In making a contract with the author of a book, would the eleven copies that are to be delivered to the public libraries, be taken into the account and charged against the author. Suppose you were to reprint an old book, such as "Corpus Rerum Anglicarum," should you take the eleven copies into account, and charge them against the author?-Certainly, I should take it into the account; and I should conceive that literature would be injured by the operation of this obligation, because the author must participate in that loss. Do not you think that as far as the author is concerned, the increase value of the commodity from the prolongation of the Copy-right from fourteen to twenty-eight years certain, is much more than an equivalent to the diminution of your profit upon the publication by the delivery of eleven copies, as the law at present stands ?-We may divide the question into two branches; first, as to whether a book is likely to be productive; and secondly, whether it is not likely to be productive; or, perhaps, the question ought to be put whether it was or was not likely to be reprinted. We will take for instance, Dr. Whitaker's "History of Yorkshire," publishing in eight folio volumes. No bookseller would give him a shilling more on account of the prolongation of the Copyright; because, in all human probability, it would never be reprinted; and, therefore, the loss might be considered as so much as whatever the amount of the eleven copies might be. But, if I was speaking of a more popular publication, I should certainly say, that the prolongation of Copyright would be a very material boon. Do you think that the same principle would hold if the work was likely to have a considerable sale?-In a work of considerable sale, I should certainly think, that the extension of Copyright was a valuable acquisition, and it appears to me, that very material relief should be given to the booksellers, considering the risks they run, and the prospect of a limited sale. There are, however, books printed where no Copyright would be necessary, or where, if there was a Copyright, the book would be more valuable on that account. The Committee cannot fail to observe, that in fact, we give copies to Public Libraries, in cases where the legislature gives no Copyright at all. The Committee speak of the extension of Copyright for twenty-eight years certain; but it will be recollected, that where we printed a copy of "Cicero," at the Clarendon press, there was no Copyright given to us; in that case, we were obliged to give copies of reprints, though the books are in the public libraries already. Neither the editor nor the bookseller, nor the persons who take the copies, derive benefit from the delivery of these works, unless the Committee suppose them to sell them again, which I suppose, is a supposition not in the contemplation of the question put to me. Is it not a Copyright in that work so annotated upon; and can any body reprint that book with these notes?-No; but still we are obliged to give the eleven copies to the public libraries, where an old book is reprinted, even though there be no addition in the shape of notes or observations; suppose, for instance, I were to reprint the Universal History, although, I believe, that every one of the persons now entitled to claim it, have a copy in their possession, yet, though I might print it without an iota of addition, I must give eleven copies to the Public Libraries, notwithstanding they were, in fact, only duplicates of those already in their possession. With the exception of one of the Scotch Universities, the Public Libraries have universally exacted even Novels; that University, to which I allude, certainly does not take Novels. In those reprints, had the law stood as it now does, would you have conceived the demanded eleven copies as a great grievance ?—Certainly; I myself printed a copy of Hackluyt's Voyages, and we only printed 250 copies, and I certainly conceived, that the Public Libraries were likely to be purchasers of that, and had I been asked before I went to press with the work, whether I should have printed it if I had the eleven copies to deliver, most probably I should not have printed it, nor published it. What is the price of that book?-Fifteen Guineas; and the eleven copies were demanded just prior to the Act. What was the price of the 250 copies ?-37507. What was the price of the eleven copies ?-The price of the eleven copies were 165 Guineas. SELECT SELECT POETRY. tain, So nobly gather'd on the Land and Main! Yet, with all Glory to the PATRIOT BRAVE, BRITANNIA's happiest Triumph is to save! 