Wednesday, December 16.1812

Mr. Davies Giddy presented a Petition from the booksellers and publishers of London and Westminster, setting forth,

"That, by an act of 8 Anne, for the encouragement of learning, by vesting the copies of printed books in the authors or purchaser of such copies during the time therein mentioned, it was enacted, amongst other things, that if any person should reprint any book without the consent of the proprietor, as therein mentioned, the offender should forfeit such book, and also one penny for every sheet found in his custody; but it was provided, that no one should be subject to such penalty unless the title to the copy of such book should be entered in the register book of the Company of Stationers; and it was further provided and enacted, that nine copies of each book, upon the best paper, that should be printed and published as aforesaid, or reprinted and published with additions, should, by the printer thereof, be delivered to the ware housekeeper of the said Company of Stationers before such publication made, for the use of the royal library, the libraries of the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, the libraries of the four Universities in Scotland, the library of Sion College, in London, and the library belonging to the faculty of advocates in Edinburgh; and that, by an act of 41 Geo. 3, for the further encouragement of learning in the united kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, by securing the copies and copyright of printed books to the authors of such books, or their assigns, for the time therein mentioned, it was, amongst other things, enacted, that, in addition to the nine copies then required by law to be delivered to the warehouse-keeper of the said Company of Stationers, and each and every book which should be entered in the regular book of the said company, one other copy should be in like manner delivered for the use of the library of the college of the Holy Trinity in Dublin, and one other copy for the library of the society of the King's Inn, Dublin, of every book that should be thereafter printed and published, and entered in the said register book of the said company; and that it was the general persuasion of authors and booksellers, that, by the said act of queen Anne, copies of those books only were required to be delivered which the proprietors chose to enter at Stationers' Hall to entitle themselves to the protection of the said forfeiture of one penny a sheet of the pirated copies, and therefore, when by the increased expences of publication, the said forfeiture of one penny a sheet be-

came an inadequate protection, the practice of entering the books gradually lessened; and that the University of Cambridge, having lately contended that copies of all books, whether registered or not at Stationers' Hall, should be delivered, commenced an action against a printer of a recent publication for not delivering the several copies thereof, upon which case it has been determined that the said act of queen Anne enjoins the delivery of copies of all works printed and published, whether registered at Stationers' Hall or not; and that this determination will subject the petitioners to great expence, and operate very seriously to discourage literature; and that the best paper copies, at the period of the passing of the said act, were not similar to the expensive fine paper copies now printed, nor were any works of that costly description, which now issue from the British press, at that time known, many of those works are now printed by authors at their own expence, and many others upon their sharing the profits after the deduction of all expences; and the petitioners humbly submit that to enforce a delivery of eleven copies of all books will, in the cases in which, from the nature of the works, and limited sale, a small number only is printed, operate as a great discouragement to the undertaking of such works; and that, by the said act of queen Anne, the term of twenty-eight years' copyright is secured to the author, and his assigns, in case he should be alive at the end of the first fourteen years, but, in case he should then be dead, the copyright ceases at the end of the first fourteen years; and the petitioners humbly submit that this distinction is, in many cases, productive of great hardships to the families of authors, and is not founded upon just principles; and that the petitioners could state innumerable instances of works lately published and now publishing, to prove the heavy burthen which will be thrown upon authors and publishers, by enforcing the delivery of the copies required on best paper; upon ten works published by one bookseller, the amount would be 5,698 l.; upon twelve works published by another bookseller, the amount would be 2,990 l; and the petitioners need only add to this statement some single works on best paper, viz. Daniel's Oriental Scenery 2,310 l.; Sibthorpe's Flora Greca 2,500 l.; British Gallery of Engraving 1,065 l.; Mr. Johnes's Froissart and Monstrelet Chronicles 1,100 l.; Dibdin's Typography

426 l.; Lord Valentia's Travels 577 l.; Costumes of the World 532 l; Hodges's Views in India 462 l.; Salt's Views 300 l. 6 s.; the new editions of Dugdale's Monasticon will be 1,430 guineas; the new editions of Wood's Athenæ Oxonienses770 guineas, Daniel's Voyage to India 132 l., taken from an infinite number of works of great expence lately published and now publishing, of the best copies of which, such as required by the statute and the determination, frequently only fifty copies, and in some instances even a less number, are printed, prove to the House! that the petitioners are not complaining upon frivolous grounds; and praying, that leave may be given to bring in a Bill for granting relief to the petitioners."

