The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-01-01
The Literary World.

and profound political economist Of the present az
nv pamphlet on copyright, comprising six letter
against the proposed treaty on the subject addroase
10 Mr.. Cooper OF the Senate Whatever may be tn
merits OF this important question, Mr.. Carey Ia wid
of the mark in his facts his reasonngs, and his cor
Illusions He shows q melancholy picture Of the pc
Fery Of English authors but neglects suggest tina
40 per cent on the American editions Of their work
would have saved Scott from bankruptcy u d tn
decay O, his extraordinary prv rs Hazlit AID HOOD
from such want as resulted in deatn and given DicE
who IL ari1liES an, honorable old asc An sbe;
beggary-an ample fortune He quotes from the
DAILY Times an absurd estimate of the profits Of
several American authors, with the observation that
fit is not correct, it has never to his knowledge,
been contradicted. He might have seen IL contra
liicted and refuted In the HERALD the day after ts
appearance. 1t may surprise Mr. Carey to learn that
of our chief historians, Bancroft Prescott and Tick.
nor not one has received single dollar Of profit
The writing OF history demands SO large an expen-
Siture Of capital in travel observation and the col
lection of materel tbt 1t can be undertaken only by
men Of fortune. Eminent have been the successes
or these distinguished men, neither Of them has re-
ceved from publishers the cost OF his necessary COL
yections of printed and manuscript authorities. For
The earlier volumes Of Bancrofts great work he may
have been paid an amount equal to the expenses
incurred In their composition, but We know that
ths ID not true in respect 70 his latter Volumes yet
Bancroft, as well as Prescott and ricknor, would
Save been fairly remunerated If protected in their
}oregn copyrights. All this, however, has really worry
Ste to do with the matter in debate; it is none Of
Mr. Careys business, nor il it the business OF any.
Body else, except themselves and their publishers,
houa svol 49,
beet they have written; they have produced certain
works, which, without any condition whstever, are
their absolute property, by the highest most perfect
most indefeasible, most unquestonabe title that is
known or can be known to God or mantle right Of
creation; and to deny this right, in any degree or
manner whatever where it is capable of assertion or
vindication, is to insult the common sense What
Br Carey says of increase in the price Of books
with an international copyright Law, is for the most
part absurd, notwithstanding the statement Of com
paratve prices which he derives from the attorney of
u great publishing house in this city. 1t is well
known that with all our Boosting of cheap books,
Bohns admirably selected and carefully printed
libraries sold in this country despite duties and
The expense Of importation, for fifty per cent less
zhan ii would cost to produce them in our own print
ing houses. Books in Europe are generally even
cheaper, considering the excellence of their manu-
fscture, than with us, though one OF our halfdolar
novels may be printed not to be afforded in Lon
don for less than guzea or guinea and half. But
If FIVE per cent. we're added to the cost of new
books, account Of their authors but the most
redeemably base of Gods creatures would complain
Of it. Mr. Csreys hassy and il-sonsidered pamphlet
has been read everywhere by his freds with extreme
regret.
Mr.. BKsroN's Thirty Years in the Senate" is
rapidly passing through the press, and will make
two very large octave volumes, printed with small
type in double columns. There is q prospect that
this work will have larger sale than any historical
composition ever printed. Already more than fifty
Thousand copies, at So per copy, have been subscrib
ID for, and 1t is anticipated that in the first year
after its appearance it will attain to circulation Of
not less than one hundred thousand copies-a sue.
css for SO expensive publication, without parallel
] all the world.
Mr.. RANDALL, the retiring Secretary of State will
Immediately give to the press his elaborate Life OF
Thomas Jefferson, work which has occupied his
attention for several years and which he has written
with every conceivable advantage as to materials,
having had free to public archives and been
assisted as largely possible BY Mr. Jeersons ami-
ly. OF course the work will be vindication and
m eulogy Of the great democrat; but it will be writ
ten with candor, taste, and eminent historical
ability.
Great dissatisfaction is expressed that the works
Of Mr.. Jefferson, now being printed under the pa.
tronAge Of Congress, thus far include little, if any
Bling, that has not long been familiar to the public
while It is known that the imprinted Jefferson papers
IN Che State Department purchased Of the Jefferson
family, comprise ample material for forty or fifty
volumes II Is hardly worth while for the govern
ment to undertake the publication Of new editions Of
books 80 common as the four volumes of Mr.. Jefer
son's Correspondence as edited by Mr.. Randolph.
Mr.. BAScRoFT's sixth volume concluding the
"Hstory of the American Revolution, is about half
printed and will probably be in the market BY the
beginning Of February The author will doubtless
proceed Immediately with the additional three vo-
lmes, to close with Mr.. Madisons administration
snd the second war with Great Britain.
The Rev. Dr. CoLroS, having completed the sup
PIGMENT to his "Life Of Henry Clay" bringing that
volumnous and careful work down 10 the close Of the
career Of i ilusrous subject is about to proceed TO
Ashland 10 select and arrange for publication Mr..
Gays extensive and most interesting correspondence,
during lhalf century, with the leading political
chaaoters in this country in that long period. Mr..
Clay and some of his correspondents were capital
letter writers, and DR.. Colton's publication win
probably be the most curious revelation Of the char
acter and history Of parties that has ever appeared
mot excepting Mr.. Mackenzie's Documentary Exhi-
bitiou of B. F. Butler, and Martin Van Buren-but
happily for the reputation Of Mr.. Clay and his
friends, it win probably present . very different
phase social, moral and political.
WASHINGTON IRVING, who has returned to his
Beat the Hudson in excellent health, after spend
ing the summer and autumn with his friend John
p. Kennedy in Virginia, is preparing for immediate
publication the concluding volumes '(the 10th and
77th) Of the revised and uniform edition Of his
works. They will contain the last series Of tho
Eeoffsy Cayon papers, contributed some years ago
10 the "Knickerbocker,v and numerous sketches