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Title A name given to the resource The Author Subject The topic of the resource <em>The Author</em> Description An account of the resource A digitised run of the Society of Authors' monthly periodical, <em>The Author</em>, 1890<span>–</span>1914, made available together for the first time.<br /><br />Currently users can browse issues and <a href="https://historysoa.com/items/browse?search=&amp;advanced%5B0%5D%5Bjoiner%5D=and&amp;advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=51&amp;advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&amp;advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Index&amp;collection=&amp;type=&amp;tags=&amp;exhibit=&amp;date_search_term=&amp;submit_search=Search+For+Items&amp;sort_field=Dublin+Core%2CTitle">indices</a> (not available for all volumes). Full text search for all issues, and other additional search functionality, will be added in 2022. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1890–1914 Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context The-Author-Issues Publication Date The date of an event (in YYYY, YYYY-MM or YYYY-MM-DD format) 1891-08-01 Volume 2 Issue 3 Pages Page range in volume 65–96 Ngram Date Version of the date in YYYYMMDD format for use by the Ngram plugin 18910801 Ngram Text Version of the text with no HTML formatting for use by the Ngram plugin ZTbe Hutbor* {The Organ of the Incorporated Society of Authors. Monthly.) CONDUCTED BY WALTER BESANT. Vol. II.—No. 3.] AUGUST i, 1891. [Price Sixpence. CONTENTS. FAOE The Dinner *9 Overheard— I. At the Black Jack Club So II. From a Letter 81 III. In the Train 81 IV. At the Table 8j Literary Maxims 8a Notes and News 8a The Authors' Club 8s International Copyright— I. The President's Proclamation 86 II. Mr.Secretary Foster's Regulations 87 III. What will happen? 87 IV. Opinion of Sir Horace Davey 89 PAGE International Copyright—continued. V. Opinion of Sir Michael Hicks-Bcach 9° VI. Answer to Questions 9' Correspondence— I. Now Grub Street 1* II. The Rev. William Shakspearfi M III. Presentation Copies °* IV. Payment on Publication 94 V. Insurance 95 VI. Titles US From Grub Street 9S "At the Author's Head" 9S The Author's Bookstall ,6 EYRE AND SPOTTISWOODE. ACTION OF LIGHT ON WATER COLOURS—Report to the Science and Art Department of the Committee of Council on Education. (With Diagrams and Plates.) By post, 2*. 11 d. PLIOCENE DEPOSITS OF BRITAIN, THE. By Clement Reid, F.L S., F.G.S. Five Plates (48 cuts), s». id. LONDON AND NEIGHBOURHOOD: Guido to the Geology of. By William Whitakeb, B.A. is. LONDON AND OF PART OF THE THAMES VALLEY', The Geology of. By W. Wiiitaker, B.A.. F.R.S., F.G.S., Assoc. Inst. C.E. Vol. I. DESCRIPTIVE GEOLOGY. 8vo. cloth, 6s. Vol. II. APPENDICES. 8vo., cloth, s». ISLE OF WIGHT, Geology of. By H. W. Bkistow, F.R.S., F.G.S. Second Edition. Revised and enlarged by Clement Rkid. F.G.8., and Aubrey Steahan, M.A., F.G.S. 8vo., cloth, 8i. 6d. COPYRIGHT LAW REFORM: An Exposition of Lord Monkswell's Copyright Bill now before Parliament; with Extracts from the Report nf the Commission of 187R, and an Appendix containing the Berne Convention and the American Copyright Bill. By J. M. Lely, Esq., Barrister-at-Law. is. td. STATE TRIALS, Reports of; New Series. Published nnder the direction ot the State Trials Committee. Edited by John MacDonell, M.A., of the Middle Temple. Barrister-at- Law. Vols. I., II., and III. ready. Price ios. per volume. "It is for the most part an interesting, not to say fascinating, study for anyone, that is to say, who cares about history at nil."—Daily Newt. CHINA (No. 2). Report, by C. W. Campbell, of a Journey in North Corea, in September and October, 1889. A considerable portion of the narrative contains descriptive matter that appeals to the general reader, but there are also many interesting facts bearing upon mining, forestry, agricul- ture, trade, and kindred topics, od. WESTMINSTER ABBEY. Final Report of the Royal Commission appointed to inquire into the present want of space for Monuments in Westminster Abbey; with Appendices. 91/. KEW BULLETIN, 1890. Issued by the Director of Kew Gardens, it. iod. KEW BULLETIN, 1891. Monthly, id. Appendices, id. each. Annual Subscription, including postage, }t. 9<f WEATHER, STUDY AND FORECAST OF. Aids to. By Rev. W. Clement Lev, M.A. i». ROYAL MILITARY EXHIBITION, 1890. Descriptive Catalogue of Musical Instruments recently exhibited at the Royal Military Exhibition. Compiled by Capt. C. R. Day, Oxfordshire Light Infantry, under the orders of Col. Shaw- Hellier, Commandant Royal Military School of Music. The instruments are fully described; they are arranged systemati- cally under their respective families and classes, and a chrono- logical arrangement has, as much as possible, been adhered to. Each family of instrument has been prefaced by a carefully- written Introductory Essay. Musical pitch has not been left unnoticed, and a learned Essay from the pen of a well-known authority upon the subject nppears in the Appendix. The book is illustrated by a series of Twelve Artistically executed Plates in Heliogravure, and with numerous Wood Engravings. The issue is limited to 1,000 copies. 11s. Monthly Lists of Parliamentary Papers upon Application. Quarterly Lists Post Free, id. Miscellaneous List on Application. Every Assistance given to Correspondents; and Books not kept in stock obtained without delay. Remittance should accompany Order. GOVERNMENT AND GENERAL PURLISHERS. 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"Old Country Life, as healthy wholesome reading, full of breezy life and movement, full of quaint stories vigorously told, will not be excelled by any book to be published throughout the year. Sound, hearty, and English to the core."—World. HISTORIC ODDITIES AND STRANGE EVENTS. By S. Baking Gould. Fihbt Series. Demy 8vo. io». bd. Second Edition. "A collection of exciting and entertaining chapters. The whole volume is delightful reading."—Times. SECOND SERIES. HISTORIC ODDITIES AND STRANGE EVENTS. Second Series. By S. Barino Golld, Author of "Mehalah." Demy 8vo. ios. bd. [Ready. "A fascinating book."—Leeds Mercury. SONGS OF THE WEST: Traditional Ballads and Songs of the West of England, with their Traditional Melodies. Collected by S. Barino Gould, M.A., and H. Fleetwood SnErPARD, M.A. Arranged for Voice and Piano. In 4 Parts (containing as Songs each), 3s. each nett. Part I.. Third Edition. Part II., Second Edition. Part III., ready. Part IV., ready. 5». "A rich and varied collection of humour, pathos, grace, and poetic fancy."—Saturday Rtvicw. YORKSHIRE ODDITIES AND STRANGE EVENTS. By 8. Barino Gould. New and Cheaper Edition. Crown 8vo. **■ f-Voic Ready. METHUEN'S NOVEL SERIES. Three ShiUings and Sixpence. Messrs. MKTHUEN will issue from time to time a Series of copyright Novels, by well-known Authors, handsomely bound, at the ubove popular price. The first volumes (now ready) are: 1. THE PLAN OF CAMPAIGN. By F. Mabel Robinson. 2. JACQUETTA. By S. Baring Gould. 3. MY LAND OF BEULAH. By Mrs. Lkith Adams. 4. ELI'S CHILDBEN. By G. Manville Fenn. 5. AEMINELL: A Social Bomance. By S. Baring Gould. 6. DEBRICK VAUGHAN, NOVELIST. By Edna I Lyall. With portrait of Author. 7. DISENCHANTMENT. By F. Mabel Bobinson. 8. DISABMED. By M. Betham Edwards. 9. JACK'S FATHER. By W. E. Norris. Other Volumes will he announced in due course. Edited by A. M. M. STEDMAN, M.A. Crown 8vo. 2s. 6d. A series of short biographies, free from party bias, of the most prominent leaders of religious life and thought in this and the last century. CARDINAL NEWMAN. 1{. H. Hutton. [Jiemlo. JOHN WESLEY. J. H. Overton. \lleady. UNIVERSITY EXTENSION SERIES, Crown 8vo. 2s. 6d. Under the above title Messrs. Metihjen have commenced the publication of a series of books on historical, literary, and economic subjects, suitable for extension students and home-reading circles. THE INDUSTRIAL HISTORY OF ENGLAND. By H. DE B. Gibbins, M.A., late Scholar of Wadham College, Oxon., Cobden Prizeman. With Maps aud Plans. [Rcatly. A HISTOBY OF ENGLISH POLITICAL ECONOMY. By L. L. Price, M.A., Fellow of Oriel College, Oxon., Extension Lecturer in Political Economy. [Ready. VICTORIAN POETS. By A. Sharp. [Heady. PROBLEMS OF POVERTY: An Inquiry iuto the Industrial Conditions of the Poor. By J. A. Hobson, M.A., late Scholar of Lincoln Colloge, Oxon., U.K. Lecturer in Economics. [Ready. THE FRENCH REVOLUTION. By J. E. Symks, M.A., Principal of University College, Nottingham. [Ifearly Ready. SOCIAL QUESTIONS OF TO-DAY. A series of volumes upon the most important topics of social, economic, and industrial interest—written by the highest authorities on the various subjects. The first two volumes will be— TRADES UNIONISM—New and Old. By G. Howell, M.P. [Ready. THE CO-OPEEATIVE MOVEMENT TO-DAY. By G. J. Holyoake. Crown 8vo. it. bd. [Ready. METHUEN & Co., 18, Bury Street, W.C.  ## p. 67 (#471) ############################################# ADVERTISEMENTS. 67 THE CENTRAL TYPE-WRITING OFFICE, CITY TYPE-WRITING & SHORTHAND OFFICES, (ESTABLISHED 1887,) MANSION HOUSE CHAMBERS, 20, Bucklersbury, London, E.C. 57 & 58, Chancery Lane, W.C. Miss M. E. DUCK and Miss I. B. LOOKER. The Department for Lady Pupils has unremitting attention, us evidenced by the unqualified Success which has attended its management. 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All applications relating to Advertisements in this Journal should be addressed to the Printers and Publishers, 39, Lombard Street, E.C. Office No. B9 (close to Lift). MISS PATTEN, TYPE-WRITER, 44, Oakley Flats, Oakley Street, Chelsea, S.W. Authors' MSS. carefully copied from Is. per 1,000 Words. One additional Copy (Carbon) supplied Free of Charge. Eeferences kindly permitted to George Augustus Sala. Esq. EYRE & SPOTTISWOODE, Particulars on Application. ASHWORTH I Co., East Harding Street, Fetter Lane, London, E.C. 4, Abchurch Yard, Cannon Street, E.C. +~~* Authors' MSS. type-written from Is. 3d. per 1,000 words. TRANSLATIONS. VOL. TI.  ## p. 68 (#472) ############################################# 68 A D VEll TISEMENTS. The " Swan" is a beautiful Gold Pen joined to a rubber reservoir to hold any kind of ink, which it supplies to the writing point in a continuous flow. It will hold enough ink for two days' constant work, or a week's ordinary writing, and win be refilled with as little trouble as to wind a watch. With the cover over the gold nib it is carried in the pocket like a pencil, to be used anywhere. A purchaser may try a pen a few days, and if by chance the writing point does not suit his hand, exchange it for another without charge, or have his money returned if wanted. There are yarions points to select from, broad, meflmin, awl fine, every handwriting can be suited, and the price of the entire instrument, with filler comulete, post free, is only 10s. 6d. The Gold Pens in the "Swan" are Mabie, Todd, & Co.'s famous make. They are 14-carat tempered gold, very handsome, and positively unaffected by any kind of ink. They are pointed with selected polished iridium. The "Encyclopaedia Britannica" says:—"Iridium is a nearly white metal of high specific gravity, it is almost indestructible, and a beautifully polished surface can be obtained upon it." They will not penetrate the paper, and writer's cramp is unknown among users of Gold Pens. One will OUtwear 90 grOSS Of Steel pens. They are a perfect revelation to those who know nothing about Gold Pens. Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmks has used one of Mabie, Todd, & Co.'s Gold Pens since 185;, and is using the same one (his " old friend ") to-day. Sydney Grcndy, Ksq., says (referring to the Fountain Pen) :—"It is a vast improvement on every Stylograph." MoBEBLY Bell, Ksq., Manager, The Times, says (referring to the Fountain Pen) :—" One pen lasted me for six years." S. I). Waddy, Esq., Q.C., M.P., says (referring to the Fountain Pen) :—" I have used them constantly for some years, and, as far as I can remember, they have never failed me." Send Postal Card for Free Illustrated List (containing interesting Testimonials from the Best People, who have used them for years) to— MABIE, TODD, & BARD. 93,^ 01— - — - ~ LONDOKr, -~  ## p. 69 (#473) ############################################# ^Tbe Butbot\ {The Organ of the Incorporated Society of Authors. Monthly.) CONDUCTED BY WALTER BESANT. Vol. II.—No. 3.] AUGUST i, 1891. [Pbice Sixpence. For the Opinions expressed in papers that arc signed the Authors alone are responsible. NOTICE. READERS are requested to observe that during the month of August the secretarial strength at the Office is greatly diminished. It will, therefore, be a great convenience if letters asking for advice or assistance could be kept back until September. Urgent cases, however, will be sent on and attended to as soon as possible. The Office is open as usual for the payment of subscriptions and donations, the entrance of names for membership, and all ordinary office work. Readers of the Author are earnestly' entreated to disseminate as widely as possibly the warnings and advice contained in every number; above all, to enforce everywhere the simple counsel to have nothing whatever to do with any publisher not recommended by a friend who has had personal experience, or by the Society. ♦■»■♦ THE ANNUAL DINNER OF THE INCORPORATED SOCIETY OF AUTHORS HELD AT "THE WHITEHALL ROOMS," HOTEL METROFOLE, ON Thursday, July 16th, 1891, LORD MONKSWELL in the Cuaib. rflHERE were over two hundred members and I guests present at the dinner. The following is the list, but at the last moment two or three found themselves unable to attend ;—. More Adey. George Allen. Miss Grace Allen. E. A. Armstrong. Edwin Lester Arnold. Mrs. Edwin Lester Arnold. James Baker, F.R.G.S. M. Powis Bale. Wolcott Balestier. The Rev. Dr. Barker. Miss Jessie Barker. Arthur W. a, Beckett. Mrs. A. W. h Beckett. Max Beerbohm. Rev. Canon C. D. Bell. Mackenzie Bell. Miss Belloc. Herbert Ben twitch. Sir Henry Bergne, K.C.M.G. Mrs. Oscar Beringcr. Walter Besant. Mrs. Walter Besant. M. Bhowneggree. Augustine Birrell, M.P. William Black. Henry Blackburn. Mrs. Henry Blackburn. J. Arthur Blaikie. Paul Blouet. (" Max O'Rell.") Madame Blouet. Anna, Comtesse do Bremont. A. E. Bridger. Oscar Browning. James Bryce, M.P. Professor C. A. Buchheim, Ph.D. Mrs. Mona Caird. Mrs. Lovett Cameron. J. Dykes Campliell. Thomas Catling. A. Chatto. Edward Clodd. John Coleman. W. Morris Colles. F. Howard Collins. W. M. Conway. . C. H. RadclifTe Cooke, M.P. Miss Cordeux. Miss K. M. Cordeux. (" Daniel Dormer.")  ## p. 70 (#474) ############################################# 7o THE AUTHOR. Mrs. Roalfe Cox. Miss Roalfe Cox. Miss May Cronimelin. John Beattie Crozier. G. D. Dav. C. F. Dowsett. A. Conan Doyle. A. W. Dubourg. George Dumaurier. J. W. Eilinonds. Mrs. Edmonds. Walter L. J. Ellis. Dana Estes. B. L. Farjeon. George Manville Fenn. Basil Field. Mrs. Basil Field. Clyde Fiteh. Percy Fitzgerald. Professor Michael Foster, F.R.S. Dr. Richard Garnett. William A. Gibbs. Rev. Dr. Giusburg. George W. Godfrey. Dr. J. A. Goodchild. Edmund Gosse. Mrs. Edmund Gosse. H. Rider Haggard. Egmont Hake. Professor John W. Hales. Henry Harland. Mrs. Henry Harland. Mrs. George Harley. Henry Harper. Miss Harrison. Bret Harte. Joseph Hatton. E. C. Haynes. Arthur Herbert. John W. Hill. W. Earle Hodgson. Clive Holland. J. W. Houghton. Miss Houghton. Reginald Hughes. Mrs. Reginald Hughes. Rev. William Hunt. Mrs. William Hunt. Mrs. Hutcheson. Professor Huxley. Charles T. C. James. Rev. Theodore Johnson. Frel>endary Harry Jones. H. G. Keene, CLE. Joseph Knight. Mrs. Laffan. (" Mrs. Leith Adams.") Rev. Dr. Lansdell. Lorin Latbrop. Mrs. Lorin Latbrop. Edmund Lee. Sidney Lee. J. M. Lely. Lady William Lennox. Robert Lincoln (the American Minister). J. Stanley Little. Mrs. Carnegie Long. Sidney Low. Mrs. Sidney Low. Justin Huntly McCarthy. Justin McCarthy. Norman McColl. J. W. Mcllvaine. S. B. G. McKinney. Dr. B. E. Martin.' Edward Martin. Brander Matthews. Mrs. Brander Matthews. Atbol Maudslay. M. Mijatovich. Mine. Mijatovich. Professor W. Minto. W. Cosmo Monkhouse. Lord Monkswell. Lewis Morris. George Moore. Rev. W. D. Morrison. Mrs. Chandler Moulton. Henry H. Newill. Professor J. E. Nixon. Miss Oakes. John O'Neill. James R. Osgood. Walter Pater. Arthur Paterson. Dr. William Pole, F.R.S. Sir Frederick Pollock, Bart ., LL.D. Lady Pollock. Walter H. Pollock. Mrs. Walter H. Pollock. Miss Edith Pollock. Reginald S. Poole. Stanley Lane Poole. Norman Porritt. John Rae. W. Fraser Rae. Miss Helen Leah Read. F. W. Robinson. John Robinson. James Rolt. Rol>ert Ross. Miss Elise Ross. Herr von Poorten Schwartz. (Mr. " Maar- ten Maartens.") George Sheldon. Dr. Sisley. Rev. Professor Skeat, Litt.D. Douglas Sladen. G. W. Smalley.  ## p. 71 (#475) ############################################# THE AUTHOR. 71 Rev. Dr. Smith. Miss Jane Smith. Mrs. Spender. S. Squire Sprigge. Dr. Balruanno Squire. Sir John Staincr, Mus.D. Professor C. V. Stanford, Mus.D. Mrs. 0. V. Stanford. Miss Stephens. Miss J. Stephens. J. Ashhv Sterrv. C. T. Taylor." Dr. Todhunter. H. D. Traill. Mrs. H. D. Traill. Andrew W. Tuer. Mrs. Alec. Twecdie. Miss Roraola Tynte. Dr. F. Valentine. Dr. Henry Veale. Edric Vredenburg. Charles Dudley Warner. Arthur Warren. A. P. Watt. Alec. Watt, jun. Theodore Watts. William Westall. Miss Beatrice Whitby. Oscar Wilde. W. G. Wills. H. Schiitz Wilson. Colonel Winsloe. At the conclusion of dinner, the toast of Her Majesty the Queen having been heartily responded to— The Chairman.—Mr. Lincoln, Ladies, and Gen- tlemen, I have to announce that I have received a letter from Lord Tennyson, who writes that "In the name of the United Kingdom our Society- congratulates the United States on their great act of justice." I have further to announce that the following gentlemen regret their inability to attend: The Bishops of Gloucester and Oxford, Cardinal Manning, Mr. George Meredith, Mr. Holman Hunt, Sir Edwin Arnold, Mr. Alfred Austin, the Earl of Pembroke, Mr. Austin Dobson, Mr. Hail Caine, Professor Church, and the Master of Balliol. I may also mention that Lord Coleridge told me the other day that it was with great regret that he was compelled to decline an invitation at the instance of Mr. Besant to lie here to-night, l>ecause he was receiving company at home. There is also a letter from Mr. Thomas Hardy. Now, it is my pleasing duty to give you another toast—that of the President of the United Suites of America. The toast of the Queen it is usual to consider needs no preface. I should have adopted the same course with regard to the President of the United States, were it not that I wish to mention that we owe a debt of obligation to the President, because he has without any demur at once acceded to our request to lx> allowed to come under the American Law of Copyright. It seems to me that that shows a kindly feeling on the part of the President of the United States towards England, for he might, I think, have adopted a different course, and I do not know if he had, whether we should have had any reason to complain. He might have said that the Law of Copyright in England is quite unintelligible; that it was doubtful whether the clause with regard to reciprocity in the Americjin Act was complied with. The course that he has adopted shows that he is animated with friendly feelings towards England, and that is why I desire to say a few words to the toast. I give you "The President of the United States of America."