The New York herald., 1851-07-15

. country c0ul0 DC supposed 70 nAk0 toWb only 10
hs own subjects, unless special reference wore mad
TO foreigners in an act they were not supposed {,
be recognised by II. Now, as no such referenc,
was made In tae act Of Anne it had long been held
that 1t applied only TO British subjects. Ia 1872
the case Of Boosey Purday was decided by Baron
Rolfe, (now Lord Cranworth,) who held that the
act was only intended for the benefit of English
authors; but recently the whole Of that decision
been reversed by Lord Campbell, who held that
foreigners who published their works, in the g. u
staIce, in England, were entitled to the same ad
vantages as native authors That was q most i'm
portant decision, coming as it did from Lord Camp.
bell, man who, to the highest legal reputation.
added the character OF statesman and u man Of
letters. All that he (Sir +. b. Lytton) could say
was if that be the true state Of the law, the sooner
It is altered the better. But it appeared thst Lord
Campbell rather regarded the question according to
his views Of literary philosophy or political econo-
my, than adjudicated upon it as a judge. The
only question was whether foreign books should be
consigned only to single publishers to sell at what
ever prices thsy chose to put upon them, or whether
they should be allowed to arrive through various
channels, and be sold by variety Of publishers, at
such prices as they could obtain. (Hear, hear.)
When he was in Parliament some years ago, ,heplaced
upon the books the first notice Of an act on nterna
tional copyright, and he did not withdraw the
notice until the government had undertaken to in
duce foreign governments to participate in their
views. The wenknown act Of International Copy
right was the result, by which England undertakes
to give to foreign authors Of any State copyright
in their works in this country provided the States
to which the foreign authors belong give the sa me
advantages to English authors within their terri
tories: tories But hi.AsIte, only a few Of the German
and America, the two most important countries,
had not as yet cepted the profered terms. Sill
the question had made progress, and were it not
for the recent construction that had been put upon
the act of Anne, he had no doubt the arrangement
would have been speedily accomplished. (Hear,
hear.) Were that encouragement to learning
which it was the object of Anne to accomplish,
given by the establishment of the International
copyright with America, our transatlantic consum-
ers would be converted into our contributors from
being our despoilers. He contended that concession
was by no means the necessary Progenitor Of reel
procty. He did not agree with those who said,
"let this country do right, no matter what others
may do" He said it was the duty of this country
to protect the rights of its own subjects. We had
done what was fair and just in Offering to America
and other States protection to their writer's if they
would give the same to ours, (hear, hear); aud a
great wrong was done to our authors by any con-
struction Of the law which fostered and sanctioned
the very States that most pertnaciousy adhered to
the policy which despoiled them. Were he an
American, he would endeavor by all the means in
his power to obtain an international copyright.
lie was anxious that our brethren over the great
waters might find out that it was not worth their
while to smuggs M s over English literature. and he
pervade the discussion. Incidentally, this great
question had become complicated by litigation be-
tween various private parties but he trusted that
everything tending to personality would be avoided
Having paid some compliments to Messrs. Bohn, to
the house Of Murray, whom he styled the Medici of
publishers, to Messrs. Bentley, and others, the
chairman expressed his regret that he differed in
opinion from Messrs. Murray and Bentley upon this
question, and that he should be obliged to grieve
over judgment of Lord Campbell; but, as chair
man, he should hold himself for the remainder of
the meeting aloof from all opinions. (1he hon
chairman was loudly cheered at the conclusion of
Mr.. H. G. BONN moved resolution to the effect
+" that this meeting views with appreciation the re-
cent decision of the Court of Error reversing the
previous decision of the Court of Exchequer, and
thereby declaring that foreign authsrs resident
abroad are entitled to British copyright, although
subjects Of State which declines to avail itself Of
the International Copyright act. That such deci-
sion, if finally established, must prove extremely
prejudicial to the interests of British literature in
all its departments, whilst il removes a material
inducement to the acceptance by foreign States of
the International Copyright act" Mr.. Bohn went
at great length into the history Of the law and the
various actions and decisions to which it had given
rise.
The Rev. DR.. WoRrHINcroN seconded the reso-
luton.
Mr.. ERNEST JONES moved an amendment, and
combated the arguments of the chairman. He,
however, agreed shat there ought to be an interna-
tional copyright, only obecting that the best mode
Of obtaining 1t was for England to set the example
Mr.. WILKES seconded the amendment
A discussion ensued, in which Mr.. Foggo, Mr..
Colburn, Mr. Jetiries, (the defendant in the of
Boosey vs.. Jefries,) Mr.. Novello, MIR. Cocks, Mr..
Hyde Clark, and Mr.. Vizetelly, took part; after
which, the question having been put, the chairman
declared the amendment lost, and the original reso-
luton carried by show Of hands.
Mr.. GEORGE CRUIKsHANK moved the next resolu-
tion, recommending the formation of a society, and
the collection Of funds to obtain revision of the
judgments alteration in the law.
Mr. MctARLANE seconded the resolution, to which
Mr.. HENRY MAYHEM moved an amendment,
which, after an appeal from the chairman, with
drawn, and, after some rather discussion, the
original resolution agreed to.
Mr.. SHEARD moved, and Mr.. HowIrT seconded,
resolution, that an appeal should be made to the
Houe Of Lords against the decision Of the Court OF
Error in the case Of Boosey VS.. Jeffres which was
carried, and, thanks having been given to the
chairman, the meeting separated.