Hallam’s Middle Ages 7 50 1 75

   Arnold’s Rome 12 00 3 00

   Life of John Foster 6 00 1 25

   Layard’s Nineveh, complete edition. 9 00 1 75

   Mrs. Somerville’s Physical Sciences 2 50 50

   Whewell’s Elements of Morality. 7 50 1 00

   Napier’s Peninsular War 12 00 3 25

   Thirlwall’s Greece, cheapest edition 7 00 3 00

   Dick’s Practical Astronomer 2 50 50

   Jane Eyre 7 50 25

   [Footnote 1:  Copied from an article in the New York Daily Times.]

The difference, as we see, between the selling price in London and in New York, of the first book in this list, is no less than eleven dollars, or almost three times as much as the whole price of the American edition.  To what is this extraordinary difference to be attributed?  To any excess in the cost of paper or printing in London?  Certainly not; for paper and printers’ labor are both cheaper there than here.  Is it, then, to the necessity for compensating the author?  Certainly not; for there are in this country fifty persons as fully competent as Mr. Brande for the preparation of such a work, who would willingly do it for a dollar a copy, calculating upon being paid out of a large sale.  As the sale of books in England is not large, it might be necessary to allow him two dollars each; but even this would still leave nine dollars to be accounted for.  Where does all this go?  Part of it to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, part to the “Times,” and other newspapers and journals that charge monopoly prices for the privilege of advertising, and the balance to the booksellers who “possess copyrights,” and “sell their books at such exorbitant prices” that they have driven the government to turn bookseller, with a view to bring down prices; and these are the very men to whom it is now proposed to grant unlimited control over the sale of all books produced abroad.

It will, perhaps, be said that the treaty contains a proviso that the author shall sell his copyright to an American publisher, or shall himself cause his book to be republished here.  Such a proviso may be there, but whether it is so, or not, no one knows, for every thing connected with this effort to extend the Executive power is kept as profoundly secret as were the arrangements for the Napoleonic coup d’etat of the 2d of December.  Secrecy and prompt and decisive action are the characteristics of centralized governments—­publicity and slow action those of decentralized ones.  Admit, however, that such limitations be found in the treaty, by what right are they there?  The basis of such a treaty is the absolute right of the author to his book; and if that be admitted, with what show of consistency or of justice can we undertake to dictate to him whether he shall sell or retain it—­print it here or abroad?  With none, as I think.