—The toast was cordially received. The Chairman.—Ladies and Gentlemen, the toast that I have now the honour to propose is that of our guests, coupled with the name of Mr. Lincoln, the American Minister. I feel that my presence in the chair to-night on this important occasion, and in the midst of such a distinguished company, exhibits the Society of Authors in a very amiable light. It shows that they carry to its extreme limits the virtue of gratitude, for I am here to-night not in respect of any service I have been able to render to the Society of Authors, but only in respect of services attempted to l>e rendered. (No, no.) Now, to-night, it is my pleasing duty to congratulate the citizens of the United States of America, in the person of their Minister, Mr. Lincoln, on the great act of justice they have performed in recognising the rights of British authors. I am sure we must all lie extremelv glad to see Mr. Lincoln among us to-night. Wc all know that Mr. Lincoln is the distinguished son of an illustrious father. The name of Abraham Lincoln ranks in the annals of the United States second only to that of Washington himself, of whom he was a worthy successor in the Presidential Chair. If Mr. Lincoln looks around him, I think he will discover that the company here assembled is worthy of the occasion on which we have met. I should not presume—it would be impertinence for me to do so—to give a list of the distinguished persons present here to-night, but I should like to make one exception, I should like to mention by name one great Englishman,—an Englishman whose name is especially respected and venerated in America, an Englishman whose presence among us to-night is a signal act of favour, inasmuch as for years past he has steadily refused to be present at any banquet except in the immediate circle of his intimate friends—I mean Professor Huxley. One never knows in what - i  ## p. 72 (#476) ############################################# 72 THE AUTHOR. unexpected ways a man of gonitis may not. break out. We have long known Mr. Huxley as an eminent man of science and of letters. We must now regard him in the liglit of a great Biblical scholar; he is, as I understand, devoting his life to the task of reconciling theology with science. If he Bhould fail in the attempt, perhaps he will put the boot on the other leg and try to reconcile science with theology. Well, then, ladies and gentlemen, as I have said, the United States of America have done an act of justice to English authors, and have done this act of justice to their own material disadvantage. We speak the same language as the Americans. To a great extent we read the same books. The names of many American authors are household words in England just as they are in America, and, indeed, some American authors have even become acclimatized among us. And in the same way many English authors arc exceedingly popular in America. The United States of America have long enjoyed what I may call a system of assisted education; that is to say, education assisted by the industry and by the intellect of English writers; but at the same time the Americans have paid their teachers ex- ceedingly little for their lessons, and what little they have paid has hitherto been not a matter of right but a matter of favour. Now, I think, it is no small thing that the American people should have agreed to pay for what they have so long enjoyed without payment. I agree that this is only a matter of justice, but at the same time it is a kind of justice that it requires a good deal of moral courage to carry into execution. It is justice, I may mention, not only to English authors but also to American authors, because for a long time American authors have been subject to what I may call unfair competition on the part of English writers, for English writers have been able to have their works printed in America at what I may call an artificially low cost owing to the absence of Copyright; and now the American and the English writers have a fair field and no favour in a friendly competition one with another. Now, ladies and gentlemen, I approach a somewhat debatable point. We know a great deal has been said about what is called the printing clause in the American Act, that is to say, the clause that requires a book to be printed from type set up in the United States before English writers can get the benefit of American Copyright. I approach this subject with a good deal of diffidence, partly because my friend, Professor Bryce, has said everything about it that I intended to say in last Saturday's number of the Speaker. But as it is just possible that there may be persons here present who did not read the Speaker, perhaps I may be allowed, in a few words, to tell yon what my views are with regard to that clause. I must say that I am Englishman enough to feel annoyance, and indignation even, with my American cousins if I consider that annoyance and indignation is warranted by the facts of the case, but I do not feel that any cause of indignation is given, because the Americans have passed this printing clause. In the first place, I would point out this: that the supporters of the Bill had absolutely no option whatever but to put this clause in. The American Act wiis only passed by the. display of the greatest tact and ability on the part of the promoters of it; and if this sop to American printers had not been put in it is absolutely certain that the Act would never jmiss into law. Well, now, I think that we in England are very well aware of the great pressure and influence that can be brought to bear by any organized men in the kingdom who con- sider that their interests are threatened, and we in England know perfectly well how helpless the general public are in an unequal contest with an organized and powerful and an enraged section of the community. From what I have read it does seem to me that the United States of America is not entirely free from experience of that kind. It is said, I know, that although this clause is a necessary clause that it is a dishonest one, or, at all events, if not dishonest, that it is a shabby piece of legislation. Now, I confess that I am unable to rgree with that opinion. It is perfectly certain that if the American Act had been passed without this clause that the American printing industry would have suffered considerably. It would imme- diately have lost what it now enjoys, the printing of English copyright works; and I agree entirely with Mr. Bryce when he says that the object of this clause in the American Act was merely to put the American printers in the same condition in which they would have been in ha<l the Act not have been passed. I believe that its effect upon English printing will be very slight. It may be that a certain amount of English printing hitherto done here will go to America, but I Ixdieve the chief difference the Act will make is this: that it will lead to a good deal of unnecessary and wasteful printing; that most of the copyright lx>oks for English readers will be printed in England, and most of the copyright books for American readers will be printed in America. And I would point out this: that the printing industry- is, by the nature of things, a growing industry. It must grow because our population is constantly increasing, and because of the spread of education, and any temporary check that may be administered to it by American legislation will, I believe, be only momentary, and will be barely perceptible. Now, I wordd point out that this clause to which so much objection has been taken, both on this i  ## p. 73 (#477) ############################################# THE AUTHOR. 73 side and on the other side of the Atlantic, is simply a part of the American system of Protection. Now wc, in England, consider that this system of Pro- tection is unwise, hut we cannot say that for those who believe in it, it is in any respect immoral. We believe that the effect of the clause will be this: it will be to make not only American readers pay toll to American printers, but also every in- dustry throughout the United States. Our con- tention is this: that if the American reader has to pay more for his books, he will have to economise in other directions; that is to say, he will wear his old coats, his old hats, and his old boots longer, and, worst of all, it may be that he will not be able to afford his wife as many dresses as she requires. Americans believe in Protection. If we, like the Americans, believed in Protection, we should be bound to practise it. While we did believe in Protection we did practise it, and we almndoned Protection not because we were more moral than our neighbours, but because we flattered ourselves that we were more enlightened. Now, we further believe that Protection in the United States of America handicaps her very severely in her com- petition with us in the commerce of the world, and regarded simply from the standpoint of material interests, we can afford to regard with equanimity, if not with satisfaction, every fresh development of Protectionist policy in America. I am not going to sivy that there are not some provisions in the American Act that might very well with advantage lx> amended, but I do say this: that, substantially, the Americans have gone as far to meet our views as the supposed interests of their country would allow them to do. I say that in their position, holding their opinions, I believe we should have behaved very much as they have behaved. And, ladies and gentlemen, in conclusion, I hope it will be generally recognised that the Americans have gone as far to meet our wishes as we could reason- ably hope, and I do trust that not a vestige of irritation or annoyance will remain either on our part or on the part of the people of the United States of America to cloud that perfect under- standing that ought to subsist between two peoples so closely allied in blood, and so worthy of one another's friendship. I give you "Our Guests," coupled with the name of Mr. Lincoln. The American Minister (Mr. Lincoln).— Lord Monkswell, Ladies, and Gentlemen, I thank you very heartily and sincerely for the very kind way in which this toast has been received, at least, in so far as it regards myself, for I am only one of the guests of this evening, and others are here who will speak for themselves—as for myself, I am heartily obliged. I hope and trust that you will acquit me of any affectation when I say that it would be very much more agreeable to me if this VOL. II. event which is being celebrated here to-night, and the response of the American minister to this toast, had been in the time of one of my eminent predecessors, whose distinguished career and personal qualities not only allied him to many of those who are here present, but made him their close friend, and whose wit and wisdom have made his name a household word all over the world, and who has used them in the most strenuous way in accomplishing the purpose which has been attained. As his presence here is impossible, it falls upon me to have the pleasure of expressing the honour I feel at this opportunity of meeting this distinguished company, composed of so many of those who are devoting their energies and their talents to the instruction and the literary entertainment of the great English- speaking race; and it is especially pleasant to do so under the circumstances which make this par- ticular dinner of the Author's Society so peculiarly notable. You are signalising here the end of the impatience which has existed for so many years on both sides of the Atlantic, over the delay in esta- blishing what may be called proper relations between the Copyright laws of England and the United States. How far they may have been established may be a question in some minds, but at all events, we all recognise that a correct principle has been reached and settled. It is not at all strange that such impatience has long existed, for while our governments differ in form, yet the duties on the one hand, and the rights and privileges on the other, of the people of both our nations, are nearly identical. They have a common language, and for the most part a common origin, and with an equally advanced civilisation, their modes of thought and aspirations make our races almost the same in the history and contemplation of the world at large. Under those conditions it has seemed to many for a long time, and it has seemed to me among them, that it was almost arbitrary and unreasonable that there should be continued in force a rule of law which denied in each country to the authors of the other, and to them alone of all the people carrying on the numberless active professions and trades of the civilisation of the present day, the property rights which each country gave to its own citizen and resident authors. In saying this of England as well as the United States, I speak of course in view of the fact that it has only just now become certain that a non-resident alien author can obtain the benefit of English Copyright law, and that the first official and conclu- sive declaration to that effect has just within a few weeks been made and drawn forth by the passage of the new American law on this subject. Between our countries, to a far greater degree than l>etween those using different languages, this question of reciprocal Copyright is a practical one and of high F  ## p. 74 (#478) ############################################# 74 THE AUTHOR. importance, and consequently opposing interests are more numerous and more powerful with us than anywhere else. In the very nature of things the adhesion which was reached, by various countries under the provisions of the Berne Convention, were far easier to be attained than the great arrangement which has just been closed between Great Britain and the United States. I am one of those who for a long time have wished such an arrangement to be made. It seems to me a great many years since I signed a petition to that effect. I am neither an author on the one side or a publisher on the other; but it is my misfortune, when I am not doing something else, to be a practising lawyer, and, as a practising lawyer, I have never had any difficulty whatever in feeling the justice of myself being paid for any printed argument that I might make, provided always it was a good one, and this irrespective of the nationality of my client, and what I thought just as regards myself I could hardly think unjust as regarded any other man, whatever his nation or however remote might be his geo- graphical situation, from whose mental labours I had derived profit or pleasure. Besides feeling this sense of justice to authors themselves — I hope it was a sense of justice—I but followed the lead of, I believe, almost every living author of high repute in my own country, in wishing them, and especially their younger brethren who are still struggling to find their proper place in the public estimation, to be relieved from the involuntary, perhaps I should say from the very unwilling, competition of uncompensated foreign authorship, and so that there should be taken away what I consider a very great obstacle in the path of our own home literary progress. But to go into this is to enter upon subjects which are very familiar, and as it is a rule of my profession that all the details of a controversy should be ignored and theoretically forgotten after the controversy has been settled by an agreement, I think it would perhaps suit you, as it will certainly suit me, to follow that rule. This I do not believe to be an occasion to thresh over what is happily now only old straw. It is rather the time and the occasion to exchange felicitations over the harvest which we lx-lieve is to be shared by both our countries. I myself think it idle to inquire, and very much outside of the real question of justice at the bottom, to inquire or to speculate in what proportions the division of that harvest may possibly be made. It seems quite enough to see that you English authors who are here to-night, and I am happy to see one or two of my American friends of the same category, and all their American brethren are hereafter not to see the whole fruits of their labour reaped by other people; and if there was no other benefit to accrue to the public at large from this, than the acquisition of what I hope will be an easier conscience, I think there will be a good deal gained for them as well. But, ladies aud gentlemen, I very heartily believe that this is not all that has l>een provided for, for independently and far beyond such considerations as I have merely mentioned, it should be reineinbered that by these contemporaneous acts of justice to authors, the declaration of the Government of your own country as to the existing law, and the new statute of the United States followed by the proclamation of the President, there has been removed a very just cause of international irritation, and one too, if I I may say so, that is felt most by a very influential class of people in both countries, and by that peculiar class who are best able to make them- selves heard, and make their troubles known. But, in addition to all this, I believe there has been provided a new stimulus to literary effort, which I think will lie felt long and on both sides of the Atlantic, and I am sure, ladies and gentlemen, that you will join me in hoping that in this new phase of our community of interest and anticipation, there may be found a new assurance of an exten- sion in other directions of that goodwill and good understanding which are so important to both our countries, and which I am sure you will agree with me in thinking it is so fitting should exist between us. The Chairman.