The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-04-03

The Duty ENGLISH Books. There seems little
hope of an International Copyright with America
II we may Judge by the Tariff bill lying before Con-
gress when the last mails left and which is possibly
by this time law. The present duty on books is
eight per cent dd ratoren with certain exceptions
The new bill proposes specific duty of sevenpence-
halfpenny 10 cents) per pound weight on all books
IN the English language printed since 1880, but
only fourpence Is cents) on those printed in any.
other language; the object of the trainers of this
Dill apparently being to protect the American
pirates In reprinting our new English books. No
books in foreign languages are reprinted in Ameri-
ca. The imposition of this duty of sevenpence-
haitpenny per pound is do not hesitate to saw
scandaous and unjust the part of nation
which is forever boasting of its cheap liter
ature, its general intelligence and upiyer-
sal education. For the last year, nearly all the
productions OF the American press have been
pirated reprints of English books, without
compensation to the English writers, or with
very small remuneration for early sheets. The re-
printers of these and all other English books, the
American Legislature proposes to protect by an
act virtually prohibiting the importation of new
English books We say prohibiting, because cost
duty OF seveDpence-halfpeGny per pound would, on
all cheap bOoks-like Mr.. Bohn's Libraries, for
example-amount to from 30 to so per cent. on the
nett export value. On costly books like Mr..
Grote's Greece, the duty would be enormous. The
twelve volumes in cloth weigh y lbs, and the trade
price for export is under e.; the duty would be
about Us, or more than u per cent. Take Rich
ardson's Dictionary, vols, 4to., the last edition.
in cloth, weighing II lbs, would pay duty of above
half guinea on each copy, or nearly Is per cent.
on the export price. Why in the name of common
sense land in the face of the "most favoured ma
tom clause in all our Commercial Treates),
should we English pay the Americans tax on our
books nearly double that paid by the French p
English Paper.
THE PRINCESS ANNE HoMICIDE.-The Norfolk Day
Book of Monday evening gives the following par
ticulars of the homicide in Princess Anne county,
Va, mentioned in telegraphc news yesterday
On Saturday afternoon after parade the Sea-
board Rifle Company and the Wise Dragons at
London Bridge, Messrs. Jas. NJ. Land aud William
Grimstead got into an alteration, when the for
mer cut Grimstead who killed Land with his gun
He died almost Immediately. The unfortunate
affair caused much excitement.
Land was a member of the Dragon COMPANY,
and Grimstead of the Rife company.
The deceased about So years of age, was a
widower, and leaves several children.
Since the above was in type we have learned
that the parties got into quarrel and their friends
separated them, carrying Land off in buggy to
considerable distance, but by some means
they got together again and renewed their quarrel.
1t is said that Land then drew his sword and cut
Grims'ead severe cash across the breast, where
upon Grimstead ran his bayonet through his ad
versary, infctng the wound through his heart
Land died almost instantly. 1t was found necessa-
ary to call doctor in to dress Gl imstead's wound
The RHODE ISLAND BOUNDARY QUEsrIox.-The
conventional boundary line between Massachusetts
and Rhode Island, which has been tavoraby report
ed upon by the Joint Special Committee of the
Legislature upon the subject, transfers to Rhode
Island the whole of Pawtucket, except that part
lying easterly of Seven Mile River, and so much of
Seekonk as lies westerly of the Ten Mile River and
Runnins River; and transfers to Massachusetts the
town of Fall River and SO much of Tiverton lies
easterly of the western shore of the Watuppa and
Sawdy Ponds.
About twelve thousand acres of territory are set
off to Rhode Island; about seven thousand five hun
dred acres to Massachusetts, The State gains tw O
banks with capital stock of S40O, 900, whose an
nual tax OF one per cent. will more than compensate
this triiing loss in valuation. savings bank with
deposits of more than half million is also brought
under our laws of taxation. The persons having
objections to this settlement, have, by order OF
the United States Supreme Court, until the second
Monday in October next to file them.-Bostoa Cou-
rier.