Ordered to lie upon the table.

Mr. Wharton presented the following Letters of the marquisses Buckingham and Camden, addressed to the Chancellor of the Exchequer; relative to giving up a proportion of their net Incomes as Tellers of the Exchequer: as well as all Proceedings of the Treasury thereupon.

Exchequer, Nov. 21, 1812.

Sir; under the impression which we entertain of the encreased sacrifices, to which the country will in all probability be called by the pressure upon its resources, in a moment of unexampled ex-pence and difficulty; we are anxious to express, through you, our desire and intention of contributing our voluntary aid to the expences of the war: we therefore request you, as the regular official channel of communication from the Exchequer to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, to signify to them, our intention of paying in aid of the general services of the year, and in quarterly payments, one-third of the net profits arising from the salary and fees of our respective tellerships of the Exchequer. We propose, and intend, to continue this voluntary contribution for and during the present war; and to commence it from and after the present quarter ending on the 5th of January next. We have the honour to be, &c.

(Signed)

NUGENT BUCKINGHAM.

CAMDEN.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer lays before the Board, a letter addressed to him by the marquisses of Buckingham and Camden, dated 21st inst. in which they state, "that under the impressions which they entertain of the encreased sacrifices to which the country will in all probability be called by the pressure upon its resources in a moment of unexampled ex-pence and difficulty, they are anxious to express, through him, their desire and intention of contributing their voluntary aid to the expences of the war; they therefore request him, as the regular official channel of communication from the Exchequer to this Board, to signify to us their intention of paying, in aid of the general services of the year, and in quarterly payments, one-third of the net profits arising from the salary and fees of their respective teller-ships of the Exchequer; and that they propose and intend to continue this voluntary contribution for and during the present war; and to commence it from and after the present quarter ending the 5th January next."

My lords read the 218th section of the Act of the 43d of the King, cap. 122, directing the mode and receipt and application of the voluntary contributions for the purpose of carrying on the war.

My lords are pleased to direct, that letters be written to the marquis of Buckingham and marquis Camden respectively, expressing to them the high sense which their lordships entertain of their public spirited and patriotic intention of contributing one-third of the net profits of the salary and fees of their respective teller-ships of the Exchequer, in aid of the general services of the year: and transmiting to them respectively copies of the 218th section of the said Act; and requesting their lordships will be pleased to give directions that the said voluntary contributions may be paid into the Bank, from time to time, conformably to the provisions of the said Act.

Treasury Chambers, Nov. 30, 1812.

My lords; the Chancellor of the Exchequer having laid before the Lords Commissioners of his Majesty's Treasury, your lordship's letter of 21st inst. stating, "that under the impressions which your lordships entertain of the encreased sacrifices to which the country will, in all probability, be called by the pressure upon its resources, in a moment of unexampled ex-pence and difficulty, your lordships are anxious to express, through him, your desires and intention of contributing your voluntary aid to the expences of the war, and therefore requesting him, as the regular official channel of communication from the Exchequer to this Board, to signify to this Board your lordships intention of paying, in aid of the general services of the year, and in quarterly payments, one third of the net profits arising from the salary and fees of your respective tellerships of the Exchequer, and that your lordships propose and intend to continue this voluntary contribution for and during the present war, and to commence it from and after the present quarter ending 5th of January next;" I have it in command, from my lords, to express to your lordships, the high sense which they entertain of your public spirited and patriotic intention, of contributing one third of the net profits of the salary and fees of your respective tellerships of the Exchequer, in aid of the general services of the year; and I am commanded by my lords, to transmit herewith, a copy of the 218th section of the Act of the 43d of the King, cap. 122, directing the mode of receipt and application of voluntary contributions for the purpose of carrying on the war; and to request your lordships will be pleased to give directions, that your said voluntary contributions may be paid into the Bank of England from time to time, conformably to the provisions of the said Act. I am, my lords, &c.

GEO. HARRISON.

(Enclosure.)