—Ladies and Gentlemen, I have the honour to propose the next toast—the toast of "The Society of Authors." Now, if I fail, as I am perfectly certain to fail, in doing justice to this toast, I hope I may be recommended to mercy on the ground that it was only yesterday that I received notice that it would be my pleasant duty to propose it. I had supposed, up to that time, that the toast would have been entrusted to one of the distinguished visitors here to-night, but as I am asked to do it, of course I must do the best I can. Now, it seems to me that a combination among authors is one of the most remarkable signs of the times. Not a great many years ago, it would hardly have been believed that authors would have combined together in a Society. It was supposed that they lacked the elements of cohesion, but I am assured that this Society is very flourishing, that it is increasing in numbers every day, and therefore, it is perfectly certain that this opinion that used to be held can be held no longer. It is very desirable that authors should combine together to get as good a remuneration as they are entitled to in respect of their works. The labouring man is always telling us that he does not get the proper proportion of the value that he creates; he is always telling us that the middleman or the capitalist runs away with an undue share of the profits. Now, I suppose there is no industry in this country, in which the value created by authors—the true value is less in i  ## p. 75 (#479) ############################################# THE AUTHOR. 7S l>n>i>ortion to what they receive than in the case of literary men—the value is enormous in respect of the very small proportion of the goods of this world thai find their way into tin? pockets of authors. The Society does, I believe, very good work in helping young authors, and I suppose of all the helpless people in the whole world a young author is just about the most helpless, and the most at the mercy of men of business. I have already observed that you, the Society of Authors, have carried gratitude to its extreme limits in suggesting that I should take the chair here to-night. Now I will venture to say with regard to the Society of Authors, that if you have a fault it is that you are too virtuous. You are too guileless; there is too much of the milk of human kindness about you. You are too simple-minded; you trust too much in your simplicity to the justice of your cause. Now, allow me to say that you will never get what I consider to be a really good Law of Copyright passed in England, either by the powers that l>e, or with the powers that may be, without agitation; and, I do not believe that the Society of Authors quite understands either the arts or the necessity of agitation. I do not mean to say, of course, that you should march in procession to the Reform Tree in Hyde Park, with Lord Tennyson and Mr. Besant at your head; I do not even suggest that you should go to Trafalgar Square and wave red flags. But what I do suggest is that you will never get what you want until you use the vast influence that you possess to get the assistance of the newspaper press. You must induce the newspaper press to take up your case unremittingly and enthusiastically, and without that I do not lK-lieve you will get what you want. I think the Society would do well to take to heart the Scrip- tural parable of the importunate widow. It is to be regretted that while we have met here to-night to congratulate America on the skill and success of their own Copyright, that we Englishmen should still have to groan under a Copyright that is unjust, unintelligible, and grotesque, and is condemned by every person who knows anything at all about it. I hope the Society of Authors will take good heart, and that they will leave no stone unturned to obtain what I l>elievc are just rights here. The toast is, "The Society of Authors." Mr. James Bryce, M.P.—Mr. Chairman, Mr. Lincoln, Ladies, and Gentlemen, I have the honour- able duty entrusted to me of proposing the toast of our Benefactors, "the American Copyright League," and I am asked to couple it with the name of Mr. Brander Matthews. Ladies and Gentlemen, we thank the American Copyright League for what they have done for us, and we also salute and congratulate them as the victors in a long and arduous struggle. How long and how arduous that struggle has l>eeu, perhaps very few can under- stand, except those who have from time to time visited America and taken opportunities there of ascertaining how great, were the difficulties which confronted the advocates of International Copy- right. They hod to overcome the difficulties which the extremely technical procedure of the American Congress presents; they had to over- come the argument that the effect of Copyright would l>e to make books dearer to the American public, and they had to cut deeper still, and to defend the nature of literary property itself, and to prove that a man has, and ought to have, the same right of property in, and the same beneficial enjoyment of, his ideas, as he has of the labour of his hands. I remember reading, with a good deal of entertainment, some of the debates that passed in the American House of Representatives, when this Bill was being debated. There was one Member in particular, who did the honour to a book, published upon American institutions by myself, of selecting it as an illustration of the evils which would follow from the recognition of International Copyright. He said, " Here is a l>ook which is published for six dollars; it could be printed, and bound, and brought out in a convenient and elegant form for three dollars; and it is nothing but the ruthless avarice of the author and the publisher that pre- vents this from being done." Now, all these difficulties, and many more difficulties, which it would take too long to enumerate to you, have been overcome by the patience, and the zeal, and the tact, the untiring perseverance and the un- quenchable hopefulness of our friends of the American Copyright League, and we rejoice in their success on account of the admirable earnest- ness and public spirit which they have shown, even more than in respect of the benefits which we hope ■will accrue to British authors; and I want to say in passing, that we ought not to lx> ashamed of expecting benefits for British authors. They are, as they have often told us, a downtrodden and necessitous class, and they an" a class which is debarred from many of the opportunities that other classes enjoy, of raising their remuneration. They consist, I will not say of unskilled labourers, but certainly of unorganised lalxmrers, and, therefore, they are quite unable to get up a strike, and I do not know that any philanthropist has offered to protect them, even by an eight hours' law. But there is a better reason still why those of us who have watched the progress of this cause in America, rejoice over the success of the Copyright League; it is a victory for honesty—it is a victory of enlightened public opinion. It is the greatest testimony that has been given in our time of the power of opinion expressed by a small circle F 2  ## p. 76 (#480) ############################################# 76 THE AUTHOR. of cultivated men, to permeate and leaven the whole people. It was authors themselves that began this movement. I should like; to mention in particular some among those to whom we are indebted (because we ought to seize this opportunity of making up for the lukewarmness of our own press in acknowledging their services) the services of Mr. Lowell, who gave the unrivalled influence of his name and reputation very readily on every occasion. Let me mention also four American writers, probably known to many of you, who have done yeoman service in this contest—Mr. Edward Eggleston, Mr. R. U. Johnson, Mr. R. W. Gilder, and Mr. E. C. Stedman—and I desire to add to these the name of the gentleman who is going to respond, and I believe in whose house it was that the Copyright League was first started, a gentleman who, since that date, has given unfailing attention and earnest labour in endeavouring to promote its objects; I mean Mr. Brander Matthews. Nor would it be right to omit the names of three other gentlemen also, two of them eminent politicians who took up the cause and fought it with much warmth,—both of them authors, as well as politi- cians—Henry Cabot Lodge and Theodore Roose- velt; one of them a publisher, Mr. George Haven Putnam. Well, Gentlemen, there is one point more t > which I must advert in commemorating the services of the Copyright League. It is one to which your attention has already been called in the speech of Mr. Lincoln. This is an Act which rivets the bonds of friendship between the English branch of our people and that now larger branch of our people which inhabits the United States, and we may reflect with some pleasure that it is by literary men more than by anyone else, that the two main branches of the English-speaking race are united and taught to sympathise with one another. It is by our literature that we, the English of to-day, are known in America; it is by our poets and our novelists that our manners, our habits, our daily life is known; and in the same way it is by the authors of America—it is by writers like Mr. Charles Dudley Warner, whom I see here to-night, Mr. Bret Harte, Mr. Howells, Mr. Henry James, Mr. Henry Nelson Page, Miss Jewett, Mrs. Deland, Mr. Harris, Mr. Edward Eggleston, Mr. George Cable, Mrs. Burnett, and many others—it is by them that we in England are taught to know what is the life, what are the thoughts, and beliefs, and aspirations of the Ameri- can branch of our race; and feeling that, I feel that we may see with warm satisfaction the removal of what was a cause of heartburning between English authors and the American people, and an injury to American authors themselves, since it injured their remuneration while it emphasized the political severance of the two counties by preventing an English author from feeling that he was at home wherever the English tongue was spoken. There was a time when we used to boast that the drum of the British army followed the rising sun over the world. We may boast now, and we can boast, in a far higher sense, of the Empire which has been won by the literature of England and America, an Empire which is more wide, and which is far more enduring, because no political dangers can threaten it. And at this moment, when we congratulate American authors on the act of justice and of friendship which they have secured, we may remember not without pride, that a British or an American author now addresses an audience which consists of one-half of civilised mankind, and we may hope that the sense of the power and responsibility which the vastness of that audience carries with it, will stimulate still further the imagination of our authors, and will enlarge the range of their thoughts with the widening process of the suns. Mr. Brander Matthews.—My Lord, Ladies, and Gentlemen, it is greatly to be regretted that this toast could not be responded to by the Presi- dent of the Copyright League, Mr. Lowell, or by either of its Vice-Presidents, Mr. Stedman or Dr. Eggleston, or by its energetic secretary, Mr. Johnson. They could explain to you far better than I can whatever is doubtful and obscure in the Act which has just been passed. Since my arrival in England I have been somewhat suqirised to discover that there are certain English authors who do not understand the American Copyright Law, and there are others who do not believe in it. Their attitude towards the new American Copy- right Law is not unlike that of the American young lady towards the Multiplication Table: she said that " she never could learn the Multiplication Table, and what was more, she did not believe it was so." About 10 years ago, Mr. Gilder, the editor of the Century Magazine, went to Wash- ington to urge a Copyright treaty then under consideration. The Secretary of State heard him with patience, and then said, "Mr. Gilder, I do not hear any loud popular demand for this thing." Now that was true; for 5o years the authors of America had been asking for some kind of Copy- right arrangement with England, but there was not that " loud popular demand for the thing" which a politician could not afford to ignore. There is nothing whatever wanted only by artists, authors, or musicians, which can be got without agitation. If there had been a "loud popular demand" in England for Copyright reform, the Bill which you are advocating would have become law in the present session. I l)elieve if an author wants any- thing from the public he must ask for it boldly and often; it is for that purpose the American Copy-  ## p. 77 (#481) ############################################# THE AUTHOR. 77 right League was formed now eight years ago. It was intended to excite sympathy, to focus public opinion; and the authors belonging to the League gave meetings, and lectures, anil dinners; they wrote articles; they issued pamphlets; and they listened to sermons. They enlisted the aid of the journalists, and of the teachers, and of the clergy. It was at their suggestion, and especially by the zeal of Mr. Putnam, that the publishers were organised into an allied league; and yet at the end of five years of hard work all we could do was to report progress. All that time we had been urging a Hill which was a simple authors' Copyright. It granted Copyright to the foreigner without any condition whatever, being in that resjK'Ct like the admirable law which exists in France to-day. Then, at that time we received word that if we were willing to modify our Bill and to make manufacture in the United States a condition of Copyright the journeymen printers of America, a very widely organised and strong body, would lend us their assistance. They promised us also the sympathy and aid of all the allied labour organisa- tions of the United Suites. Well, these were too valuable allies to refuse; and after a very severe debate in the councils of the League we amended our Bill. We laboured for three years longer, the printers gave us loyal assistance, and the Bill baa l>ecome a law. That law is not perfect; I am afraid that there are few perfect laws in either country; but that law will do one thing, it will put a stop to the habit of piracy—which is a survival from our former colonial dependence. I am afraid that now and again an English author will still be pirated in the Uniteil States, just as even now there are American authors pirated every month in England. The Act is imperfect, but it is only a little more imperfect than the existing English Act. We demand manufacture as a condition precedent to Copyright, and you insist on prior publication. Imperfect as the law is, it puts the American and the foreigner on exactly the same level. We have granted to the foreign author what we have granted to the American author— for the American author cannot now have Copy- right unless his book is manufactured in America. In one respect the American law is more liberal to the English than the English law is to the American. Under the new law now the English novelist can reserve his exclusive right to dramatize his story in the United States, a right still denied to vou in this countrv. The laws of both countries are very imperfect, but they are very much letter than they were. When I think of them I am reminded of the remark of the old negro to the parson who was conducting a series of revival meetings. Said the negro to the parson, "You do not know what a power of good your preaching has done us; why in my own family here since we have been sitting under you we have given up evil- speaking and profane swearing, lying, and stealing, and cheating—to a considerable extent." Professor Minto.