The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-02-06
Fruits or Literary Appropriation

publishers nave nitnertO rODDeQ the dutnOIS OF the
old world of the fruits of their intellectual labors,
and grown rich upon the spoils, English PUBLISH
ers have been in the habit of paying liberal sums
to our own writers. Mr. Irving, who acquired
considerable fame In his own country, by FIRST
gaining some reputation from the publication,
under very favorable auspices, in england,
of his " Sketch Book" aud one or two other small
affairs happened, in visiting Spain, about twenty
five years ago, to fall in with Navaree, Spanish
historian, of great talents and learned research,
who had just then brought out the "Llfe and
Voyages of Columbus" Alexander Everett was
| at that time our ambassador TO Madrid, and he
and Mr.. Irving put their heads together, and the
veteran Spanish historians labors were coolly
| appropriated by Mr.. Irving, who short time
afterwards, brought out his Life and Voyages OF
Christopher Columbus" upon which his fame now
mainly rests; and yet this book, which placed MIR.
Irving in the front rank of American historians,
never cost him one hours research, and was
little more than free and fanclul paraphrase OF
the great work OF the Spaniard. Navarete de-
served all the credit but Irving got it, throughout
the English world. 1t was understood that his
American publishers paid HIM fifteen thousand
dollars for it here, and that Mr. Murray, OF Lon
don, gave him still larger amount. There was
certainly no obligation, on the part of any publish
ers 10 pay one shilling to an American writer; for
he could legally pirate his book, without paying
| him groat; but there was certain law OF cour-
tesy which prevented such outrage; and let it
always be said, to the praise of British pub
fishers, that so long as the slightest hope was
! left in their minds, that our Congress would
pass a law securing to them and their authors
the right of their books this side of the water,
they never robbed Americans of their copyrights,
but always rewarded them generously, whenever
they published their works. In this manner
Cooper received immense sums from his pub
fishers. Irving, from first to last, has been paid,
we understand, over hundred thousand dollars,
by his London publishers. Prescott, Bancroft,
and other distinguished American writers, have
been richly remunerated by the London houses
which have brought out their books. Even the
fppant, kaleidoscope, polka-dancrng Melville has
been enabled to line his pockets pretty substantially
by the revenues accruing fromhs English editions.
Hitherto our American writers have been almost
as generously rewarded, by the publishers of
London, for the works they have brought out, as
they would have been if their books had been
covered by the shield of copyright.
But this state of things has come suddenly to
end. The publishers of Great Britain, feeling that
they have beenon enough outraged by the piracies
of American houses upon their books, have sud-
denly turned the tables; and we understand that
the golden streams which were flowing from the
great London houses into the pockets Of our
popular American authors, have been suddenly
checked. Mr.. Melville started we are told, some
time ago. for England, with the early proof sheets
of his last book, intending, the avalls OF 1t, to
make the fashionable tour over the continent. and
uxurate in the capitals of Europe, upon the fruit
of his labors. The revision came He was
coolly informed, by his former London publisher,
that he could pay no more copyrights; and the
aforesaid intellect quits the great metropolis in
despair, with empty pockets, and turns his face
once more towards his native land So it is with
a considerable number of other authors, who have
recently sent their manuscripts proof sheets to
Europe. All at once their receipts have stopped.
All at once the English publishers have discovered
that they are great fools to pay on; large sums of
money 10 American writers, since they can legally
publish any American book IN their market, with
out paying one copper TO the writer. We are very
glad that this revolution has been brought about;
and we hope that, while few Of our great houses
have grown rich upon the pirated books Of Lamar
,ine, Hallam, Bulwer, Scott James, Thackery, Ma
cauey, and others, and have opposed most strenuous
y the passage Of International copyright law, by
our own Congress, that the same Joke is being per-
petrated on the other side of the Atlantic and we
hope that il will, sooner later have its effect
Hitherto, such men as Irving, Prescott, Bancroft,
Bryant Halleck and few others, who have grown
rich and famous upon their copyrights, at home and
abroad have left the great mass Of unpaid
and unencouraged American authors to starve,
without lifting finger to and them to find publish
ers for their books at home, TO get them repub-
lished abroad Now, perhaps, these well fed gen.
.tlemen may begin to see that they themselves have
some interest in this question; and we hope that
oil Of them now will unite, In throwing their efforts
into the same channel, to bring about such a
change in public opinion as will act upon Congress-
and compel the national Legislature to pass a law
which will protect the writers Of all nations in the
enjoyment OF what they have honestly acquired a
night TO by their own exertions.
II is neither TO be disguised nor psliated, that
the effect of these plracies on the part of our pub
llshers, has been, and will continue to be, injurious
to the morals, the principles and national spirit of
the country. BY flooding this na,isn with the
myriad works which bear the name of popular TO-
reiga authors, every man OF sense must know that
American productions, for the most part, are
crowded from the market, and our readers are
compelled to buy the works Of foreign writers, or
have nothing to read. The consequences of this
system Of policy are pretty clearly shown up, in
book, which has recently been published, entitled
the " Living Authors Of America" In the article
Mr.. Poe, the celebrated topper and poet, he uses
the following bold language, in attrbuting the sue
OF Poe, a writer, TO the fearlessness of his
cntcismsi-
The Americans ere q shrevd asd far.seeine people
but they somewhat too MATERIAL they must not be-
leye that the nation long exist without men Of
thought NJ well as men OF action The salvation OF
America lies In the possession Of republican iters-
ture. The literature Of England IL slowly sappns the
foundations OF her Institutions. England does all her
thinking; and n this system continued the action Of
this great nation will be In accordance with the will Of
the old country Like the Gulf Stream Of Florida the
current 81 srisocrsc genius IL so~y drifting the ark
Of America TO point they little dream Of aud never
intend The very bulk Of this country renders the
operation unseen; but though mperceptible to the
eye h palpsble to the mind, and certaia Units results
What hope Of victory would the armies aud nsvies Of