The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-09-09
THE BOOK TRADE.

| The book publishers have had pretty hard
time of it for a couple of years. Many of
them have succumbed to the storm, bat most
have kept on under close canvass, but entirely
unable to do more than lie.to and barely live
.out the gale. Few books have been issue d for
the last year, and a majority of these we pre-.
sumo have had very limited sale. At length
there is revival of the book trade. The N.
T. Erening Post says:
The interests of the book publishers begin
to partake in the general revival of business.
The preparations for the fall trade are actively
progressing, though, in consequence of the
long interruption which has prevailed, the re.
tail dealers throughout the country have less
stock on their shelves, and are more anxious 10
be supplied, than has been the case at anv
previous season, perhaps, within the experience
OF the trade. Accordingly, the largest conven.
ton OF book buyers ever assembled in New
FORK is anticipated for the trade sales which
begin here on the 7th of next month. The
quantity of books offered is quite proportionate
to this anticipation, the catalogues of the sales
in this city and Philadelphia requiring an ex-
tension OF the session to nearly double the usual
time The New York catalogue is portioned
OIL Tor twelve days-to the 18th or 20th-and
a.
delphia session of the sales opens on the goth.
and having usually lasted about eight DAYS,
purchasers who propose to sit out both will
hardly reach home before the Let of October.
Whilst this extended session of the sales at
auction promises ample opportunity for those
who attend to select and renew their stock at
leisure, the Harpers. who, with some other
houses, do not contribute to the trade sales,
have adopted peculiar system for the disposal
of their publications. They have classified
their vast catalogue of books usder three heads,
| and issue circular to the trade, Offering them
at trade sale reductions equivalent to their Gus.
tomary auction limitations, with the auctioneer's
| commission thrown in. Their discounts are
thirty three one third, thirty five, and forty per
cent, with seven onehalf per cent. off for cash,
until the 10th Of September. AS other houses
will also adopt this method, its advantages will
offer an equitable alternative to those book.
| sellers who may be unable to attend the auc.
| TONS"
So hard have been the times, and 30 low
have books sold by auction, that most Of the
New York and Boston publishers have not of
late sent invoices to the Philadelphia sales.
combining themselves to sales at their own
cities, or, as is the case Of the Harpers at their
| own houses.
SLAvE'CATCHING AND MURDER The Sub
joined account Ct the arrest and death If a fu.
| gitive slave we take from the Shawneesown Hi
| noisidn
con Sunday, the 10Th, likely negro bow, Of
| 10 or 20 years, was arrested as fugitive slave.
| The boy stated that he was free -born in Vigo
| county, Indiana. He showed that he was we'll
! acquainted in the town of Greencsstle, and the
cities of indianapolis and New Albany Indi.
ana. He stated that he was a barber by trade,
had been running on the river, and left the
steamer j. W. Clay at a coalyard q short dis.
lance below town, on the same day that he was
| arrested, aid in consequence of difficulty.
| There seemed to be no doubt that the boy
was free, and his captors were advised to let
him 60.
" To this wholesome advice the captors turn
| ed deaf ear, and forced him across the river,
into Kentucky, in the face of the assembled
crowd. On the next day, the parties reported
that the boy had escaped and they pursued
him into the river, and lost sight of him. The
/ unfortunate negro was found dead the next day,
and is now lying on the Kentucky beach, oppo,
site this town, where he was drifted by the
| waves"
This outrage, we venture TO say, excited lit.
tie attention when it occurred, and no punish.
ment will be awarded the murdereus crew who
forced the boy across the river, such is the
ruinous effect of Slavery.