—My Lord, Ladies, and Gen- tlemen, it was only yesterday I received a summons from Mr. Besant, and an intimation that I was to speak to this toast. I cheerfully responded, because it seems to me to be significant of the generous friendship and esprit dc corps of this Society. I am no longer resident in London, and it is only by accident that I am here to-night, and I believe that is the reason why I have been selected to propose this important toast. The selection is intended a,s a friendly compliment, and looking at it in that light I warmly appreciate the compliment, and I will repress any tendency to reflect whether after all perhaps the choice is not due to the fact that only the guileless person from the country could be, found who was foolish enough to spoil his dinner by afterwards having to make a speech. For- tunately, the toast is safe in any hands, and I must confess that having had only since yesterday to think over the subject, and to collect my ideas, I feel very much more disposed to sit down at once than to inflict any speech upon you. I must say that if I had teen consulted regarding the name of the toast I should have preferred to spenk not of American literature but of American writers of English literature, for English literature is one, and if, as a Scotchman, I may be allowed a theo- logical allusion, I would say that the distinction between American literature and English literature is really not one of "substance " but of " i>ersons." The English and the American literature is the same in substance. The fact is, that American literature has no separate individuality any more than Scotch literature or Irish literature. Swift and Goldsmith are equally classics, so is Sir Walter Scott, and even Burns, although lie wrote a dialect; and I think we may claim a Washington Irving, Edgar Allan Poc, with whom Oliver Wendell Holmes and Bret Harte, ought to be amongst the English classics. In saying that American literatim; has no separate individuality I would not be mis- understood to mean that American literature is imitative. But a survey of too years of American literature (with which I do not propose to trouble you) would not bear out the same. The fact is, that it is absurd to say that the influences that operate upon literature as a whole, and in the natural user, had operated on writers on both sides of the Atlantic. Take any period that you like: take the very beginnings of American Hterature, when Charles Ripton Brown wrote. The influence that stirred literature is not by any means through English channels, and the fact is, that writers on both sides have been working to build up the great  ## p. 78 (#482) ############################################# 78 THE AUTHOR. fabric of English literature, giving and taking, and the Americans sometimes giving quite as much as they took. It seems to me that if it is the case that Washington Irving was influenced by Addison and the essayists of the 18th Century, it is not less true, as Mr. Dudley Warner, whose name I have the pleasure of coupling with this toast, will tell you, that Washington Irving had a very great influence upon the literature of this country. I also mentioned the great name of Edgar Allan Poe as the greatest master of one of the new forms of literature, the short story. The question is some- times asked whether America is likely to produce some new type of literature? Well, Sir, new types of literature are not common; they do not flourish on every hedge, and l>efore you can have a good type of literature you must have a man of genius to make it. Now, if the man comes and the hour in America, as the man and the hour came in English literature but once only—the time of Shakspeare—I have not the slightest doubt that the man would be welcomed by the authors of this country, but he will be welcomed not as the maker of a new type of American literature but as the maker of a new type of English literature. We should welcome his work, however racy of the soil it might be, however much it might be filled with what we are disposed to call Americanisms—we should welcome it as an addition to the wealth of the literature of our common tongue. At this late hour, of the evening I will only venture to say this in all seriousness, we have present among us to- night a good many American authors, among them Mr. Warner, a distinguished gentleman, whose name I have to couple with this toast. He is an example of those who make for that solidarity of our literature of which I spoke. I ask you to drink to the health and prosperity of American authors. Mr. Charles Dudley Warner. — My Lord, Ladies, and Gentlemen, I have, in-the first place, the pleasant duty of .thanking the' Society of Authors and the literary people of London who have, been good enough to come here, for the cordial expressions which I have heard with regard to my compatriots who are. present here and else- where. We are not English in America. We are made up of all the peoples' that an inscrutable Providence has given us for purposes I do not quite understand. We mingle there to produce a race, the destiny and quality of which'is practically yet unknown. But underneath all this, the seething struggle which is going on in the United States, the guiding impulse has always been that regard for law and order and Christian civilisation which has had its best exemplification in the Island of Great Britain, and Scotland,-and Ireland. We have besides a training in traditions which are as old as England itself. We have always looked with a great deal of affection, and a good deal of wrath sometimes, towards this side of the Atlantic. We have been trained from age to age in the literature which is common to both countries, and which Professor Bryce likened to the drum which followed the sun round with the English flag. That is all true; and besides, we have the American, the English, the Australian, the Canadian—I think I may say now, the Egyptian — literature; it is all one practically; that is to say, the great English conquering language for our possession; and if the time ever comes which tho prophets ever like to harp upon, from Isaiah down, and the poets like to dwell upon, the great battle of Armageddon, where civilisation and barbarism contend for the mastery in this world, I know that the English flag and the American flag on the same field and the same side of the line, will fall or rise together. I am, my Lord, in a good deal of embarrassment in replying to this toast which is limited, for I have learnt since I have lieen in London, from one of the most authoritative of your English Reviews, that there is no such thing as American literature, and very small prospect, and a widening horizon of there ever being any such thing. Now we had thought in our humble way that there was, that there had been a little something contributed to this great—you do not know what the Mississippi river is—it is a large river—the Mississippi river of literature; and we did not require any argument on our side from anybody on this side to say that we had contributed a little something. It was very much like the gentleman in Cincinnati who met the man from Ohio. I need not explain to you that Ohio is not the capital of Massachusetts. Walking along the street, he saw a gentleman opposite, and he said, "You don't know that man, perhaps?" "No, I do not know him; who is he?" "Well, that is Mr. Cackendorff; he is the ablest lawyer in the State of Ohio." "Well," he said, "I never heard of Mr. Cackendorff, and how do you prove that he is the greatest lawyer in the State of Ohio?" "Oh," he said, " you do1 not have to prove it, he admits it himself." We admit, we know that we have had from time to time in the old times, a little • literature of the • old English flavour, kept perhaps and < imported ■ back and forth,- like the cheese which we make and send over and cure, and bring back and- think it is English cheese; and we have had of late years, since the shekels Of silver have released the American man from localism, sporadically in; the west and in the south and west, and in the middle States now and then, something that had a flavour and type of its own, and -'which, although English in-its form and English in its language, was not Great Britain,  ## p. 79 (#483) ############################################# THE AUTHOR. 79 but which was most distinctly American. We thought we had that, and we have not apologised for it or been ashamed of it. There was some time a great English literature not provincial, not insular, the. literature which we all look to. I do not know that it pxists to-day. I have not, in the four weeks I have been in London, been able to read all the smart newspapers of the place, but it seemsto me that perhaps the literature of England is somewhat of a local literature. Your novelist,- your humorous papers, your newspaper press take VP the affairs, t}iat interest the people of these islands. We have also-in America a local litera- ture which interests us. I believe they have in Australia. I am certain they have in Canada. It is just possible, that in these days of extraordinary progress everywhere, literature is getting a little localised, and that it will take another great period of upheaval like that which • preceded the Eliza- lx>tlian literature to make a literature which will go without charge and without tariff or custom house, all over the world. I have some belief in that, because I know very well that the language of England, the English language to-day is the prevailing and the conquering language of the civilised world, and that, in speaking on behalf of the little 62 millions in America, I think the English language never before had such an oppor- tunity to be the language of the world as it has to-day, and that the author in Piccadilly or Pall Mall never before had such a chance as he has to-day to become the all embracing, comprehending author of a great civilised world. I am not making a speech; I want to say about the Copyright Act, however, a word. It is perfectly well known that all the American authors are rich. We have all been made prosperous by 1 o per cent.; the pub- lishers know it; they are all impoverished by our exactions. Now 1 o per cent, on a book has made us rich, and this enormous prospect of 62,000,000 of readers—of cabdrivers and millionaires—is no doubt going to make all the English authors prosperous and rich. I myself rejoice in that prospect for them, because it is merely a matter of arithmetic, that if you sell at a cheap rate of 10 cents a copy 10,000 things you would get about 10 dollars in your pocket. You see how the wealth will flow in. I hope no extravagant ideas will l>e raised in the minds of English authors in regard to this; and I merely throw this out by the way in pissing along. The author all over the world lias never had any great recog- nition; he has been asked to eulogise, to write Laureate odes, occasionally to dine at the lower end of the table. I myself sometimes wonder that the authors do not, as I think Professor Bryce suggested, strike; and I have sometimes wondered what would l>ecome of the rest of the world if we did. What, for instance, would become of my friends the publishers and the printers? What, for instance, would become of all those intelligent, people who give you their impression of what has gone on in the world, and what the world ought to have, and what the general opinion is after they have read the morning papers? I wonder very much what would happen if the literary folk, the unconsidered folk who write in the magazines and in the books, were one day to strike, and say, "For the next year we won't do anything." Privately I do not know that it would be a great misfortune if a book was not published within the next 10 years. But I am simply speaking of the effect on conversation if the literary folk were happening to strike for a year. You have some- times crossed on an Atlantic steamer, and perhaps you would notice that about the second day without any newspapers the conversation lan- guishes, and the people have not anything to talk about. The thing has somehow died out. The ordinary people—and I am quite one of them— have to fill up every morning with something that the editors have said in order to go on with the daily conversation. Now, I am quite serious, however, in standing up for a certain dignity of literature, for I very well know for historical con- siderations that the thing which endures and lasts in all time is that little thing which we call literature. You build your monuments, your warehouses, your railroads, your great factories, your showy palaces for a generation or two, but somewhere in that time, in that period of great prosperity, somebody sings a song or makes a little poem—it may l>e nothing more than a. sheet of paper. There is the pyramid, and there is the Trafalgar Square and New York, and there is San Francisco, teeming with wealth and with ostentation, but when all these things have passed you know very well, you who have collected the little service of Greek and of Roman intelligence, the little, records of thought and motion that some poet has preserved, you very well know that that little thing, that one sheet of paper, something, as I may say, light as air, as a bird's song—I assure you is the thing that you love and that helps the. world when all the rest has faded away like a dream. Mb. Arthub a Beckett.—Ladies and Gentle- men, it is my fate to have to propose the con- cluding toast of this evening. I have to propose the health of our noble Chairman. I think you will agree with me he has performed to-night the duties of his office in a most satisfactory manner. He has other claims upon our respcot, as it was he who undertook the conduct of the Copyright Act through Parliament, and got it as far as Par- liament would allow it to go. It. is not yet beyond  ## p. 80 (#484) ############################################# 8o THE AUTHOR. the second reading, but Lord Monkswell was able to extort a promise from the Lord Chancellor that sooner or later possibly—probably later—the sub- ject would occupy the attention of the Government. As it is very late I would like to bring my speech to a conclusion, although I feel that you would like to hear what I have to say on the Triple Alliance and other subjects. But I would like to tell you one little anecdote in compliment to our brethren, who, I believe, generally finish their speeches with a short story, because it calls attention to the fact that the feeling of fraternity which we experience in England towards our American brethren is growing on the other side of the Atlantic. Not very long ago it was my pleasure to meet a gentleman who, from the manner in which he spoke, except for the American accent, I should have taken to be a native of this land. He told me that there was one omission which he found in England, and it was a serious omission. He was very well satisfied in England, but this omission was in connexion with West- minster Abbey. There was a statue absent from Westminster Abbey which he would like to have seen there. I wondered for the moment what that statue should be. I remembered that all my colleagues here present were living, and he said, "Well, Sir, he is an Englishman who l>elongs to a very good old English family." I was rather surprised at this, because I understood that Americans did not think much of old families, they considered that beneath them. No, those coat of arms he bad often seen about us. "The old English gentleman, the statue of whom I should like to see in Westminster Abbey," he said, "is George Washington." I told him we were making preparations to increase the size of West- minster Abbey, and after the necessary alterations were completed that, no doubt that statue would appear. He went on further, and said, "You should not only have George AVashington but you should have his namesake, because I think that those two Georges have done more, though in different ways, to make the two nations what they now are. The other George is George Farmer, or, as yon call him, ' Farmer George.'" The Chairman.—Ladies and Gentlemen, I shall not make a speech at this late hour in the evening. I can only say this: that it has afforded me very great pleasure to preside, ami I shall lie very glad if the result is to bind more closely the ties of friendship which at present subsist between England and the United States of America. The proceedings then terminated. , OVERHEARD. I. At the Black Jack Club. HE was an elderly gentleman with a red nose, and an irascible manner. It was late— towards midnight—but the room was still full of men. "I have been to the Dinner of the Society of Authors. That's why I am in a dress coat. I don't suppose I have had on evening dress for 20 years and more. Why they asked me I don't know. Why I went I don't know. There wasn't a soul in the place that I knew. Authors! It makes me sick. Waiter, a Scotch and soda. Makes a man sick, I say, to see a couple of hundred men and women dressed up to the eyes, sitting down to a tip-top dinner, with champagne flowing like bitter beer, and a band playing, and noble lords about the tables, calling themselves authors. Authors ! Why, when I was a young man there were authors worth the name. Douglas Jerrold, and Angus Reach, and Brough, and good old Thack—what did you say? Wouldn't have dared to call him Thack? What do you know about it? You weren't born. I say there were authors then, and no mistake, and between 'em all not a single guinea, most days of the week. How should there l>e any? The publishers took all the money, and we scarified 'em with epigrams. That's how we treated 'cm; made their lives a burden to 'em. Look at the fellows now. They can afford to pay a guinea apiece for their dinner. They get up a Society which can afford to ask thirty or forty guests at a guinea apiece, and then they dare, to grumble at their publishers! Even when they can pay a guinea apiece for their dinner! What's the world coming to? Waiter, another Scotch and soda. "They asked me. Why? I don't know; I hate 'em. I hate all the successful men. What have they done to be. successful when I have been all my life a failure? Why should the world run after 'em, and praise 'em, and buy their books? They never ran after mine. Of course, it's the log rolling does it—the disgraceful log rolling. There's that new boy—what's his name? What is there in his things? Nothing. I give you my word— nothing. No imagination, no romance, no dialogue —nothing. All is creeping, real, natural, low. You read a page, and you think it is the real soldier talking. We knew better in our time; no common, vulgar Tommy Atkins for us. But his log rolled, and now he makes money. I daresay he got fifty pounds—I shouldn't wronder— fifty pounds by a single book, though he is but a What's that? Two thousand pounds  ## p. 81 (#485) ############################################# THE AUTHOR. 81 by a single book? Two thousand pounds? You don't know, Sir, what you talk about. Nobody ever could make so much money out of a book. Waiter, another Scotch and soda. Well, they didn't ask me to speak, or I could have told them something. Grumbling against their publishers, when they can afford to drive to the place in broughams, and to dress their wives in silk, and to pay a guinea down for a dinner! Grumbling! Why they ought to be on their knees, the tears of gratitude rolling down their cheeks, before these most generous of men. I suppose they asked me l>ecause they wanted to bribe me into silence. Well, they won't succeed. Waiter, another Scotch and soda—big Scotch, little soda. Their champagne was good. But I've got a batch of books on my table at home, and, by gad, I'll scarify 'em. I'll stick in the knife and I'll turn it round. I'll let 'em know that the good old times are not gone. A guinea for a dinner! In our days it was eighteen- pence or two bob at most. And a band to play all the time! Authors! Authors! The good old name is being dragged in the mud. Never mind, I'll scarify 'em."