The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-11-15


The mercantile classes had better be cautious
in their operations, until they the news posted
in public.
American Observation-Disclosures Copy
right.
II is singular fact that the literary men and
women of the United States reap scantler re-
ward for their labors than the same class in any
other enlightened nation; and yet there are more
books printed and read IN our republic than IN
almost any other country, and the readers and the
books are rapidly increasing. Ii is likewise true
that n Amenca, all other kinds of labor are bet
ter rewarded, with few exceptions, than in any
other part Of the world The clergy, of all de-
nominations, are better sustained, a body, than
IN Europe the medical faculty are nch and pow
eriu the bar usurps nearly every post of honor or
emolumeRt in the State and sways the wealth and
fortunes of the nation. Every channel of COM
nerce and every department of the mechanic arts
are followed with success all trades and pursuits
are crowned with wealth. and every class Of citi.
zens fad opulence at the end of labor, except one
literary men As class, they poor, very poor;
nlulttudes of them suffer the deepest poverty and
deprivation. We said, in the beginning, that this
was slr Splar fact; it will appear so, and very
painful one 1t needs explanation, for the true
causes which have brought about this state of
things are not understood, except by literary men
themselves.
Let us begin at the beginning. Literary pro.
perty is not protected by Law. In this respect il
forms an exception to every other kind OF pro-
perry for there is no other species over which
the protecting shield of the law is not thrown If
an American author publishes book at home,
an English publisher reprints it in London, and
pays nothing to the writer if he publishes his book
In England first, he loses the copyright in both
countries. In this way Webster's great Dictionary,
kent's and Story's Commen 1fies Bancroft's and
Prescott's Histories, Cooper's Novels and all good
American books, are reprinted at once in London,
and the author and publisher lose their market IN
Great Britain. So, too, are English authors rob-
bed in this country, by hundred eager publish
ere, who seize on their works as fast as they are
issued in London, and the great American market
IS thus closed against the English edition. la this
way Walter Scott, Bulwer, James, Hallam, and
the entire host of British writer's have been robbed
Of all Profits their works in their principal mar
kei for our readers know that the popular authors
ofEngland have ten readers IN this country while
they have enc at home.
Now, what are the Consequences OF this whole
sale piracy1 Foreign authors are robbed, and our
own are ground into dust, and the people get no
advantage from il. On the contrary, we are pre-
pared to show that not living soul, except the
pirate publisher, gets any advantage from it, 1t is
an outrageous injustice, and II works only evil,
and that continually, TO everybody concerned.
Firsi--It ls bold, inexcusable, aud cruel robbery
III foreign authors. II is a law Of equity and com
mon sense, and il is a statute, too, that man who
kbors TO produce anything has a right to the fruit
of his labors or invention, wherever they used.
This is the law Of patents, and 1t is 80 acted on.
Now an Anglo. Saxon author prints book which
has cost him one or forty years of TOLL aad IL will
be reed throughout the Ango-Slxon world. II is
plain case that those who appropriate the fruit OF
his lsbors are in equity bound TO pay for ITS
This law prevails every other species OF labor
and property But how has il been with the great
authors Of Europe hIiheuoi Has Limirtine, who
has thrilled million Of American readers, ever
received anything for has works, reprinted by
several American housesl Not groat; aud the
other day "Milly," his ancestral home, was sold
snder the hammer. A copyright Of sixpence a
volume on he books published by the Harpers
alone, would have saved his property. Bat his
chance from that quarter was so small il is not
worth mentioning. IIsllam, the veteran historian,
has spent long life IN the wasting tolls OF historical
Investigations, and at last gave mankind sure and
infallible lights through the hitherto unexplored
darkness Of the middle ayes. The Hampers appro-
pirate the fruits Of hrs abors, and never
pay hum dollar. A penny volume copyright on
scott's novels, frsm his numerous American pub
hshers, would have released him from the pecu-
MARY endorsements which shrouded his last
days IN darkness and trouble. Aud yet, who of all
his American publishers ever thought Of dividing
with HIM the fruit OF his genius
Sometimes an evil becomes so gigantic II pro-
vides a remedy for itself. THIS will, at no distant
day, when its consequences have become still
more fatal AT present. British authors ore paid
something occasionally, not az copyrights, but a
sertam sum offered by the cupidity Of speculat-
ing book printers 10 English writers for the first
chance ofrobbing them. For instance, Il Is under
stood that the IIarPers pay James 500. or some
other two-penny sum- for early sheets Of his novelist
and threaten all sorts Of revenge if any other house
dare 10 print the book The papers said that they
paid s5OO volume to Macaulsy for early sheets Of
his History Of England. Whyl Not because they
acknowledge that Mr. Macaulay has any right to
the fruit of his LAHORE, but they expect to make so
much out Of the work, they can afford to pay what
Will amount TO perhaps a cent copy, and bypayng
600 they hope to make $4,000 Have they acquir-
cd any right by odongl They act on the afIirna.
i've. They bring out dear ediuons aad other
houses announce cheap ones. They hurry off to
Philadelphia and Boston, and by dnt Of persuasion,
money and intimidation, stop, or try 10 stop, all
lnteIlopers, and they succeed pretty well. Their
da.r sdittou goes out and has an nm araileed ,ls