The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-05-24
[ooanrs,OsD.so. OF THE .srusLlc.l
Amsrica at the WorId's Fsir-Jsnny Lind Oath
erinS Hayss- 7rapsIiins.

Amsrica at the WyorId's Fsir-Jeuny Lind Oath
srinl Hayss-1 Travelling.
New Yoax, May 20.
have been looking over, or rather through,
all the English and French newspapers and
periodicals. received by the last steamer, to see
what 'Mrs. Grundy' says of our debut in the
character of a manufacturer at the Great
Industrial Exhibition in London. But Mrs. Grun-
dy observes most discreet and respectful silence
respecting W. II she can say nothing in our
praise, she good naturcdly says nothing at all.
That satirical rascal. Punch, who spares nobody's
fobles in his leading article the opening Of the
Exhibition, says:
1--WE could not help, however. being struck by
the giaring contrast between large pretension and
little performance, as exemplihed in the dreary and
empty aspect Of the large space claimed by and
allotted TO America. An enormous banner beto-
kened the whole Of the east end AZ devoted TO the
United States; but what our astonishment, on
arriving there. to find that their contribution to
tho worlds industry consists as yet OF lew wine
cellars! For calculating people, our friends the
Americans are thus far terribly out in their calcu
lations."
And Jules Janin, the volotile Partisan fsliIIe
foniste, in his fret long letter from London to the
Journal DIES Debafs says we have sent over TO the
Great Exhibition, besides materials. an i'm
mense quantity OF wigs and hats, and mentions,
particularly, that among the hats some from
Genin, the New York halter, who purchased i'm
mortality by an outlay Of 200 francs for ticket
to Jenny Lnds first concert. The Times has
notice Of the double piano forte manufactured by
Pirrson, of New York. But, beyond these brief
illusions, Mrs. Grundy says little about our con-
tributions to the Worlds Fair. The illustrated
fall
in the shape of fine art manufacture in the Glass
Palace, contain no Americanisms. We must no
lose sight of the fact that mere gewgaws, and
splendid, but useless gmcrackerY, the objects
that attract most attention at such displays where
brilliancy is every thing, and utility nothing 1t
would be excellent plan il list Of the provisions
clothing, fuel. and money that our countrymen
sent to Ireland in the year of famine could be
hung up in the space allotted for American pro-
ductions in the Great Exhibition. imagine that
il would save US from good many disparaging
remarks particularly if the contributions of France
and Austria to the Irish in the year of famine
placed near. These old countries, which now
eclipse BY their fnery, would hardly appear to
SO good advantage in such show as that
but the better way for US is to acknowledge our
inferiority in the manufacture of articles of mere
luxury, and determine hereafter to bestow some of
now annually squander in Europe for fnery
Among the articles first sent to London from New
York, for tho Worlds Fair, were some rich speci.
mems of book binding, which could not be admit
ted because the books themselves were reprints of
English authors; or, as they are moro properly
called, "pirated editions" They were contraband
goods, and liable to seizure by the custom house.
Now, in this circumstance, we may see one of
the chief causes of national nferiority, In lit
erature and art, to the nations of Europe, which
are inferior to in every thing else. We are
robber nation respects all the productions of the
intellect; and, as matter of course, while we con
tinue to practice the principle of that notorious
genius who stole his brooms ready made, we
can never hope to excel in broom making ourselves
This one of national errors that every patriot
and every one who docs not prefer that his
country should occupy inferior and dependent
position among the nations of the earth, instead Of
being among the first, should strive to have cor
rected. 1t has been 90 long habit of ours to look
to Great Britain and France for our intellectual
entertainment and improvement, that the enor-
nifty of robbing the author world of Europe of its
productions appears to be rarely thought of, and
the injury which we inHict upon ourselves by dis
regarding the rights of our neighbors, in these
matters, has been alluded to, in Congress or
che pulpit. But il is time that the Pass, which
has deeper and more direct interest in the intel
iectuai cultivation of the nation, should take hold
of the subject Of international copyright, and ag.
tate it until the eyes of the people shall be opened
to the necessity of recognising the right of foreign
artists and authors to the production of their own
genius and industry. When the leading authors
of Great Britain, some years sincc presented Pc
tition to Congress praying for international
copyright law, the schemc met very active oppo-
sition from the bookselling interests, and from
many disinterested people. who looked upon it
piece of impertincnce in Engshmen to ask us
TO make laws for their benefit. But now the whole
aspect of the case is changed; all the leading pub
fishers of the United States earnestly desire an in
ternational law of copyright, to reciprocatc that
which has already been passed by Great Britain.
All the authors of the country have asked for the
law excepting Mr.. Cooper, who refuses to act with
his countrymen, not because he is opposed to the
measure, but because he will not act with them
at all on any subject. great number of Pc
ttions have been sent to Congress signed by
the leading intcllects Of tho country, and very
able memorials representing the evils Of the pre-.
sent state Of things, regards the rcpubshing of
foreign works, have been laid before the Senate
and House of Representatives, but some exciting
subject or other has always prevented Congress
from giving the friends of international copyright
hearing. But it is to be hoped that subject of
such vital importance to the highest interests Of the
nation as copyright will be considered, ere long,
can exciting topic" itself, and be regarded
thy the attention of our Legislators.
The presence of Jenny Lind among has
caused a new outbreak Of the same hearty cnthu-
siasm which first greeted her her landing.
There is not the least abatement of the passionate
admiration which her singing has everywhere Gre
atcd but, on the contrary, at each concert she
has Civen there has been a constantly increasing
crowd of listeners At her concert in Castle Gar
den last evening, that immense hall densely
packed with eager listeners; tho audience could
not have been much short of seven thousand, and,
every time she appeared, the delight of her
charmed followers broke forth in wild and car
nest cheers as though she had then for the first
time been heard. But when she sang the simple