"And whereas his Majesty's subjects, residing out of Great Britain, and others, may be desirous of voluntarily contributing towards the purposes of this Act; be it further enacted, that it shall be lawful for any person or persons, body corporate or politic, and at any time or times during the continuance of this Act, to pay or cause to be paid to the said governor or company, or to their cashier or cashiers, or other person or persons to be authorised by them, any sum or sums of money, as and for a voluntary contribution, for the purpose of carrying on the war; and in such case, to require a certificate or cer- tificates for the same, acknowledging the payment of such voluntary contribution; which sums to be paid as aforesaid, for which such certificates shall be required, shall be deemed and take: to be voluntary contributions of such persons, body politic or corporate respectively, towards effecting the purposes of this Act, and shall be applied as the other monies paid into the Bank of England by virtue of this Act may be applied."

Exchequer, Dec. 3d, 1812.

Sir; in consequence of the desire of the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, signified to us in your letter of November 30th, we have this day given the necessary directions that the voluntary contribution of one-third of the net profits of our respective tellerships of the Exchequer, shall be paid by quarterly payments, from time to time as they shall accrue, from and after the present quarter ending on the 5th of January 1813, to the governor and company of the Bank of England or their cashier, in the manner directed by the 43d of the King, cap. 122.: which we request you to communicate to their lordships. We have the honour to be, &c.

NUGENT BUCKINGHAM.

CAMDEN.

Exchequer, December 11, 1812.

Sir; as it is understood, from the discussions that have taken place in the House of Commons, on the subject of the public revenues, that the expences of the ensuing year will probably exceed those of the present, we think it right, in explanation of the letter which we had the honour of addressing to you on the 21st November last, to state to you, for the information of the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, that if in any year during the present war, the net profits of the several fees and salaries received in our offices in the Exchequer should exceed those of the current year, it is our intention, in every such year, to pay as our voluntary contribution to the public, in addition to the one-third of our profits as stated in that letter, the whole of such excess beyond the net receipts of the present year. We have the honour to be, &c.

NUGENT BUCKINGHAM. CAMDEN.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer lays before the Board, a letter, of this day's date, which he has received from the marquisses of Buckingham and Camden, as follows:

"Sir; as it is understood, from the discussions that have taken place in the House of Commons, on the subject of the public revenue, that the expences of the ensuing year will probably exceed those of the present, we think it right, in explanation of the letter which we had the honour of addressing to you on the 20th of November last, to state, for the information of the Lords Commissioners of his Majesty's Treasury, that if in any year during the present war, the net profits of the several fees and salaries received in our offices in the Exchequer, should exceed those of the current year, it is our intention, in every such year, to pay, as our voluntary contribution to the public, in addition to the one-third of our profits, as stated in that letter, the whole of such excess beyond the net receipt" of the present year."

My lords read their Minute of the 24th November last, and the letter written to the marquisses of Buckingham and Camden in pursuance thereof.

My lords are pleased to direct, that letters be written to the marquisses Buckingham and Camden, respectively, acknowledging the receipt of this communication, and of their intention still further to extend their public spirited and patriotic contribution to the expences of the war, and requesting that they will be pleased to pursue the same course with regard to this excess, as with respect to the original contribution.

Treasury Chambers, Dec. 15, 1812.

My lords; the Chancellor of the Exchequer having laid before the Lords Commissioners of his Majesty's Treasury, your lordships' letter of the 11th instant, stating, "that as it is understood, from the discussions which have taken place in the House of Commons, on the subject of the public revenue, that the expences of the ensuing year will probably exceed those of the present year, your lordships think it right, in explanation to your letter to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, to inform my lords, that if in any year during the present war the net profits of the several fees and salaries received in your lordships' offices in the Exchequer, should exceed those of the current year, it is your lordships' intention in every such year to pay, as your voluntary contributions to the public, in addition to the one-third of your profits, as stated in the said letter of the 21st ult, the whole of such excess beyond the net receipts of the present year;" I have it in command from my lords, to acknowledge the receipt of your lordships said letter, communicating your intention still further to extend your public spirited and patriotic contribution to the expences of the war, and to request that your lordships will be pleased to pursue the same course with regard to this excess as with respect to the original contribution. I am, my lords, &c.

GEO. HARRISON.