The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-11-28

INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT LAw.-Some tim
since a club was formed in this city by number Of
ife,uteus, most of them of very small calibre in
deed--but who have enrolled as associate memi-
bers almost every distinguished author in the
country, for the purpose of obtaining law
for ''the better protection of literary property"
The first fruits of this organization have been pre-
sented to the world in the shape of an address TO
the people of the Usited States, and which is
certainly good deal of a curiosity in its way. II
is chiefly composed of very violent defamation,
poured out with most orthodox puritanical shuttle
against the entire mass of the current cheap
literature of the day We think that the address is
the production of some disappointed penny-a-liner,
who has attempted TO rival some popular author on
the other side of the water, and who has been
rather unfortunate in convincing the "dear public"
OF his surprising ability.
In this address" the whole mass Of the cheap
literature of the day is included in one fierce and
sweeping maedlction. II is evil, and only evil, In
the eyes Of the Scion TO whom the Club have en-
trusted the work Of presenting their sentiments TO
the American people. He represents the republlca-
ton here of European works of fiction, busi-
ness dishonest demorallzlng, utterly subversive OF
every thing that pure and lovely and of good re-
portland contrasts, with vlrtuous indignation, this
stale of things in the literary world and that which
existed in those days of blissful ignorance, when
"the Bible and the almanac" constituted the faml-
ly library of thousands throughout the land. The
remedy for all this, the writer of the address pro-
misses in the enactment of an international copy
right law-the flood of foreign Lcentous literature
would thereby, he considers, be effectually STEM
med whilst American writers would get salt to
their porrldge, and bless the land with works whose
sole tendency would be to purify, elevate and in
struct. To all this the most appropriate reply is the
expressive exclamation so frequently used by good
Mr.. Burchell the Vicar of Wakefield Fudge"
That number of Improbable and worse than I'M
profitable works have been republished and ex-
tensively circulated here, we know very well, but
the general character of the republicaons has been
mertorlous, and the influence of their wide ditfu-
sion been highly beneficial. A taste for literature
has been thus created at ten thousand fresides
where it was formerly an utter stranger and
thirst for knowledge and intellectual nutriment of
all kinds been universally created amongst the
masses. The people must and will be supplied with
cheap literature In the present circumstances of
the country 1t is absurd to attempt any legislative
enactmens prohibiting the introduction of the lit
erature of the old world, the people will have it,
they ought to have it, and unsuccessful penny-a-
liners here may as well submit with good grace to
to thier destiny.
CRY AFFAIRs.-In the Board Of Aldermen, last
evening, ordinance to establish Work House
on Blackwell's Island, for paupers from the Aims
House, was adopted. Amendments to the street
contract were adopted, giving power to the Super
intendent of Streets to employ such force as will be
necessary to cleanse the streets and remove garbage
and ashes. The Mayors veto against paying the
watchmen an additional sum of twenty-five cents
per night, since May last, was called up, but not
being printed, no action was made. An appropria-
ton of 100000 to the payment of the mill tax for
1913, and ss36 900, for common schools, was asked
for by the Comptroller, but referred to the Finance
Committee. Alderman Purdy introduced reso-
luton giving the Mayor increased temporary
power to extent the aid of the police in the sup
preston of crime, until some definite action is
made regards the present system of police, which