'Twas that pure Cause which call'd her to the Field, [Shield! Pointed her Spear, and rais'd her awful Tho' Shouts exulting cease to rend the skies, [and WISE? Has PEACE no Triumphs for the GooD To make a bloodless Conquest of the 'Till Powers of Verse IMMORTAL TRUTHS record, [LORD! And all the EARTH adore ONE COMMON O'er human actions Bards had ever pow'r, From earliest Ages to the present hour; In Times remote they almost ruled the STATE, [GREAT! Lov'd by the BRAVE, and honour'd by the From ruthless hands they snatch'd the murd'rous steel, [feel! And taught the rude Barbarian how to When SCANDINAVIAN KINGS to Battle came, They brought their SCALDS † to memorize their fame; Their drooping Bands to animate with Song, Recall the Routed, and the Fight prolong! Amid the Battle's rage, the Muse's sway Has often changed the Fortunes of the Day; Such Thirst for Glory could the BARDS inspire, [Lyre! And such the Mighty Influence of their But no mean Flattery could those Chiefs expect; A recreant Deed was Passport to Neglect— sit, [Wit! 'Till Power was burnish'd by the rays of While Lords of Lineage and of wide coatroul, Felt the Superior Scepter of the Soul; Felt that, when weighed with such highgifted Men, [PEN: The SWORD must yield full homage to THE Though coarse their Manners, and their [BARD! Such Honours RUNIC VALOUR paid THE Bosoms hard, A SCANDINAVIAN ISLAND, waste and bare, Is still the Region of THE MUSE's care; ICELAND, amidst her desolated Plains, A POET, of no common worth, contains; Taught by this Bard, the Northern Youths rehearse The strains of MILTON, in Icelandic Verse: Though chilling Poverty his Home invade, And Fortune casts him in her dreariest shade, Within his Breast Immortal GENIUS glows, Like HECLA burning in Eternal Snows! + Soon as his Talents, and his Wants were known, [your own: You made the ICELAND MILTON's cause * Being the Twenty-third Anniversary Poem written by Mr. Fitz-Gerald for this Society. + Bards. The Rev. John Thorlakson, the celebrated Poet of Iceland, and the Translator of MILTON. (Vide Dr. Henderson's Journal of a Residence in Iceland in 1814 and 1815). The whole Income of this distinguished Bard, and excellent man, does not exceed 36 Rix Dollars (about six pounds five shillings sterling!!); yet in the midst of every pri 1819.] By you commissioned, I the Bard ad- In these few Lines, congenial to my stood [good! The lines are humble, but the Cause was To our own Native Soil-it belongs to Man- To ICELAND can follow, and succour him saves The Muse's Victims from untimely Graves; A Work that's worthy of the Royal HAND! In Arts, as well as Arms, his FATHER'S Loved in our Hearts! and hallow'd with HYMN FOR SPRING. By the Author of "The Path of Duty," &c.† Which fertilize the flowery vales; Which bid the little hills rejoice, Which with the glad return of Spring Like fragrant incense to the skies; away. "Sweet are the Angler's sports-believe, Remote from dust, and smoke, and noise, And for all griefs a speedy cure ye'll find: Unsocial thro' the fragrant meadow stray'd; joy'd. Woman the social circle we proscribe, vation this venerable Poet had the spirit to undertake, and the ability to accomplish, Mr. Fitz-Gerald felt so much interested with the the Translation of PARADISE LOST! account, that he applied to the LITERARY FUND in favour of the ICELAND MILTON, when a sum of money was immediately voted, which has been transmitted to Mr. Thorlakson, through the prompt and polite attention of his Danish Majesty's Minister Plenipotentiary at the British Court, to whom Mr. Fitz-Gerald stated the case. The Literary Fund is now incorporated by ROYAL CHARTER. + See our Review Department, p. 426. GENT. MAG. May, 1819. Curtail Curtail the pleasures Heaven would be- And stop the source from which our bliss [pains; And their applause rewards thee for thy They'll join the Angler's sports-their [three. toast shall be"To Jolly Anglers all"-with three times Much Hadham, Hertfordshire. M. W. THES A FAREWELL TO BRIGHTON. That bears them from thy shore, My recreant feet shall flee Delight so new to me. Alas! no more my feet shall stray Shall lead where many a scatter'd band, Or ply their nets, or strive with dex'trous hand To seize the advent'ring crab. No more shall tempt the swelling wave, And hail the grateful glow- (So fortune dictates, and so fate decrees) O'er me its fresh'ning breeze no more shall blow. Then farewell all, sweet town, and skies, and seas, Since seas, and skies, and town, no more shall please, With all their varied charms. And hail to thee! majestic flowing Thame, And thou the fairest city of the stream, Where golden commerce sheds its brightest beam, [arms. And pours her choicest riches in thy Here midst the hurry, toil, and strife, That marks the checquer'd walk of life, Where thickest ills are sown : E'en here shall sweet remembrance rise, And bring past pleasures present to my eyes: Eager as Tantalus I grasp the prize, And find, like him, the yielding air alone. JUNIUS. LINES Written at Sea, immediately after quitting the Island of Ascension; where the Ship, on board which the Writer was, had touched, for the purpose of taking in Turtle. SEE Phoebus, dress'd in brilliant suit, The wide expanse adorn, And sky, and ocean, man, and brute, The coops, 'tis true, in order rang'd, And still the geese abaft proclaim With three months' stock on board. Record th' auspicious day, When such good things