—[Goes home and does.] II. From a Letter. "The Authors' Dinner was just lovely. I went with my husband, and we sat next to quite pleasant people. Everybody had a great card with the names of all the company, so that you only had to run down the list for a name and then look at the table to which it belonged, to see anybody you wanted. Unfortunately, I got the tables wrong, and after gazing upon Mr. Rider Haggard till I knew his features by heart, I found that it was a certain learned professor, and I had to begin all over again. This discovery I only made at the end of the dinner, when it was too late to set things right. Now I shall always think of Mr. llider Haggard J DP as an elderly gentleman with a red face and greyish hair, which I am told is not at all like him. For the same reason, I came away hopelessly mixed with Mr. Walter Pater, Mr. William Black, Professor Huxley, Mr. George Dumaurier, and half-a-dozen others who were there. So that most of the good I got from the dinner was from reading the list. There was a band playing all the time, but softly so as not to disturb the talk. Authors, I was pleased to find, can talk. They talk as fast as they can all the time. After the dinner the speeches began. But very soon the authors rebelled against the speeches. They wouldn't listen. In vain the toastmaster begged for silence. They only talked all the more. It seems a pity that they should have any oratory at all if they dislike it so much. I was told that there was no jealousy of the speakers or wish to be themselves the speakers that made them refuse to listen. English authors won't speak, and can't speak. Many of them, if they thought that they had to speak, would not come. In the same way, they can't listen, and won't listen. We ought to have an Authors' Society in New York, with just such a dinner every year." III. In the Train. The speaker was a gentleman of somewhat seedy exterior. His hat alone proclaimed that things were not going well with him. His eye was restless ami perhaps shifty. "Have I l>een to the Authors' Dinner? No, I haven't. I wouldn't go if I was asked. Authors? Look here now. As to authors. I've long suspected, and now I know. It's all a swindle. There ain't any authors in the Society at all, except one. There ain't any Society. There's only one man. He keeps up the racket for his own purposes: he pretends there's five hundred—six hundred—any- thing you like. Will he publish a list of the Members? Not he. Will he tell us who the Members are? Not he. There ain't any Members at all, I tell you. He persuades a few people to come along and dine together every year. It's very easy. First he gets A to meet B, then C to meet A and B, then D to meet A and B and C, and so on. That's all. That's the way it's done. As for there being any real authors in the Society, or any Society at all, or anything except that one man, I tell you that it's ail bunkum and rubbish. They've got an office? Well, yes, they have. It's a thing, I suppose, that costs about ten pounds a year. And a Journal? Well, yes, they have. There's a thing they call a Journal—circulation about twenty. Office and Journal both paid for by the same man. Well, as you say, I suppose they do put out a balance sheet showing about a thousand a year income. What's easier than to make up a balance sheet? I bring out balance sheets every day for the authors, and I know. You make 'em show anything you please. The Society publishes books?' Suppose they do. Suppose they do bring out books and advertise second editions. What's easier than to call out second edition when you've sold five-and-twenty copies? Don't tell me. I've done it myself—often. Gar—r—r!"  ## p. 82 (#486) ############################################# 82 THE AUTHOR. IV. At a Table'., "This dinner is only a beginning of what such an annual gathering; ought to- l>e. What the Royal1 Academy dinner does for Art, this dinner should do for Literature. That is to say, if it is good for Literature to have princes as guests, then we should have princes; if. it is good for Literature to have ambassadors, presidents of societies and institutions, and great men in other lines, then we should have these illustrious persons. It should be a dinner which confers distinction on the recipient of an invitation. It should lie, like the Academy dinner, one of the great functions of the season. This it can easily l>ecome if literary men and women choose to make it so. The dinner indicates the power which should, and does already, lie behind, con- cealed, but felt—a power which will be always making rough things smooth, and causing the sweater and the shark to have uneasy times, and making it more and more difficult for the old- fashioned Fraud to continue in his fraudulency. The future of the Society opens up the most splendid possibilities. Only let us awaken, little by little, and maintain confidence among literary men, and we shall carry out a programme never dreamed of by the victims of the bad old times." LITERARY MAXIMS. 1. Popularity is a sure sign of popularity. 2. There are only two ways of succeeding: rise high enough or sink low enough. 3. To read a book, it is necessary to look into it: to review, all that may be necessary is to look at it. 4. Any fool can find fault: any knave may destroy. 5. Four stages in Art: the ideal, the idea, the word, and the work. 6. In construction or in .criticism, competency depends on the harmony of the first with the last. 7. Understand before you know: know before you judge. 8. Art, like nature, never shows her best on the surface. 9. The reviewer should never forget, that he is a judge, often a very bad one. 10. It is easy to judge: it is hard to judge justly. 11. Even reviewers have rights: some of them even a sense of right. 12. All the fog is not in the other man's head. 13. If you will write for money, write for the' many. 14. A first failure is not always a sure sign of genius. . 15. To please the public may be gratifying to the soul, but is not always satisfying to the body. 16. Put your heart in your work, if you ha\e got one to put. 17. If you wish to be taken seriously, write satirically. 18. To know everything one must be a young man or a myth. 19. 'Tis a wise author that knows himself after a course of reviews. 20. Remember that all men do not see satire, even with a telescope. 21. Do not read every review of your works: it is healthier for your soul, to respect even your inferiors. 22. In reviewing there is no trial by jury: your peers are too busy, working or loafing, to review anything. 23. To view is to see once: to review is to see twice—or not at all. 24. The value of the collection is not estimable by the size of the congregation. 25. As an art, painting is more popular than preaching. 26. Unpopularity is no sure proof of superiority. 27. When a book is unintelligible to you, this Is invariably due to the author's insanity or im- becility.: tell him so, lest he should feel neglected! Phinlay Glenelg. ♦■»■♦ NOTES AND NEWS. WILL our readers be so good as to consider carefully the suggestions as to the Authors' Club? It is proposed to create what is called a first-class club on the level, say, of the Garrick, the Savile, or the Arts, of which the first condition of membership shall be some connexion with the literary life. Readers of this journal understand by this time that one of the chief objects contemplated by the Society is the union of those who follow Literature, after the manner observed by those who follow the Art of Painting. The Society is such an association, but it is not enough, because it is only in evidence on such occasions as the annual dinner, when about one- fourth of the Members attend. Besides, the Society is necessarily engaged mainly upon the business side of the calling. A club of position and repu- tation would represent the social and successful  ## p. 83 (#487) ############################################# THE AUTHOR. 83 side. It would always lx> a standing proof that men of letters can unite together, are independent, and have risen above the contempt which long years of helpless dependence brought upon them. The Club must begin with 5oo Members at least. It is suggested that all Members of the Society shall Ixj always eligible without entrance fee. A form is enclosed which binds the signer to nothing more than sympathy with the object proposed, and his intention to belong, provided he approves of the prospectus when decided. It is not yet decided whether or no to admit ladies to meml>ership. If they are not admitted I hope we may at once proceed to the establishment of the Authors' House, a scheme in which I place great faith. This House would be especially useful to ladies. The Pension List for this present year of grace displays the same disregard of the Resolution of 1837, which has always, year after year, under every Government, marked this little piece of administration. The Resolution provided that pensions to the amount of £1,200 every year might l)c bestowed upon persons distinguished for Litera- ture, Science, and Art. Fifteen pensions are granted this year. Three are given to persons distinguished in Literature and Art. Nine are given to widows or daughters of persons so dis- tinguished. Four are, as I think, wrongfully, and in breach of trust, l>estowed upon ladies whose fathers or husbands were connected with the naval, military, or civil service. The country votes a sum of money for persons distinguished in Litera- ture, Science, and Art. The Government give it away to persons totally unconnected with Literature, Science, and Art. When shall we have this miserable little grant administered as was intended? And when shall we get the Resolution amended so as to make it impossible for these jobs to lie committed? The Annual Dinner, a full report of which is contained in this number, was held on Thursday the 16th. Every single seat in the great room of the Hotel Metropole was taken. There were 216 guests in all, of whom 40 were guests of the Society, and the rest were Memlxrs or Associates. It was cheering to reflect, that this great gathering really, contained no more than the fourth part of our present following. The occasion, too, called forth several letters—notably one of congratulation from our President, Lord Tennyson; one from the Bishop of Oxford; one from Cardinal Manning, through Mr. A. W. a Beckett, speaking of the interest with which he regarded the Society; from Mr. George Meredith, who was prevented from attending; ami many others. There was a general feeling that the Society had never before met together under more promising conditions, or in greater numbers, or, to descend to smaller considera- tions, to a better dinner. The animation of the evening seemed to show that everyl>ody was satisfied with his neighbours—a very satisfactory result of a very anxious distribution of places. Of course there were one or two faces which we missed. Bret Harte, at the last moment, was compelled to stay away. Henry James could not come; we were just too late for T. B. Aldrich. Professor Jebb, Austin Dobson, Edmund Yates, Rudyard Kipling, Thomas Hardy, Hall Caine, Mrs. Oliphant, Mrs. Cashel Hoey, Edna Lyall, and many others could not come. The list of those who were present, however, printed in full with the report, will show that English and American Literature was well represented in all its branches. There have been, on previous occasions, sneers in certain papers at the record of the names, as present, of those who are not so well known as others in the profession. I think that this is a very unworthy line; in literature there are always men and women beginning at the bottom and going up. They are at various stages of the ladder when they come to us; even though they arc only beginning; though a single volume is as yet the whole of their literary baggage, they have a perfect right to belong to us, to call themselves authors, and to come to our dinner. They belong to the calling: they are fellow craftsmen. It is in litera- ture, in short, as with every other profession, there must be in it certain leaders, there must be rank and file; there must be more private soldiers than officers, yet all are fighting men. Four years ago, for instance, I was present at a great dinner—a very great dinner—given in the Hall of the High Court of Justice by the Law Institute to solicitors. There were many hundreds present. I do not rememl)er that anyone, speaking of this dinner, sneered at these hundreds for ljeing obscure, as they certainly were. I make this remark on this year's dinner, because such a sneer coidd hardly be made of such a gathering where there were so many leaders. This is the Holiday Number of the Author. Let us put away all our papers, straighten the stiffened ringers, lay down the pen, and go forth to rest in shady places. For my own part, I make of the ■  ## p. 84 (#488) ############################################# 84 THE AUTHOR. summer holiday an occasion, which only comes once a year, for reading the books which everybody has been talking about. I am not more than five or six years in arrears, and though I despair of ever quite catching up, I daresay there will be no more than five years' books in arrear when the, time conies for putting up the shutters. These can be cremated with me. Some men I can hardly look in the face without a blush; with others, thanks to an occa- sional ramble into the present, I am more easy. Since, for instance, I have read the "World's Desire " I feel more confidence in the presence of its authors. Why has the world taken so little notice of the wonderful allegory in that book? I can boldly meet Thomas Hardy face to face, because I have read the "Group of Noble Dames," and Budyard Kipling, l>ecause I can quote the " Light that Failed." There is nothing so delightful as to be working up arrears; nothing so truly restful as to let other people write for you. For this and other reasons, the August Number of the Author is shorter than its brethren. We have learned, with great regret, the death of Mr. James Runciman at the early age of 38. Mr. Runciman was one of the youngest of our Members, but not one of the least cordial. His early death has prevented him from doing full justice to his great—his very great—abilities. What he did achieve was marked by strength and firmness of drawing, a vivid imagination, and a clear eye. He could write verse with ease and grace; some of his pictures of certain strata of life will certainly last—at least beyond the time of many writers now more popular. Letter from a publisher: "I have offered you so much for your work. This sum buys the entire Copyright. Your request that I should leave you the American rights might have been granted a month ago. Under existing circumstances this is not to be thought of." In other words, what was worth so much when American Copyright was worthless, is worth no more though American Copyright doubles the publishers' returns. This is very remarkable justice. It makes one sigh for Jedburgh justice. The Manchester Guardian reports that a certain religions society has discovered a muddle in their accounts by which debts of "thousands of pounds for advertising" had not been brought forward in the balance sheets, so that the committees were personally liable. This society is not, we do hope and trust, our dear old friend who keeps a Literary Housemaid and sweats its victims with holy zeal. It would lm too dreadful to think that its committee, after such a long and successful course of sweating, should be itself sweated! No! No! The reward of the righteous is not often so thorough and so certain. Of "Literary" Associations, "Authors' Pub- lishing" companies and societies which promise poor, struggling authors help and pay, there is no end. A blight seems to settle, upon these associations. Nevertheless, one is pleased to give such publicity as is possible to nil new societies of the, kind. Here is one, for instance, called "The Authors' Publishing Association." The manager is one T. M. Field, of whom we know nothing, good or bad. His association receives members at 5s. a year, which is indeed cheap. It also runs a little magazine called Literary Land. The May number —containing 16 pages—is before us at this moment, so that it really does exist. Literary workers of all classes are invited to become meml^r?, particu- larly those who seek—but have not yet found—a remunerative return for their labours. This, they may perhaps believe, will be found for them in Literary L.and. Now, if this paper is to go on presenting 16 pages every month to the world it will remunerate—reckoning each article at three pages, and the pay at—is 5s. a page too high?—five authors a month or Co authors a year. If, there- fore, an author is so fortunate as to become one of this 6o he would receive, say, ios. in the year, out of which he would pay 5s. for the magazine and 5»'. for the association. For himself, 5*. will remain —a princely income. I daresay a good many sub- scribers will be found. It .seems hopeless to expect that people who aspire to literary success will bring the commonest rules of arithmetic, reason, and common sense to bear upon their hopes and their calculations. The "association" may mean well and honestly, but let young writers ask what any such association can do for anybody? There is no royal road to success—there are no back stairs to literary fame; every writer must with his own pen fight his own way to the, front. Yet another Society! This time it is the pro- spectus of the "London Copy Society." It has offices, and a secretary, but, as yet, neither directors, bankers, nor solicitors. Its modest capital is £ i ,ooo. It. proposes to become a syndicate for placing things in newspapers both here and in America. People are asked to pay a guinea a year in order to have a chance of being taken by the American and  ## p. 85 (#489) ############################################# THE AUTHOR. 