Year: 1875

THE BRITISH ROYAL COMMISSION ON COPY


RIGHT-NAMEs AND QUALIFICATIONS OF THE


MEMBERS Rs-ITERNATIoNAL COPYRIGHT.


LONDON, Oct. 2, 1875.


The heart Of Charles Reade glad stock in
the Association to Protect the Rights of English
Authors has gone up considerably higher Let us
hope that the will have corresponding influence
for good on the cooperating New York Association Of
American Authors. The Royal Commission on Copy
right has been appointed and will commence its sittings
next January. On the whole it is a fairly
representative body though searches in vain
for name upon the list of members belonging
to what may be termed the popular side of English
literature First and foremost comes Lord Stanhope
as well known, OF course, on the American this
side of the Atlantic His qualifications for the Office of
President Of the Commission cannot perhaps be better
stated than In the words of Macaulay who, in
ming up Lord Stanhope's many excellent qualities
writer, said that he possessed in a marked degree,
"perspicuousness conciseness great diligence cx-
amnng authorities great judgment in weighing testi-
mony and great impartality in estimating character
all most essential requisites to the discharge of the very
difficult duties which the noble lord has undertaken in
consenting 10 preside at the meetings of
the Commission. The various and conflicting in
terests which will be presented before Il:
WIG JedlOuS Icbhu muiSu supposed 10 nave
against any interference with their special prerogave
as teachers of the people, the supreme power of the
publishers and the never-dying antagonsms of novel;
lists, dramatiss and theatrical managers say
ing of the perplexng law of original composition in re-
gard to music, have, each and all, to bo carefully
watched handled and balanced, and better man
could have been chosen to command the confidence OF
all parties than the noble historian alluded to-


RosEBEERY


But why Lord Roseberry should have been selected
for the special honor of sitting next him. the only
other representative OF the House of Peers but
Sir Charles Adderey TO whom Mr.. D!sraeii reegated
the duty of nominating the Commissioners, can tell
Lord Roseberry has 'dabbledn in literature little;
but his chief qualifications to notoriety consist
in his being thorough judge of horse. Added to
which he has displayed uncommon qualities of good
nature in lending his to every variety of specu
lative design for improving the condition Of the mil
lion; and he has also sympahes OF special kind with
art music and the drama led to think that Lord
Roseberry who by the way young man. has been So
lected the popular representative of the hoi poo OF
English literature He has presided dinners good
deal and commands the confidence OF members Of the
Savage" His Lordship will render efficient service in
crossexaminng the less scrupulous Of London publish
ers tho prices paid to authors Very interesting
information will be forthcoming on this point and
loss my judgment misgives me Lord Roseberry will DO
the gentleman who will exact IT. 1t is we'll to have
radical peer competent to the work Only the other
day was positively informed that the sum total OF the
money which Mrs Lynn Linton received from the pres
ent of the hmented John Camden Hotten
of the best and most successful Of his novels was
CT 15s Now, few pieces OF information of this kind
made public would largely increase the chance of Sc
curing Parliamentary sympathy, which is just what the
authors want and is just what Lord Roscbcrry very
materially aid them getting at least in the Chamber
of Peers. But Lord Rosebetry's claims TO sit next
Lord Stanhopc are very slight indeed.


INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT.


International copyright is evidently be the piece de
resistance Of the Commissions inquiries, no less
than five of its members having special ac-
qud6nance with foreign and colonial matters.
The first Of these FIVE Sir John Rose has had long
experience of official life in Canada which will enable
him to throw considerable light the ntrcacies OF
the book trade between the United States and the
Dominion He should bo able to tell the commission
how it about that the Canadian custom officials
return little Of the ten per cent tax levied by the
Dominion government on reprints from the United
States. London publishers say that money from this
source would be a curiosity. Sir Charles Young,
other gentleman OF colonial fame lends his assistance
to inquire into the practical working Of copyright acts
in the iar-oH dependencies of England The United
States viii be attacked from this quarter well But
by far the most important appointment TO the commits
in the interests Of international copyright is the
Hon. Robert Bourko This gentleman, brother of the
late Governor General Of India Lord Mayo has the ad
vantage of being author and a diplomatst both.
/ His work parliamentary Precedents" gives
him fair claim TO the first title,
but his greater honors have been derived from
long and intimate acquaintance with foreign affairs.
Mr.. Bourke has the honor to be at present Her
Majesty's Under Secretary OF State at the Foreign
once and in this capacity he will be able guide tho
commission through the numerous quicksands which
beset the channels Of "frondly communication" with
foreign governments We shall presently whether
he is Of tho Just and reasonable men who admit
sclfevident propositions that mans recognized
rights cannot DO fully enjoyed unless they associated
with the right be protected in the property which nc
may acquire If Congress once admits this apparently
selfcvident truth the thing DONE and we shall have
national convention.


The government Is determined not to be deficient in
skilled present this view Of what should at least
be national law to any hostile witness who may como
before the commission for have two other gentle
men sitting as colleagues Of Mr. Bourke, diplomats
as we'll These are Sir Drummond Wolf and
Sir Louis Nallet both of whom. well versed in the