MAR. 15, 1866. Messrs. TRÜBNER & CO., 60 Paternoster Row, London, For more than twelve years have been mainly instrumental in bringing before the literary and scientific public of Europe the best productions of the mind of America, and they continue to offer, as heretofore, all the facilities of their old and valued connection, both at home and abroad, to promote, through approved and well-tried channels, the sale of works intrusted to them by their friends in America. Messrs. TRUBNER & Co. supply English and Foreign (Old and Modern) Books, Periodicals, Newspapers, etc., and everything connected with Literature, Science, and the Arts, on advantageous terms, and will be happy to enter into correspondence with Librarians and Booksellers in the United States requiring an efficient European agency. Presbyterian Publication Committee. FIVE YEARS IN CHINA. BY REV. C. P. BUSH. BESSIE LANE'S MISTAKE. (WEALTH NOT HAPPINESS.) By the Author of "MONEY," "FAR AWAY," etc. Price $1 25. BOWEN'S DAILY MEDITATIONS. 12mo., 429 pages, $1 75; Tinted paper, gilt, $2 50. LEAVES OF CONSOLATION FOR THE AFFLICTED. BROOKSIDE FARM-HOUSE. Sent by mail for these prices. Order from PRESBYTERIAN PUBLICATION COMMITTEE, NEW YORK: A. D. F. RANDOLPH, 770 Broadway. GEORGE ROUTLEDGE & SONS, London, and 129 Grand Street, New York, PUBLISH: BULWER'S (Sir E. L.) NOVELS. 23 vols. crown 8vo., bound in 20 vols. Half calf, $60. BULWER'S (Sir E. L.) NOVELS. 22 vols. 16mo. Half calf, $50. KNIGHT'S PICTORIAL SHAKSPEARE. With upwards of 1000 Illustrations. 8 vols. royal 8vo. Cloth, $50; half calf, $70. WOOD'S ILLUSTRATED NATURAL HISTORY. With upwards of 700 beautiful Engravings. Royal 8vo. Cloth, $22 50; half calf, $27 50; full calf, $32 50; full morocco, $35. Recent additions to the Railway Library. BLACK AND GOLD; or, The Signal Scarf. By Captain W. H. PATTEN SAUNDERS, K. C. G. Price 80 cents. RESPECTABLE SINNERS. By MRS. BROTHERTON. A new edition. Price 40 cents. SIMON STEVENS, New York, MAR. 15, 1866. B. F. STEVENS, Messrs. STEVENS BROTHERS, 17 Henrietta Street, Covent Garden, London, W. C., Have established an American and Foreign Commission House for Publishing, Bookselling, and the execution generally of LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC ORDERS, both for Import and Export, and have undertaken the continuance of the current miscellaneous business of their brother, MR. HENRY STEVENS, of 4 TRAFALGAR SQUARE, which was commenced in 1845. In the execution of orders for the purchase or sale of early printed and scarce books they will have the benefit of the advice and long bibliographical experience of MR. HENRY STEVENS, who, as heretofore, devotes himself to the purchase and sale of rare books. Messrs. STEVENS BROTHERS are the special agents of the International Library Exchange, established by the "American Geographical and Statistical Society of New York," and are constantly making consignments through that Institution of BOOKS, MAPS, PHILOSOPHICAL APPARATUS, MAGAZINES, &c., for Departments of the U. S. Government, Public Institutions, Libraries, Colleges, and Incorporated Societies. Messrs. STEVENS BROTHERS are honored with the special Agency of several American and British Institutions. Parcels of a literary or scientific character presented by Institutions or individuals in the United States or Canada to individuals or Institutes in Great Britain or on the Continent, are received and distributed with punctuality and economy. LITERARY, SCIENTIFIC, AND MISCELLANEOUS ORDERS from private individuals will be executed with care and promptitude, and the goods forwarded to any part of the United States or Canada direct, or in the absence of special instructions, through their usual channels. All Parcels for America, including weekly packages for France and Germany, are forwarded under special arrangements by the INMAN STEAMERS, sailing every Wednesday from Liverpool. Consignments from America are made by the same line every Saturday from New York. Messrs. STEVENS BROTHERS desire to purchase one copy of every Book, Pamphlet, or Magazine (not a reprint) published in America. They desire also to procure two copies of all Reports of every Railroad, Canal, Coal, Petroleum, Steamboat, Bank, or any other Incorporated Company in America. MAR. 15, 1866. PUBLISHERS, be on hand at the Toy-BOOK PLATES' Sale by Auction, Saturday, April 7th,, 1866, At THE TRADE SALE ROOMS, 498 Broadway, New York, OF THE STEREOTYPE PLATES, COLORED AND TINT BLOCKS, Of the Splendid Assortment of over Twenty Series of Toy Books and Juvenile Story Books, Published by T. W. STRONG, New York. ALSO, The Stereotype Plates of other Books having at present a large SALE, and always in DEMAND; such books as "LETTER WRITER," "DREAM BOOK," "HOYLE's Games," A rare opportunity to purchase a handsome series of Toy Books and Juvenile Story Books. Be there or send your Agent. Saturday, April 7th, 1866, At the TRADE SALE ROOMS, 498 Broadway, New York. AMERICAN LITERARY GAZETTE "THE PEN 18 MGNTIER THAN THE SWORD." AND Publishers' Circular. Issued on the 1st and 15th of each Month, at 42.00 per Annum in Advance. GEORGE W. CHILDS, PUBLISHER, Nos. 628 & 630 CHESTNUT STREET, PHILADELPHIA Bancroft, H. H. & Co. ...................... 317 Barnes, A. S. & Co. $17 320 Childs, George W............................................... 325 Christern, F. W. 315 Claxton, James S. 316 Lea, Henry C.............. ...... 320 318 GEO. N. DAVIS, 119 Rua Direita, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Agent for South America. A. ROMAN, San Francisco, California, Agent for the Pacific Coast. STEPHENS & CO., 10 Calle Mercaderes, Habana, Agents for the West Indies. Subscriptions or Advertisements for the “American Literary Gazette" will be received by the above Agents, and they will forward to the Editor any Books or Publications intended for notice. TAXATION AND DUTIES. APRIL 2. 