85 English journals through this agency. There are already a good many such syndicates in the field, and their experience is always the same, namely, that then! is little difficulty in placing writers of repute, but tliat it is absolutely impossible to place writers who have not yet made their name. Very likely this syndicate sees a way out of this difficulty. • The "Society" will also act as literary agents, and will establish a school for journalism. The subscribers will have to pay for the printing, mani- folding, stereotyping, and postage of their work to the "hundreds of journals" spoken of in the prospectus. Suppose one of them writes a novel. It would cost perhaps £80 to print. Another £20 might easily be spent in sending the work among the "hundreds of journals." Are young literary aspirants prepared to spend £100 on the very, very slender chance of an unknown writer l>eing accepted by the country press? As for the school of journalism, we wait to see who are the Professors and Lecturers in that school. From time to time there are sent to the Office cuttings from certain papers in which the truth, the whole truth, and a great deal more than the truth is frankly and generously told about this Society. In three or four cases we have held a little inquiry into the cause and origin of this generous amplification of the truth. It has been found in all that the paragraphs have been preceded, very strangely, by action on the part of our Secretary. For instance, the editor of the Universal Genius has refused to reply to a contributor nsking payment for a MS. which has appeared in the paper. The contributor, a Member of the Society, brings the case before the Secretary. The Secretary addresses a letter to the Editor. Result: (1) Cheque to the author. (2) Nasty one for the Society in the paper. Again, the editor or proprietor of the Bear Pit refuses to return a MS. sent to him by a writer for publication, or to answer any letters relating to that MS. The writer brings tin; case before the Society. The Secretary addresses a letter to that editor or proprietor. Result: (1) Return of the MS. to the author. (2) Nasty one for the Society in the paper. Moral—Obvious. Readers of Mrs. Oliphant's "Life of Laurence Oliphant" should read Mrs. Phillips' paper on Mr. Harris in the National Review of July. Those who possess the book should cut out the article and bind it up as an appendix, ljecause the article gives the other side of the question as seen by the friends of Mr. Harris. No denial is offered by the writer of the article of the facts as stated by Mrs. Oliphant. They remain, presumably, undeniable. From the point of view of Harris's disciples it is right, I suppose, and only what was to be expected, that a gentleman should be made to sell strawberries in the street, that a lady should be made to tlo menial work, and that a wedded pair should be separated. These things l>elong to spiritual levels, to which I, alas! cannot reach. Heaven itself is out of the reach of most of us, unless we can get to it with our own people and following our own manners and customs. At the same time, the paper of Mrs. Phillips is not only extremely interesting but extremely instructive, if only as showing what qualities there were in Harris which could attract such a man as Laurence Oliphant . And so much, I believe, the author of this beautiful biography would be the first to acknowledge. In every generation there arises a Harris, either in this country, or in America, or somewhere else. To every Harris there comes a Revelation, to every one a school of disciples, and every disciple is convinced that he sees the beginning of the end—and the assurance of the Second Coming of the Lord, when, by the aid of the Harris, all things shall be made straight. Walter Besant. THE AUTHORS' CLUB. AMEETING of the Preliminary Committee was held at the Society's offices on Thursday, July 23rd. Present: Mr. Walter Besant, Mr. Howard Collins, Mr. W. M. Colles, Mr. Oswald Crawfurd, Mr. Egmont Hake, Mr. Arthur Montc- fiore, and Mr. Vagg Walter, as Honorary Secretary ad interim. Mr. Walter reported that he had visited many houses to let in the vicinity of Piccadilly and else- where, anil sub mitted plans and drawings of certain houses which might seem suitable for the Club, with estimates for furniture and installation, and for the day-by-day management of the Club. After conversation it was Resolved to put forth the following Suggestions for the consideration of the Society, and of those who might be desirous of joining the Club, and to invite comment and further suggestions from all interested. 1. That it is desirable to found a Club whose first condition of meml)ership shall be a bona fide connexion with the life of Letters. 2. That, though the rules of the Society of Authors admit into that body as MchiIhts none but those who have actually produced at least one printed and published volume, the Club shall admit not only authors of  ## p. 86 (#490) ############################################# 86 THE AUTHOR. lmoks, but also . dramatists, journalists, authors of papers in reviews and magazines, editors of newspapers, journals, and maga- zines, professors, lecturers, and Fellows of colleges, men of science, scholars, and all gentlemen who in their public or private capacity shall advance the cause of Letters. 3. That since the first and most important side of a Club is its social side, the new Club should lie one in which the social attrac- tions should at least equal those of any other Club in London. 4. That the Club, though unconnected with the Society of Authors, should recognise and develop, as far as possible, the services rendered to the cause of Letters by that Society. 5. That the Club should be one of reasonable charges and reasonable living. 6. That the serious and practical side of the literary life should not be forgotten by the Club, but that, as occasion may arise, meet- ings and debates should be held or papers read on subjects connected with the practical Ride. 7. That ladies should be admitted either on ladies' nights or on ladies' afternoons, or to concerts or entertainments organized by the committee. 8. That Members should present to the library complete copies of their own works. g. That the entrance fee be ten guineas, and the annual subscription be five guineas; but that the first 5oo members be admitted without entrance fee. 10. That Members of the Society of Authors be always admitted without entrance fee. 11. That before proceeding farther, the opinion of the Members of the Society be ascer- tained on the matter, and that a book be opened at the office of the Society for the entrance of names of those who would wish to become original Members. 12. That the money requisite for first expenses be subscribed by the Members in the form of debentures at a certain interest, a method frequently adopted by clubs. 13. That as soon as sufficient names have been enrolled to warrant further proceeding, the preliminary committee should dissolve and be replaced by a Committee of Management elected by the original Members, with power to raise money by debentures, take pre- mises, purchase furniture, draw up rules, call meetings, and in all other ways act at* may be necessary for the foundation of the Club. 14. That the election of Members for the first year at least should be in the hands of the Committee of Management. 15. That these suggestions should be published in the Author, and that Members of the Society should Ik; earnestly requested to contribute their own opinions, addressed to the Secretary of the Society of Authors, 4, . Portugal Street, W.C. ♦■>■♦ INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT. L The President's Proclamation. From the " Times," July 2nd, 1891. Washington, July 1. PRESIDENT Harrison has issued a procla- mation which provides for granting Copy- right in the United States to citizens or subjects of Great Britain, France, Belgium, and Switzerland. The text of the proclamation is as follows :— "Whereas it is provided by Section i3 of the Act of Congress of March 3, 1891, that the said Act shall only apply to a citizen or subject of a foreign State or nation, when such foreign State or nation permits to citizens of the United States the benefit of Copyright on substantially the same basis as to its own citizens, or when such foreign State or nation is a party to an International agreement which provides for reciprocity in the granting of Copyright, by the terms of which agreement, the United States may, at their pleasure, become a party to such agreement; and whereas, satisfactory official assurances have been given in Belgium, France, Great Britain, the British posses- sions, and Switzerland, that the law permits to citizens of the United States the same benefit of Copyright as to their own citizens: Now, therefore, I, as President, do declare and proclaim that the first conditions specified in the said Section i3are now fulfilled in respect to the citizens and subjects of Belgium, France, Great Britain, and Switzer- land." This proclamation is preceded by a recital of the Copyright Act passed by the last Congress, a copy of the circular letter addressed to the United States Ministers abroad, and an able and exhaustive  ## p. 87 (#491) ############################################# THE AUTHOR. report to President Harrison, prepared- by' Mr. Moon, Third Assistant Secretary of State, inter- preting the law, and explaining why the operations of the law are limited to the four countries named in the proclamation, and why nations which are parties to the Berne agreement are excluded from the proclamation on that ground. II. The American Regulations. Washington, July 6. In pursuance of the provisions of the Copyright Act of March 3, 1891, Mr. Foster, Secretary of the Treasury, has prescribed the following regulations: 1. Copyrighted books and articles of importation which are prohibited by section 4956 of the Revised Statutes, as amended by section 8 of the said Act, shall not be admitted to entry. Such books and articles, if imported with the previous consent of the proprietor of the Copyright, shall Ik) seized by the Collector of Customs, who shall take proper steps for the forfeiture of the goods to the United States under section 3o82 of the Revised Statutes. 2. Copyrighted books and articles imported con- trary to the said prohibition without the previous consent of the proprietor of the Copyright, being primarily subject to forfeiture to the proprietor of the Copyright, shall be detained by the collector, who shall forthwith notify such proprietor in order to ascertain whether or not he wishes to institute proceedings for the enforcement of the right to forfeiture. If the proprietor institutes such pro- ceedings, and obtains a decree of forfeiture, the goods shall be delivered to him on payment of the expenses incurred in the detention, storage, and duties accruing thereon. If such proprietor fails to institute proceedings within 60 days from the date of notice, or declaration in writing, he abandons his right to forfeiture, and the collector shall proceed as in the case of articles imported with the previous consent of the proprietor. 3. Copyrighted articles of importation which are not prohibited, but which, by virtue of section 4965 of the Revised Statutes, as amended by section 8 of the said Act, are forfeited to the proprietor of the said Copyright when imported without his previous consent, and, moreover, subject to the forfeiture of Si or §10 per copy, as the case may be, one-half thereof to the said proprietor, and the other half to the United States, shall lie taken possession of by the collector, who shall take the necessary steps for securing to the United States half the sum forfeited, and shall keep the goods in his possession until the decree of forfeiture has been obtained, and half of the sum so forfeited, as well as the duties and charges accruing are paid, whereupon he shall deliver the goods to the proprietor of the Copyright. In case of a failure to obtain a decree of forfeiture, the goods shall be admitted to entry.—Dalziel {The Times Special). HI. What will happen? At last we have it. The next questions are: What we shall do with it? What it will do for us? And how we shall protect ourselves? For, as it needs no prophet to understand, a most determined effort will be made to defraud the author of all the benefits which the Act might have con- ferred upon him, and to convert it into an engine for the further enrichment of the publisher. Successful authors must understand—the sooner the better—that they have now two countries to deal with, and not one; that in many respects the two countries are not alike, but dissimilar; that what pleases one country may not please lx>th; that they have two sets of publishers; that although they must not assume because they have got their work accepted in this country that it will l>e accepted in the other, but they must act as if they were going to be popular in both countries. That is to say, in negotiating for their work they must strictly reserve the American rights as the subject of separate arrangement. Again and again has the Author pointed out to readers, that in all agreements they must put them- selves into the position of business men agreeing for the management of property, and this even though the MS. represents no property at all. The other side is always a business man actuated by no other object than that of doing business, and securing a good property for himself, if possible; if not, on the best terms he can command. If the Author warned and exhorted its readers before the pawing of this Act, it must raise a louder and a more warning voice still. The risk of being plundered is twice as great as before; the property to be defended is twice as great as before. What books will take out Copyright? This is a question of the greatest importance to printers, as well as to authors. At a recent deputation to Sir Michael Hicks-Beach, one of the speakers (see p. 91) assumed that every author would not only want Copyright, but would get it. Indeed! And who is to pay the printer's bill? A very large numl>er of books are published at 1  ## p. 88 (#492) ############################################# 88 THE AUTHOR. the expense of the authors who have nothing, sub- sequently, to show for their money but weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth. Printing is a much more expensive luxury in the States than here. It is supposed, perhaps, that the author will pay the increased bill with the additional expense of freight. Hut there are, it will be said, a great many books which both countries will want. Let us see what these are. First, we may exclude— a. All theological books, sermons, and religious books. Generally speaking, the Americans will at least find their own religious food. /3. All educational books, except a very few. y. All scientific and technical books, except a very few. The Americans will continue to find their own works on science. 8. All three-volume novels. f. Nearly all works connected with the history of this country. £. Works written for a very small circle, such as special monographs, books of scholar- ship, &c. These books will be exported in the same way as at present, in very small quantities, paying a duty. )). All our journals, magazines, and news- papers. What remain? a. A great many novels. jS. A few books of travel, history, biography, science, and poetry. As regards the first, I do not believe that the popular novelist will be set up in America and re-printed here. Why should he be? Consider. It costs, for composition alone, of a one-volume novel from £20 to £:5. It would cost in America from £2o to £35. The extra cost of printing and paper is in proportion. Considering, in addition, all the worry and trouble, the extra cost, the cost of freight, &c, who would incur all this in order to save a ten-pound note in the English edition of a popidar author? It is absurd. Then, if we take an English author who is not popular, are we going to print him in the States, where he is no more popidar than here, at an increased cost, when there is great doubt whether he will repay here the cost of setting him up? If, on the other hand, a popular novelist is pub- lished simultaneously on both sides, it will be as if he were published in two languages; there will be separate composition. We have not considered here the attention which must be paid to the subject of spelling, which is a very important point. In the same way, special books — such as Darwin's books, Herbert Silencer's books, Stanley's Travels, &c.—woidd be set up on both sides, simply because in such a big thing it would not be worth while to save a ten-pound note, at the risk of exasperating one side or the other with the spelling. It certainly appears to the present writer that printers will lose little or nothing by the "manu- facture" clause, and that the whole action of the Loudon Chamber of Commerce has been produced by a panic. The reply of Sir Michael Hicks-Beach to the deputation was damping to their hopes. Probably, he knew pretty well what he was saying. We have ourselves felt the pulse of certain Members of the House, not without influence. It may be taken as perfectly certain and beyond all doubt, that Free Trade Members will move Heaven and Earth against any so-called retaliatory measures. There need be no illusion on this head. Meantime, if it be proved that our people suffer sensibly from the Act, we shall do more by representations made to the United States Government and its people than by any fruitless agitation for Protection. "I would suggest to printers, as a measure of self defence, that they should join with authors and insist upon a clause in authors' agreements, binding the publisher to produce an English-manufactured book. I can assure them beforehand of the sympathy of authors, and of their rooted antipathy to American spelling. All we have to do is to insert that clause. If a book is worth copyrighting in America, it is certainly worth setting up in both countries." In order to get an approximate idea of what new English books are likely to take out Copyright in America, let us run through the lists of the advertisements in the last number of the At/iencettm. It is true that it is a very bad time for new books, and that the list is extremely scanty, but it will serve our purpose to a certain extent. The first, taking the publishers in their order as they appear in the advertisement columns, is the list of Messrs. Osgood, Mellvaine, and Co. Ten books are in this list. Of these, seven appear to be by Americans. There remain three, viz., two by Oscar Wilde and one by Thomas Hardy. Both these books would want Copyright in the States. Next comes the list of Messrs. Methuen. Here are works by Norris, M. Betliam Edwards, Edna Lyall, S. Baring Gould, W. Clark Russell, and Walter Pollock, all of which would take out Copyright. There are four books on social and political economy; two biographies of religious leaders; two books of poems; and a critical study on George Meredith. Result: out of nineteen books, six would be copy-  ## p. 89 (#493) ############################################# THE AUTHOR. 