New-York daily tribune., 1853-12-15
NEW PUBLINAIIONS.

LETTERS ON INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT. By II. c.
CAREY $50. PIP ~ Ph.Adepnisi HsTt.
These letters written in reply TO requestir
the Hon Mr. Cooper, Pennsylvania Senator in Con
gress for information on the subject of International
Copyright. Mr.. Carey argues against the proposed
treaty row awaiting the action Of the Senate on the
ground that it is attempt to substitute the action OF
the Executive for that of the Legislature contrary as
he believes to the spirit, if not to the letter of the
Constitution Proceeding then to general consdera-
tions be maintains that international Copyright is
not demanded by justice, because the materials which
compose authors productions are the common prop
erty of the world the original discoverers in science
ard art neither receiving nor claiming any re-
ward for their ideas. The poverty OF English
authors moreover, which is urged as reason for
International Copyright is not caused by the want OF
such an arrangements but by the limited home-market
for their productions and this is the fruit Of the grow
ing tendency toward Capitalization obvious in every
part of the operations OF the British Empire. The
adoption of the international Copyright, in Mr..
Careys opinion, would tend to diminish the domestic
competition for the production of books and increase
cur dependence on foreigners for the of amuse-
ment and instruction
Reserying the examination Of these and other posi-
tons of Mr Carey to another occasion, we give below
some of the various curious statistical details with
which be attempts to illustrate the subject.
In regard to the poverty of English writers, Mr..
Carey says:
Mrs Inohbad so well known the auther of the SIN.
PIE Sorg and other novels, well in her capacity Of
editor dragged oD told, to the age OF sixty,
miserable existence living always in mean lodgings and
suffering frequently from want of the common comforts Of
life Lady Morgan well known as Miss Ogenson, a
brilliant arcOmplirl he'd dependent
geher upon the public charity administered in the form
pension ofless than FIVE hundred dollars year Mrs
Hemans the universally admired poeess lived and died
inpoYerty La2an Blanchard lost his senses and com
mied suicide in consequence OF being compelled by his
extreme poverty 20 the effort Of writing an article for
periodical while his wife lay corpse in the house. Miss
Milford well known TO all of Us, found herself after
life of close economy greatly reduced to have been
under tie necessity Of applying to her American readers
for means TO extricGte her little property from the rude
hands OF the Sheriff Like Lady Morgan she Is pub
lie pensoner Leigh Hunt is likewise dependent on the
Of St-the delight of bis readers aud mine Of wealth
10 his publishers man without vices, and Of unrng in
dutry-vod always from day to day the produce of
lis labor On his death bed when his lungs were
with consumption that he could breathe only through
H. ser tube, he was obliged to be proped up with
pillows. and with shaking hand and dizzy head, force
himself to tr, task Of amusing his readers, that he
might thereby obtain bread for his unhappy wife and chill
dIen With all bis reputation, Moore found difficult TO
support his family, and all the comfort OF his declining
wears was due the charity OF his friend Lord Lans-
doBne In one Of his letters from Germany Campbell
presses Himself transported with joy at hearing that
double edition of hs poems had just been published in
London. This unexpected tty pounds says he, saves
ffon jail" Haynes Beyley died in extreme poverty.
Similar statements furnished in relation 10 numerous
others who have by the Of their pens largely contrib
uted the enjoy and the instruction the people
Of Great Britain II would indeed be diticElf 10 in.
very many in which had been otherwise with per
exclusively dependent the produce LITERARY labor
With few and brilliant exceptions, their condition appears
have been and 70 be- of almost hopeless poverty
Scarcely anything short Of this indeed would induce the
acceptance Of the public shary tia; is occasionally doed
out il tie form Of pensions on the literary fund.
Tie cause of this is the limited circulation that is
attained by the works Of the most popular authors
with certain exceptions, which confirm the rule
Popular Captain Marya: tue first editions Of
Lis books he himself informed me- for some time
only J. 200 and had not then risen above LOCO OF Mr.
BBwers novels, so universally popular, the first edition
never exceeded 25c0 and 30 Il has been and L. with
others With al hr Ihackerays popularity the sale Of
his books hos believe rarely gone beyond 90 for the
supply Of above thirty iions Of people Occa'onally
slree author isenalied 10 the attention % the pgOc
ana Ee IA enabled % make lorune-nO from the sale Of
large quantities at low prices but Of moderate qaane a
L-h pnces. The chief case OF the kind now n England
z. hst OF 1Ir Dickens, who ses for twenty shiings
book tia. costs about four sa8gs and siEpenle 90 make
All Charge BIZ fellow atore in tho aelt Of az
erCrmCrs ice fog the pylsr OF attaching @ h3 nln
lCs DE l4vGiisemClt II their w0sk p, shown in the
lelon l- lsrgrcl ..ll ore gl he Journals .. O.. lsyi
llus 900, no Wfiies Ats succeeded IA a1aNs s0 1sc