obtain papable reward Of
their industry from the mighty public who enjoy IFS
fruits, but is exalted by the conviction that on the
issue depends the question whether the intellect of
America shall speedily be embodied in a Literature
worthy of It's born powers, or shall be per
United to langush under disadvantages which may
long deprive the world of the full development of its
greatness Assured that in promoting this object you
will make the best return for that apprecia
ton which your genius has received from our transat
antic brethren and which we have learned with CRATE
ful and unmingled delight,
We your obliged and faithful servants,
Edward Lytton Bulwer, Henry Halam
Thomas Campbell, Sydney Smith,
Alfred Tenny son. II. II. Mimnn,
T. N. 1afuurd, Samuel Rogers,
Thomas Hood, John Foster,
Leigh Hunt, Barry Cornwall
To CHARLES DICKENS, Esq, United States.
TExpLAyD, (ros LoSDoS,) March 26, 1912.
NV Dear Sir: We learn by the newspapers that you
every where in America stir up the question OF inter
national copyright and thereby awaken huge disso-
nance where all else triumphant unison for you
am asked my opinion of the matter, and requested 10
write it down in words