89 righted in the States. The list of Smith and Elder shows six books, of which three novels (by Anstey, Norris, and Gissing) and one biography —that of Robert Browning, by Mrs. Sutherland Orr—would be copyrighted. The list of Macmillan contains sixteen books, mostly new editions. I should judge that six of these would be published in the States. Chapman and Hall advertise eleven books. If these were all new books, three would certainly be copyrighted. Of nine books advertised by Bentley, two would certainly be copyrighted. Of fifteen advertised by Hurst and Blackett, I do not think that more than two would find it necessary to be copyrighted. This, however, does not include their " Standard Library " which is also advertised. Longman's list contains eleven books, only two of which seem likely to be in demand in America. Sampson Low's list of five includes two—William Black's last novel and the "Life of Gladstone"—which would certainly be copyrighted. Clowes has a list of law books which we may pass over. Then follow a few books separately advertised. They are seven in miml>er, and one at least—Leland's "Heine" would be copyrighted. Then follows Arrowsmith's list of shilling books, all of which, I suppose, would be copyrighted as they came out. But with old lists we are not concerned. The result is that 25 per cent, would be copyrighted. But then we must remember that a great many of these are new editions of successful books. Let us wait till October, when the great rush of new books appear. Then we shall lx; able to form a closer estimate of the proportion. But—and this is a very important point— nearly all the books selected are in English form, and would always be printed in that form. Moreover, they are for the greater part written by authors of so much eminence that the saving of the initial cost of composition need not be reckoned. Let us next turn to some American paper, and find out, if we can, the kind of book likely to be wanted in both countries. I have before me a number of the New York Nation, which is half literary, half political. The book advertisements are not very numerous, but they are suggestive. Professor Henry Brummond's works are reprinted in full. Mona Caird's new novel "A Romance of theMoors": Jerome's works in full: Mrs. Oliphant's "Life of Laurence Oliphant": the University Extension "Manuals": Russell's "Life of Glad- stone ": Munro's "Grammar of the Homeric Dialect": Frederick Locker Sampson's "Lyra Elegantiarum": Herbert Spencer's "Plea for Lilx-rty '': Oscar Wilde's "Intentions"; appear either in the advertisements or in the book notices. We, do not look in the Nation for lists of novels, but we observe that the Tauchnitz books are adver- tised for sale. I suppose that the result of the new Act will be to stop the sale in America of any new additions to the " Baron's" list. IV. Opinion of Sin Horace Davey. Extract from Cask of Questions put. to Sir Horace Davey, Q.C., and Mr. James Rolt, and their Opinion thereon. 1. Whether section i3 of the American Copy- right Act will lie satisfied as regards Great Britain so as to enable English authors to obtain Copyright in the United States by (a) the present state, of the English law, or (6) the Berne Convention? 2. What may be considered the date of first publication of a book as recognised by the English courts of law, whether the English courts would consider the hour as well as day of publication, and whether any suggestion can be made as to keeping impartial evidence of the date of first publication of an English book? 3. Whether a publication by an American publisher, wrongfully claiming to be proprietor of an English book would prevent the English author from publishing subsequently and obtaining Copyright? 4. How far will English authors be entitled to American Copyright in alterations or revisions of, or additions to, their books previously published in the States under section 5 of the American Bill, and will they be entitled to this Copyright in cases where they have absolutely ]»rted with their English Copyright in such alterations, revisions, or additions, or in the books to which they relate? 5. Whether the publication by an English dramatist in the United States under the present Bill of a drama as to which he has already granted performing rights in the States will interfere with such rights? Opinion. 1. Notwithstanding the decision of the House of Lords under the Statute 8 Anne c. 19 in Jeffreys v. Boosey, 4 H.L.C. 815, we are of opinion that under the present statute the benefit of Copyright in books is conferred on aliens upon substantially the same basis as on British authors (see per Lords Cairns and Westbury in Routledgex. Lowe, L.R. 3 H.L. 100), and that, therefore, section i3 of the American Copyright Act should in respect of books be satisfied as regards Great Britain by the present state of the English law. Whether section i3 of  ## p. 90 (#494) ############################################# 9° THE AUTHOR. the American Copyright Act is satisfied, however, depends on the construction which the President or the American courts may give to that section. It will be observed that the Act applies to Copy- right not only in books but also in engravings, prints, photographs, paintings, Ac. If section i3 be construed as not giving Copyrights of any kind to aliens unless the foreign country gives to citizens of the United States the benefit of Copyright in all these subjects (as we think is the probable con- struction) it must be observed that by 25 & 26 Vict, c. 68. s. 1, Copyright in paintings, drawings, and photographs is confined to British subjects or authors resident in the dominions of the Crown, and therefore in that case section i3 is not satisfied. If, however, the section can be read distributively, we think it is satisfied as regards books within the meaning of 5 & 6 Vict. c. 45, and musical and dramatic compositions. It should also be satisfied by the Berne Convention if adopted by the United States. 2. The date of first publication of a book as recognised by the English courts is, in our opinion, the date upon which the book is first offered to the public generally. The court will not, as a rule, consider fractions of a day, and we see no reason why that rule should be departed from in ascer- taining the date of first publication. We are unable to offer any suggestion as to the manner in which impartial evidence of the date of first publication can be secured. The question is in each case one of fact which must, if necessary, be established by the evidence of the publisher or his agent. 3. We understand this question to refer to obtaining American and not English Copyright, and it therefore depends on the construction which the American courts may place on the American Act. In our opinion the publication referred to in section 3 of the American Act is publication by or with the consent of the person entitled to Copy- right under section 1, and we do not think that an English author would be prevented from obtaining Copyright by a prior wrongful publication made without his authority or consent. Whether publi- cation by a person who had purchased advanced sheets from the author would be wrongful must depend upon the terms on which the sale was made. 4. English authors will, in our opinion, be entitled to American Copyright in alterations, revisions, or additions to their books previously published in the States, unless the additions form part of a series or of a work published in parts in course of publication at the time when the Act takes effect. Where an author has already parted with his English Copyright in such alterations or additions, or in the books to which they relate, he would not, in our opinion, 1*3 entitled to American Copyright unless under some special agreement or reservation in his favour. 5. Publication by an English dramatist in the United States under the present Act would not, in our opinion, interfere with performing rights previously granted by him. The right of repre- sentation in a dramatic work for which Copyright has been obtained is expressly protected by sec- tion 4966 of the revised American statutes, and any performing rights granted by the author would after publication take effect under that provision. Hoiiace Dave v. Lincoln's Inn, J. Bolt. 3oth June 1891. V. Statement by Sib Michael Hicks-Beach. The President of the Board of Trade recently received, on the subject of the recent American Copyright Act, a large and representative deputation from the London Chamber of Commerce, and a great number of Trade Societies. The Members of Parliament present were Sir John Lubbock, Sir Albert Rollit, and Mr. Broadhurst. Sir John Lubbock, in introducing the depu- tation, said that the matter upon which they came before the President of the Board of Trade was one as to which there was no difference of opinion between capital and labour, between employers and employed. It was not a matter which affected one part of the country as against the interests of another part. London and the provinces were all alike interested in the subject. Whilst the depu- tation were glad that English authors should receive the just reward of their labours in America, they thought that might be done without interfering with other very considerable interests which were affected. It was admitted that the American Copy- right Law, as it now stood, would very much dis- courage the production of books, photographs, and works of that character in this country, and tend to carry all that business into America. It was quite necessary, while giving protection to English authors, to do so without affecting other interests, and a Bill had been drafted and carefully con- sidered by the London Chamber of Commerce, with the objects of which they hoped to have the sympathy of the Government. Mr. Clowes (Chairman of the Printing and Allied Trades Association) said the American Copyright Act granted Copyright on the condition that a book was printed from type set up in  ## p. 91 (#495) ############################################# THE AUTHOR. America; consequently, all authors who thought their books worth reading (and what author did not ?) would desire to have them printed in America, so as to receive Copyright there, with the result that a large quantity of work which had hitherto been done in England would in future be done in America, and a large number of operatives in this country would be thrown out of work. In order to prevent that, it was proposed that a short Bill should be passed, granting English Copyright to all books printed within a country belonging to the International Copyright Union. Such a measure would not in any way injure the Americans, it would to a very small extent affect authors, and at the same time it would confer a great benefit upon a large number of persons in this country. They would hesitate to propose such a measure if it would in any way increase the price of teoks; but the cost of printing generally was higher in America than in England, so that no advantage would be gained by the community in England if books were printed in America instead of in England. Many trades were concerned in the manufacture of a book, all of which woidd be injured unless some such measure as that proposed was passed. The trades principally concerned were represented there that day both by employers and employed, and would lay their views before Sir Michael Hicks-Beach. Representatives of various trades spoke. Sir Michael Hicks-Beach, in reply, said:—■ Let me understand clearly what it is that you do propose. I take it that ithis is the practical clause of your Bill: "Any person shall be entitled by the Copyright Act, 5th and 6th Victoria, cap. 45, to Copyright in any book in the English language, photograph, chromo, or lithograph, if it is first or simultaneously published within the British do- minions, and printed from type set within a country belonging to the International Copyright Union, or from plates made therefrom, or from negatives or drawings on stone made therein, or from transfers made therefrom, but not otherwise." Have you taken legal advice whether, supposing that were law at the present moment, the American citizens would be in the same position in England as the subject of England is now in the United States, because that seems to me a very important question? Sir A. Rollit.—The Council of the Chamber of Commerce have not been advised on that point, but it has teen assumed that the object of this Act was so, and that it carried out anil placed the British subject in that position. Sir Michael Hicks-Beach.—You will observe that it is not the same as the American Act. It differs from it. in very many particulars, and that is a point which anybody proposing to introduce such a measure as this should advise himself upon. Sir A. Rollit.—There is no intention to gain an advantage: equality is equity. Sir Michael Hicks-Beach.—You see the im- mediate result would be, that we should lose for our authors the advantage which the American Act would give them. Then there is another question. The American Act has a clause in it prohibiting the importation into the United States of any book or photograph, or plates, &c., with certain ex- ceptions. Now, you have no proposal of that kind- Do you intend it, or not? Because, if you do not intend it, it seems to me that it would be not a very difficult matter entirely to evade the provisions of the Act, and that the reason for the insertion of the clause in the American Act was that they were quite aware of that fact, and advisedly put it in. I thought it right to call your attention to these two points, because they are both important. But perhaps now I may make a few general observations on what the deputation has said. I quite appre- ciate the importance of this deputation, and the varied interests that it represents; and the fact also which has teen alluded to by more than one speaker, that in those industries employers and employed are in this matter of one mind. I do not think that we ought to exaggerate the possible operation of the American Act on the publishing and printing business of this country. I believe that that business may be said to be mainly a news- paper and magazine business; and also there is, of course, all the official and judicial printing, and prospectuses and reports of companies, posters, bills, and all kinds of circulars that come to us by post, all those things, the great mass of printing and publishing in this country, are absolutely outside the operation of the American Copyright Act. What is really in question is the printing and publishing trade so far as books are printed. I think that is so. Mr. Drummond.—Yes, and nothing more. Sir Michael Hicks-Beach.—I am advised that that is not more than 5 per cent, of the printing business. (No, no.) That is the estimate that has teen given to me, and therefore I do not think that we ought to look upon this question as it has teen rather represented by people here, and cer- tainly by people out of doors, as if the whole papermaking industry would be ruined, by any possibility, or the whole publishing trade. No doubt those industries may be affected, but the question is, How much will they be affected? You here think that they will be very largely affected, and other people have taken different views. One or two statements have teen made to-day by speakers who support the view that, they will be  ## p. 92 (#496) ############################################# 92 THE AUTHOR. largely affected. I think that something, at any rate, of the suspension of business and the want of employment should rather point to the fact that people are hesitating what to do, l>eeausc they were uncertain whether the American Act would be applied to English authors or not; and now that that point is settled we shall be better able to see, after the lapse of a reasonable time, what the effect of the American Act will be. I should 1« very sorry to-day to express any definite opinion as to what it may be necessary to do in this matter; but this I must Bay, that I do not think that the time has yet come for legislation. We do not exactly see; we cannot tell what the effect of the Act may be, much less can we tell in what precise point it may pinch us, if it does pinch us at all; and what would be the best, way to deal with this point. I think I put two questions to-day which may give cause for reflection as to the particular proposal that you have made; and I must add that it does raise principles of considerable importance; and although I am far from saying that the Parliament of this country might not be driven by a policy of this kind on the part of foreign countries to do something which may be in contravention of economical principles which have been long held here, yet I think it would be only at the very last resort, and that we should see our way as to the successful issue of any move in that direction before we make up our minds to do it. I do not know that I have anything to add beyond an assurance that I will lay before my colleagues what has passed to-day, anil the whole matter will have our attention, and an)' information bv those present or by any other persons connected with the printing anil publishing trade which may show the effect of the American Act upon that trade will have our most careful consideration. Sir John Lubbock having thanked the right hon. gentleman, the deputation withdrew. The Times, Thursday, July 16th, 1891. VI. Answer to Questions. In answer to Mr. Julian Corbett's two questions in the June numl>er of the Author, I think that, to secure American Copyright, there can be no question that every book, even if containing only a dramatic composition, must be printed from type set within the States. This proviso will be rigidly enforced by the American authorities, and clearly a dramatic composition is a book within the meaning of the Revised Statute. With regard to the second question, the performing right of a copyright dramatic composition is clearly protected. But the common law of the United States, the require- ments of the common law had, therefore, better be still observed just as if the Act had not passed. Dramatists would be acting very foolishly if they neglected to secure the invaluable advantages conferred upon them by American common law. Statute law is not an unmixed blessing, and of this, Title Sixty, Chapter Three, of the Revised Statutes of the United States promises to prove both an example and a warning. X. Y. Z. CORRESPONDENCE. I. New Grub Street. "~\ /I ®* Andrew Lang, writing from Olympian Yl Heights, is a peculiarly irritating person to a poor devil like me, who happens to be making a somewhat lengthy stay in a back slum off New Grub Street. Mr. Lang does not believe that there is such a place as New Grub Street, which Mr. Gissing has drawn with so much fidelity and power; and says that if there were such a place, the inmates thereof should cultivate their sense of humour and liveliness on a little bread and less butter. Now, is it not a little too bad of one who moves presumably in a world of prosperous publishers, omnipotent editors (to most of whose funerals I would cheerfully contribute), and superior litterateurs—to express the opinion that because he knows nothing of the world which Mr. Gissing depicts, he is inclined to think it does not exist? Does Mr. Lang know anything, for instance, about the habits and existence of the unattached journalist? This unhappy being may be in possession of the greatest sobriety, industry, and sense of humour. He may also possess a fair amount of brains, but, like a large number of his companions in New Grub Street, he has not been lucky enough to get on to the regular staff of a paper. The excessive amount of nervous energy and physical exertion that a man in this situation is compelled to expend is out of all proportion to his gain, and results in nine cases out of ten in drink, or a break down in health. To earn, say, £i or £4 a week, he must be ever on the alert to get hold of news, race over London for copy to write up, attend a day of functions without a chance of getting any food, reach home dead weary, only to know that he must write out his notes without delay. And all with the pleasing consciousness that his day's earnings will amount to some 12s., nothing Wing  ## p. 93 (#497) ############################################# THE AUTHOR. 