The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-11-18

ourselves" The same solid fact. grated apaa his
ears In New York. 1--WE can publish the English
authors works with security" said the geatlenen
nssDs e sss
ton whether American taste would continue to be
fashioned 10 English literature and English writers,
II publishers ceased 10 force English works upon
American readers; for, as the market Is stocked
influenced. The aut or 20 have here described con-
tDued unremittiDg 10 his struggles to get his writ
ines before the public, and, through the kindness
Of friesd procured funds enough 10 detray his OK.
penses TO England. In London he soon found a
publisher for his works, the first of which found
purchasers for three editions in tSelve months
The result here WAS, that English literary labor
being free TO every pieIer in America, this author
was 0riven to make his reputation in foreign coun
my. Now, however, the evil 6evelopes itself on
both sides Of the Atlantic: the English Ipira.e will
not publish the works Of the humble author in his
own county, ror win the American take the risk Of
be can have tie celebrated Englishman's upon the
same reasonable terms. Here then tho author is re-
duced to the merest dependant In the publishers
hands, Who VIII centrate the strength of his trade
inst in that point where labor 10 cheapest.
Another singular phase of that inconsistency
which denies the author full right to his mental Ia
bors, Is the compensation which certain publishers
in America are willing-a acting from the force Of
left to their generosity. They will acknowledge the
justice Of the authors claims bat resist all legal pro
lection being extended to these claims Here the
tradesmsn, by his own act, permits right to force it.
firmly demands that everything shall be left to tae
dictates OF his own generous impulses. He would
seem TO forget that, In knowledging the right
while denying the protection which should follow,
he gives double license to The pirate who sets the
law of trade at defiance For instance, the Msssrs.
Lippeness, Grumbo & Co.. of Philadelphia, seldom
or never publish the works of an English au .hor
without paying for them at tie same time the sim
gular anomaly Of their being among those whose
money figures at Washington to prevent the pas
sage OF an international copyright, presents Itself.
We would like to hear the leading members Of tais
finn explain the reasons for their singulsr course
They agree that 1t Is right to be honest, bat they
rather encou age dishonesty BY decliuing to place
any restraint on the pilferer. Now, we half in
clDed to believe that centralizs alton may become
an actual blessing to the area Of It's action, can
Jtbing more certain Of producing it be found than
free intercourse between the commerce Of nations.
The absence Ct all protection to property only
hastens the end, but, as far % publishing aud au-
tlorship Is concerned why may not New York or
Philadelphia become the focus OF this centralzation7
Already ore the people Of those cities evincing
cultivated taste for the foe arts Is it right, then,
that they should be driven for the qualification Of
that taste, TO foreign countries Yot 1t is 30 now,
and will cremsin thus receiving its supplies as long
as Congress negects its duties. No country on the
globe possesses such splendid opportunities for be-
coming the artistic and intellectual centre but her
own people, by The most short-sightsd policy, have
thrown every possible obstacle in the way. They
have suffered the interests of trade 10 openly vi0
late the laws of literary and artistic progress, so
well founded but sparseiy encoursged in our couu.
try and the same sbortsighted policy will ere long
produce the same retarding effect on the publishers
interest unless he seek special legislation to protect
him against the cheap labor OF London.
As matters now stand, we would advise the Ame-
rican author to send copy Of his Ms. to London,
to some one Of the established agencies wio by in
cooperating, "a contemplate expedient,) chapter
or two of English writing, and publishing it in ad
vance, may gain some advantage over the pirate
who, fearing les. he may burn his fingers with the
English material will wait in distress for the org-
nal as it appears ia America. Among those agen-
cies we would single out the Messrs. Low & Son, of
Lu5gate Hill as being the most respectable, respon-
sible, AID prompt in their transactions with Amsr-
can authors. Wespeak after some experience with
English publishers. AN AMERICAN AUTHOR.