but trash appear, Unworthy of my lay. For lo! the turtle's cloven mail Shall richer cates afford, And with ecstatic joy we hail Ascension's + bulky lord. He comes! he comes! your knives full keen, And keener stomachs bring; See hills of fat, and vales of lean, A treasure for a king! Ye adepts, with sagacious peep, Alive, he swam in brine ; AN OLD RESIDENT. * Receptacles for liquor. The largest turtle, weighing about 300lbs. was facetiously styled, Governor of Ascension. HISTORICAL CHRONICLE. PROCEEDINGS IN PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF COMMONS, March 16. Sir C. Burrell brought in a Bill to prevent bribery and corruption in the borough of Penryn. It was read the first time. Lord Castlereagh laid on the table a copy of the recent Convention with the United States. Mr. Hume moved for the production of various papers relative to the administration of justice in India. On the motion of the Attorney General, after some discussion, in which Mr. Waithman, Mr. Abercromby, and Mr. Hurst, took a part, a Select Committee was appointed to consider the state of the law relative to the discharge of insolvent debtors, the Acts of the 53d and 56th of the King, and to report to the House their opinion as to the means for rendering those Acts more effectual. Sir G. Warrender obtained leave to bring in a Bill for further regulating the qualification of Members of Parliament; his object is to enable persons possessing landed qualifications in Scotland to represent boroughs in England. Sir Alexander Hope made his proposed motion for retaining six equerries on the establishment of his Majesty: his sole argument was, the probability of his Majesty's recovery; and that he might, in so fortunate an event, find himself surrounded by all those to whom he had been accustomed.Mr. Perceval (son of the lamented Minister) supported the motion in a maiden speech. It was, however, negatived by 259 to 66. March 17. Dr. Phillimore obtained leave to bring in a Bill to regulate suits to set aside marriages contracted by persons under age -the parent or guardian to be limited to the time when the minority ceases; and the suit of the minor to commence within one year after he comes of age. Parties marrying by banns to have a complete residence of one fortnight in the parish where the banns are published. March 18. Mr. Calcraft, after an address on the subject of the Salt Laws, moved for an account of the quantity of salt delivered duty free, in England, for the year 1818, distinguishing the purposes for which it had been delivered. Mr. Smith obtained leave to bring in a Bill for amending the Bankrupt Laws. Sir M. W. Ridley addressed the House at great length on the subject of the Board of Admiralty, repeating the argu ments urged on a former occasion for reducing the two lay lords. He concluded with moving an Address to the Prince Regent, praying that he might be graciously pleased, in consideration of the present state of the Country, and from a due regard to the principles of economy, to give directions that the Commissioners of the Board of Admiralty may be reduced to such number as the exigencies of the public service require in a time of profound peace. Sir G. Cockburn opposed the motion, and contended, that by the reduction of 12 Admirals on different stations, the business of the Board was considerably increased in time of peace, as all communications relative to the naval improvements, astronomical inventions, &c. were addressed directly to the Board. He had bimself been so occupied, that he sometimes had not half an hour's walk for ten days in succession. If there were not lay lords to attend to the duties of a civil na ture, he could not have given this attention to professional matters. Sir J. Coffin thought the lay lords a useless incumbrance. They were young men who spent their time in riding in the Parks while their naval colleagues were engaged in the business of the office. In the sequel of the discussion the motion was supported by Mr. Calcraft, Mr. Graham, and Lord John Russell, and opposed by Mr. Cumming and Mr. W. Pole; and, on a division, it was negatived by 245 to 164. March 19. Mr. Lushington, in reply to a question from Mr. Alderman Waithman, said that a Bill to suppress mock auctions, free from the objectionable clauses contained in that of last year, would receive the support of his Majesty's Ministers. Several petitions having been presented on the subject of the coal duties, Mr. Vansittart wished it to be understood, as the opinion of Ministers, that an alteration in these duties, at the present time, would be neither desirable nor beneficial to the publick. The Report of the Committee of Supply on the civil contingencies deficiency having been taken into consideration, Mr. C. Hutchinson objected to several charges as most extravagant, and moved a reso lution, that the sum of 22,500l. 15s. 1d. for presents to foreign ministers was extravagant, and ought not to be again in curred. Lord Castlereagh assured the House, that |