93 allowed for shoe leather, ink, or paper. It may be urged that this is an exceptional ease, but it is nothing of the sort, and represents the average unattached journalist, to say nothing of the British Museum literary hack, whose unsuccess is invariably and very unjustly attributed to irregular habits or drink. In addition, what of the horror of a slack season, when nothing is going on except the unhappy journalist's appetite? What of the MSS. rejected, one after another, liecause members of the staff of the paper have forestalled outsiders? What of the unexpected collapse of the "column," which brings in the modest sum of one guinea weekly? What of the man who translates? But Mr. Lang bids us cultivate our sense of humour. Well, we try to, but we do not find that this materially aids us in the payment of our washing bill. And as to the lightheartedness of Miirger's young men, it is delightful; but as their poverty never seems to have stood in the way of their having a bottle of wine when they wanted it, and as they give us no information as to how they eluded their rent day, the ordinary householder who has to pay up punctually finds it all entertaining, but puzzling. If Mr. Lang would like some practical acquaintance with the disagreeable side of ink- spilling, perhaps he would change places with me for a few days. I would not undertake to fill his place, but I venture to think I should find the steering of his ship less arduous and thankless than that of mv own little bark." X. II. The Rev. William Shakspeare. In last number of the Author, a contributor speculates regretfully upon the very different world which we might now enjoy, had Shakspeare devoted his life to theology. For myself, I feel thankful that he did not thus employ his genius. As a professional theologian, several careers were open to him, c.p.:— 1. To win orders in the Anglican Church, publish a profound treatise upon theologv —now read only by a few antiquaries, and die Archbishop of Canterbury. 2. To migrate to the Continent, fall into the hands of the Inquisition, and be now known, in martyrology, as St. William. 3. To 'vert to Rome, be elevated to the Chair of St. Peter, and be known in history as Pope Benvenuto the First. 4. To Iwcome a free-lance, and die an agnostic. No mere man, even Shakspeare, was ever capable of fully " revealing revelation," or even of bringing it permanently nearer to the masses of mankind, and less so, if born in our land three centuries ago. For one thing, no tongue has yet been evolved upon our planet fit to express without ambiguity the thoughts and precepts of the highest minds and purest souls of the human race, and, still lacking this, even Shakspeare cannot dispense with sectarian commentators, to help to reveal his own natural revelation. I venture to affirm that had he essayed a still higher plane of thought, his works would have been even more unintelligible to the "common people." In the process, he might have revealed to us much more of his own inner self than he has ever done; but, failing the pre-existence of a language, ex pressive enough for his genius, for the subject, and for his lowest, disciples, Shakspeare might have become an even wiser man, but we should—as a race—be now the poorer. Thank heaven, say I, that he did not become a " priest"! PlIINLAY Gl.EXELU. I have been trying to imagine William Shakespeare "leaving his mark as a professed theologian" with something approaching a shudder. To wish one " Born for the universe" to " narrow his mind" "and to" churches " give up what was meant for mankind," perhaps even to reach such supreme eminence as would entitle him to declare authoritatively whether side means end, and whether north is identical with west, and why both are important, seems in an artistic sense little less than profane. What more than many things calls for reverence in ShakesjH!ivre is his serene impartiality. He presents us with every kind of human aspect, good and bad, noble and degraded, intellectual and spiritual, devout and doubting, chaste and licentious, gentle and brutal, and he as often as not lets each plead in its own justification. Moreover, he never, in matters supernatural, takes what may lie called a " side," or treats them otherwise than as material for art. So much so, indeed, that we find it difficult, if not impossible, to find out what his own religion, if any, was. Could a clergyman even of the " noble Church of England" consistently have done that? What would poor Jack Falstaff be in the hands of the Right Rev. W. Shakespeare, D.D., S.T.P.? But without that portly knight where, in the name of near three centuries of honest English laughter, should tee be? And would not that delightful little piece of frailty and falsehood, Cressida, have become a  ## p. 94 (#498) ############################################# 94 THE AUTHOR. penitent or an awful example, either of which would hopelessly spoil her? Furthermore, if this be not so, let it be other- wise; that is, let the Rev. W. Shakespeare treat things and persons Shakespearianly (pace the dictionary), and how would the noble Church of England treat him? It happens that there was a great man, not quite contemporary with Shake- speare, whose works we know Shakespeare to have read and seemingly enjoyed, who was "directed to the priestly office " in early life, and occupied it in connexion, I think, with a parish called Meudon at one time; but we do not recollect that his own or any other Church appreciates that Vales as keenly as we could wish. While we are about it, we may as well wish that one C. Marlowe, M.A., of Benet College, had taken orders, and then we should have been spared the distress of reading much of Hero and Leander, to say nothing of the translations from Ovid (inter respectabilcs hand nominandd), and how much happier we should all be then! Seriously, Shakespeare gave us the revelation lie had to give of the lives and minds of men and women, and there is none like it. The revelation of what is above anil beyond men and women is not given to any capacity of reason, however godlike, and, personally, I am thankful to fall back on the fact that Shakespeare was and did what we know he did and was. He knew best. This with all courtesy to the writer, and interest in the writing of " If Shakespeare had lieen Priest." John Hill. III. Presentation Copies. Regarding the presentation of copies of works to newspapers, it has always appeared to me that it is the object of newspapers to chronicle events, and their duty to do so if they would not belie their name. Though, to carry out this object, they go to vast expense in the matters of special correspondents, telegraphic messages, &c, yet, when it comes to reporting on a book or a play or other show, they expect to have the first given to them, and to re- ceive free admission to the latter. Why should this be? Is it not as much a part of their duty to record the production of a book or a play, as a fire or a divorce case? Certainly, to the latter they have free access; but why should books and admis- sions to plays and shows be given to them? It is the duty of newspapers to gather news. Why, then, should publishers and lessees of places of amusement perform part of their duty for them? It is certainly to their advantage to have the things they bring out brought to the knowledge of the public by means of notices in the press; but, if this kind of publicity were as readily given to new in- ventions, it would be regarded as giving them an advertisement. Yet a new invention is as much an event as a new literary work. Why should not newspapers gather their own news, as much in the literary sphere as in others? Why should not they pay for the books they intend to review, and for admission to the plays and shows they intend to notice? Public announcement is usually given previous to the production of plays &c, and some- times of books, which is not the case with many important events instantly reported in the news- papers; and really it looks like begging a news- paper to perform its duty, and rewarding it for doing so, if books and free admissions are given to it. It cannot be that the public convenience is enhanced by books, &c. being given to newspaper proprietors, and though it may be a convenience to publishers and others to send them, it certainly is a convenience to newspaper proprietors to receive them, and for these particular things they should be as desirous to pay as they are for other means of obtaining information of public interest. H. Haes. [The answer to this note seems to be, that unless the Editor were supplied with copies of new books he and all authors would lie at the mercy of the critic, who would go round the world of Letters and the outer offices of publishers, begging and extorting books on the promise of a favourable review. This would be a tyranny unendurable. It may be said that a gentleman could not do such things. If the reviewer had to cadge about in order to find his own copies for review, very few gentlemen would be left in the profession. The extortion of books under promise of a favourable notice is sometimes done even now. Here followeth fact. There was a man, about 20 years ago, a clergyman and the lecturer for a well-known society, who persuaded a certain geographer that he was a great man in the London press, and actually got from him a parcel of atlases, maps, and books on a promise of favourable notices. He wrote no notices and he sold the parcel for £z5.—Editou.] IV. Payment on Publication. "The artists who illustrate the authors' work in magazines are treated with a fairness unknown to the writers—probably because they are firm enough to insist upon it. An article upon which I had spent a fortnight's work, and the material for which cost money as well as time in the  ## p. 95 (#499) ############################################# THE AUTHOR. 95 gathering was illustrated by an artist who is a friend of mine, of about an equal standing in his profession—perhaps not an exalted standing—with my own in mine. The drawings were sub- servient to the text, which, indeed, was quite com- plete without them, and they cost the artist less than a week's work. The thing complete, text and drawings, was offered to a magazine, the pro- prietors of which expressed themselves willing to pay £3o for the illustrations and £5 for the text— about 7,000 words—each amount on their "usual scale." The article, therefore, will not appear in that magazine. But my chief object in mentioning the matter is to draw attention to another thing. The proprietors of the magazine were kind enough to warn me that while the drawings would be paid for at once the text "as usual" would only be imiil for on publication—if that were 10 years hence. Of course I know that this is "usual," but why? If the artist is paid for his goods upon delivery why should the author wait until it pleases the purchaser to put his goods to use? If I buy a hat the hatter will not wait for his money until I choose to begin wearing my purchase. Imagine these worthy gentlemen saying to a compositor, "Yes, you have been all the week setting up this article, but you must wait for your wages until we publish it—in a year's time or so." The com- positor's union, of course, would never allow such a " custom of the tra<le" to grow up. Can our union do nothing to get rid of it?" M. V. Insurance. There is a statement in the Author, under the head of "Warning," to the effect that no fire office will insure a MS. I insured the MS. of "Rogers and His Contemporaries" in the Union Office, paying 2s. bd. per cent, on the value, which I fixed. The insurance covered the risk at my own house, at the publishers, and at the printers. P. W. Clatokn. VI. On Titles. "I work for publishers. I have been swindled by some and sweated by others. At the same time the publisher has sometimes just cause for com- plaint. Here is an instance. Books for Christmas are by some firms arranged and edited early in the year. Considerable time, trouble, and money was spent on our lwok with which I was concerned. Copies— 10,000 in numl)cr—were printed by May. The travellers go out about June to sell the book, and are aghast to find that another book with the same title has just been published. In the last twelve months I have known three cases like this." E. [This is a mischance which has happened often enough to authors. The best way out of it is to liave a registry for titles. Another way is to lxi very careful in the invention of a title.—Editor.] FROM GRUB STREET. ONC E upon a time—and it may not Ik; quite a past time—a frog when slated by some ill- conditioned boys, exclaimed, in answer to their plea, that they did it only "for fun," that, "if it was fun for them, it was death for him." And I trust that you will permit me to expand that exclamation a little in answer to Mr. Lang's jaunty remark about its being " ouly a battle with snow- balls at most; that the enemy should learn to keep his temper; and that it does not signify." First, slates are not mere idle snowballs. They kill. They make existence for those for whom it is already sufficiently difficult, more difficult still, or impossible. Secondly, slating in Grub Street is not the unpaid frolic of boys. It is a handsomely paid business. And frog-stoning is deliberately pre- ferred to honester work, because it is paid better. Thirdly, frogs do not lose their temper because slates fly about, but because they hit. Even frogs think they have a right to live, so long as they are not positively noxious. And it seems to them that insult is added to injury when it is pretended that slates thrown for pay, and known to hit in vital parts, are thrown only " for fun." That many frogs have objectionable ways, I frankly admit, and doubtless I am myself of the number. But though objectionable ways may be corrected by responsible criticism, they arc not to be corrected by that irresponsible indulgence of personal likes and dislikes which is Grub Street criticism, and the best-paid trade in the row— unfortunately for— A Frog. «■•■♦ "AT THE AUTHOR'S HEAD." MR. Hall Caine, when he delivered his lectures on the Isle of Man at the Royal Institution, opened an unexpected mine, rich though small. He has now put the lectures together and  ## p. 96 (#500) ############################################# 96 THE AUTHOR. printed them as a book called "The Little Manx Nation," and a very interesting book it is. The lx>ok is divided into three parts—the story of the Manx Kings, the story of the Manx Bishops, and the story of the Manx People. A better book in a small compass we have seldom seen. Mr. W. Morris Codes contributes an article on "London and the Housing of the Working Classes," to the August number of Murrai/s Magazine. A serial story, " Miss Merewether's Money," by Thomas Cobb, author of "On Trust," &c., will commence in the May number of Household Words. Messrs. Ward, Lock, & Co. have in the press a short story, "The House by the Common," by the same author. The first volume of " The Works of Heinrich Heine," translated by Charles Godfrey Leland, has been sent to this office by the publisher (Heine- mann). Charles Leland has long been occupied with this work. He began something like thirty years ago making tentative translations of Heine, who is at once the easiest and the most difficult of all German writers to translate. The first volume includes the "Florentine Nights," the "Memoirs of Herr von Sclmbelewopski, and "Shakespeare's Maidens and Women "—all prose works. Mr. Edric Vredenburg's story "The Haunted House in Berkeley Square," which recently appeared as a serial in the Weekly Times and Echo, has now been published in volume form by Messrs. Trisctiler & Co. Here is activity! By the same author, produced in the same month, the following :— A three-volume novel, viz., "Jardine's Wife." (Trischler.) A one-volume novel, viz., "Was He Justified?" (Griffith, Farran, & Co.) A book of travels, viz., "In the Land of the Lion and the Sun." (Ward and Lock.) A short story, "The Pit Town Coronet." (Trischler.) The author is Mr. C. J. Wills. Mr. J. Stanley Little contributes an article entitled, "Why Great Britain should buy out Portugal in East Africa ?" to the current number of Greater Britain. We have received a copy of "The Devil and the Doctor" from the author. It should have been acknowledged last month, but, with certain other books, was accidently passed over. Perhaps it is not too late to say that this is a book to be read. THE AUTHOR'S BOOKSTALL. Books FOR SAr.E. Poetical Sketches of Scarborough. Illustrated by Engravings of Humorous Subjects. Coloured. Original Boards. By J. Green and T. Rowlandson. Second Edition. i8i3. An Academy for Grown Horsemen, and the Annals of Horsemanship. By Geoffrey Gambado. Illustrated with cuts by Rowlandson, &c. Original Boards. London, 1809. Among the poetry of the year must be mentioned William Sharp's "Sospiri di Roma," which was received in time for notice last month, but was unfortunately mislaid. Readers of poetry will please make a note. We have received and venture to recommend a novel called "Elsn," by E. McQueen Gray (Methuen & Co.). Books FOB Exchange. Four French l>ooks in a good state of preser- vation, with Rolande's label on outside covers :— Horizons Prochains; and, Horizons Celestes. By'M. de Gasparin. Souvenirs d'un Garibaldien. By Caraquel. Garibaldi. By Dumas. Wanted—Matthew Arnold's "Discourses in America "; or his " Dramatic and later Poems." London: Printed by Etbe and Spottiswoode, Printers to the Queen's most Excellent Majesty. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource The Author, Vol. 02 Issue 03 (August 1891) Subject The topic of the resource <em>The Author</em>, Vol. 02 Issue 03 (August 1891) Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015031017927&amp;view=1up&amp;seq=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015031017927</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Publication Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 1891-08-01-The-Author-2-3 publications The Author