The New York herald., 1868-01-31

nunsrously attended meeting Of publishes ana
sutnors was held last evening q the Fifth Avsass
no'e tor the purpose Of forming an International Copy
sns association having ocss In the di6erens publish-
centres OF the four great nations mosy nterssssd
aA"s'y' 'ns United States Great Britain, France ana
0sr@any-'n which book might bs registered. aaA
sucn registration should far q the organzssoa Il
concerned, have the same sneos n n.uonL law. or
copyright law has ~ the present time.
Mr. EGssRr HAZARD desired before the orSss,xat,o.
Of the meeting 70 state briefly the motives that hsd in
duced him 70 call IL He had travelled through the df
ferent countries Of Europe during last hrea ar fear
years and had encountered many authors pub,ishsrs
and even readers Of books who expressed desire that
some understanding between the different literary ma
tions Of the earth should DO arrived BY means OF
which recompenss might yielded authors FOE the,r
labors IN countries other than their own and further
that on the part OF readers means be adopted ~
which, without studying 80 many languages, they would
DO enabled TO extend their knowledge OF the literature
OF other countries. The northern nations OF Europe
had been more earnest In their expressions The literary
strongly TO him upon the subject He (Mr Hazardl feis
that they should be accorded the free privilege Of trans
England the desire WAS universal and thew were wii.T
to carry out assisted BY their professional brethren
on thus SIDE OF the Atlantic For the purpose Of esosr-
tanning the opinion OF American publishers and authors
this injecting had been called and any measures that
might DO adopted here would secure the hearty 90
II was moved seconded and carried unanimously that
Nj. Putnam be appointed president OF the meeting.
The CHAIRMAN remarked that he did not pro
pared to take any active part in the matter a hs hal
not made II subject Of study, but willing 70 act
any capacity that might be useful Mr. NJ N Hurd was
The CHAIRMAN further observed that one Of the las
ofcia acts Of Mr. Everett when Secretary Of State
effort to effect treaty for international copyright
Such treaty prepared in expectation that Il would
be ratified BY this Senate but for some reason other
fell through The fact that tho number Of American
books printed in England had largely increased W@
perhaps sufficient evidence that sooner or later Il might
be quite much selfish interest for American authors
TO have . copyright In England II was for EngiwA
authors 70 have q copyright here
Mr. vERsoN supposed that the real question was e DO
justice to the great reading public and at the samo mo
10 the authors His firm paid on an average about
$780, 900 year for the books published BY them. fs
plan would be devised by which people could have
cheap books and the time foreign authors have
justice done them could undoubtedly be carried OUT
s % nv and ns British
making obligatory the publisher % pay ave per
upon the Wholesale price Of the book belonging to
foreign author wene such law adopted there would
ees a. nj sPss with tho last speaker
& 'osS1 os s Il s
cry was raised about "poor authors" but he (Mr Mil
er) yet. He was willing to pay authors
literally as any one. but he objected TO the plan pro
posed
Mr. ToMpKss, Of England. said that the copyright In
England in very unsatisfactory state. and was
absolutely necessary that measures should bs
promptly taken for the benefit alike Of publishers,
sn1 ns ssrd 20 Correct ms.purehs.son
which Mr. Miller appeared TO entertain. HIS (ths
speakers object that thero should bc restriction
on publishers but those who did publish should secure
TO authors this five per cent
Mr. PRIME contended that II he wrote book he had
both moral and legal right TO IL the world over as
we'll as any other part Of the property he possessed
Many Of his works had been printed and in one Instance
where upwards Of hundred thousand copies had
been sold application to the English publisher he
was forwarded the munifcent sum OF 800
Mr. HAZARD earnestly wished that this meeting would
take forward steps in the formation OF the society
for, fortified with expression this side OF the
water there would then be plain sailing on the 0ther
The publishers authors and trausators Of Europe were
willing their American brethren on any just
terms that they disposed TO present TO them.
Dr. PRIME offered the following resolution. which was
adopted;-
Resolved That this meeting s OF opinion that measures
should adopted with the establishment OF sn
Britain and the nations OF Continental Europe.
Resolved further That committee OF five be nppointca
digest OF regulation which serve as basis
copyright law and TO report at future
meeting. that the chairman OF this meeting be tho
chairman Of the committee.
DR.. SHEPHERD proposed the following resolution.
which also adopted -
Resolved That is expediert to make appeal to tho
United States International copyright questions.
The following committee then appointed Mr..
Putnam, Rev. DR.. Prime and Mcssrs. Jamos Parton.
Egbert Hazard and Henry lverson. The meeting then
adjourned, subject TO the call Of the committee.