1866. Is further continuation of the discussion con cerning an international copyright law, and the importation of foreign books, we have the following communication from Mr. Barrie, who, we believe, "is the New York representative of Mr. Strahan's house. It is best for the trade that all parties shall have a fair chance of expressing their views, for it is only from a courteous discussion of different opinions that a safe conclusion can be reached. 178 GRAND STREET, NEW YORK, Nov. 26, 1866. To the Editor of "The American Literary Gazette and Publishers' Circular :”— The American Publisher" takes umbrage at Messrs. Strahan & Co. saying, "the useless employment of men in the manufacture of books will cease.' ." And pray, why shouldn't all useless employ ment of men cease, whether it be in making books, railroads, canals, or rivers? Would it not be better if those men who are at present employed reprint ing English books, of which there is no scarcity in the country, were employed printing "Webster's Spelling" and such other "books by American authors which are now being printed in England for the American market?" anything of the kind, as "An American Publisher" or any other who reads their letter may see. In fact do, though they did say what could be done "acMessrs. Strahan & Co. never said what they would cording to the statute." That they would require to do something-if each shipment of their Magazine was to be detained at the New York Customhouse for six weeks-was very evident, but what that something would be, Messrs. Strahan & Co. did not say, nor do I think they had decided at the time their letter appeared. Again, what can your correspondent mean by a merchant "evading the intent of a law by taking advantage of a provision in the law? The intent may not be expressed, but the provision is. Are we to understand that the intent is law, and the provision is not? If both are expressed, how are shippers to know which part of a statute is intent (law) to be obeyed, and which SIR: "An American Publisher" in your last provision (fiction) to be avoided? If the law is issue either seeks to convey the idea-notwithstand- wrong, let law-makers amend it; or, make a new ing Messrs. Strahan & Co.'s denial of the fact that one to substitute for it; but do not call shippers the article in "Harper's Weekly" headed "No" evaders of the intent of a law," who "act accordmore American Books" is correct with reference to ing to law." "The Sunday Magazine;" or, he is one of the curious whom Messrs. Strahan & Co. refer to the New York Custom-house for information. It may not, however, be out of place for me to state here a few facts regarding that now famous entry made so much of by Messrs. Harper, your correspondent, and I think also the Revenue Commissioners. They are these: About the middle of December, I received from Messrs. Strahan & Co. an invoice of some "Sunday Magazine" sheets, properly sworn to before the American Consul in London; that invoice was given as usual to a custom-house broker to have an entry made and duty paid, all of which was Your correspondent is surely at fault, too, when done according to Custom-house routine. In a few he attempts to prove that an English edition of a days I expected an order would be issued for book by an English author when sold in the United delivery of the goods to me, but no-they were de- States is more injurious to an American author than tained! Some investigation was to be made about an American reprint of the same book would be. them. In course of time "Harper's Weekly," with With all due regard to the experience of "An Ameri the article "No more American Books," appeared. can Publisher," I think the American reprint is I called at the Custom-house to see if the investi- quite as injurious, if there be any injury at all, to gation had been completed, and was told "No," and American authors as the importation of an edi asked if I had "seen Harper's statement." I replied tion printed from the original plates, and in the that I had, and that it "was full of untruth, as they sale of which the author is interested. Again, I could see by examining the invoice and goods differ from your correspondent in not fearing that which they had possession of." "And the Revenue American copyright works will be driven from the Commissioners have incorporated it in their report," market. If they have any intrinsic value they cansaid they. "Notwithstanding its incorporation in not be driven from the American market, nor yet the Commissioners' report, it is still untrue," was my from the English market, should they have an inreply. They then let me understand that the inves-terest extending so far. If they have no intrinsic tigation was not yet completed, and said they would apprise me when it was. I was thus kept waiting till the end of January, when the officials were satisfied that instead of duty having been paid on three farthings a part, which would certainly have been much less than the paper cost, even though it had been of "Belgian make," too much duty by about $72 in gold had been paid, and forthwith issued an order for delivery of the goods to me. The $72 I was told would be "refunded" some time hence, probably in two or three months. I am much more content to wait two or three months for the "refund" than I was to wait six weeks for the exa-eted the profits on the other side. mination of some cases of Magazine sheets. "An American Publisher" takes an unwarranted liberty in interpreting a portion of Messrs. Strahan & Co.'s letter to the London "Bookseller" of Jannary 31st. He says Messrs. Strahan & Co. "have the effrontery to boast that if this"-the revaluation of their goods at New York-" continues to be enforced, they will evade the intent of the law by taking advantage of the provision which authorizes a purchaser to export his goods at the actual cost thereof."" Now Messrs. Strahan & Co. never said value, then the sooner such are driven from the market the better for publisher, bookseller, and purchaser. Let us have an international copyright law, then the interests of author and publisher will be identical. At present they are not in all cases so, more especially when one of the parties resides in the United States, the other anywhere else. The law, or rather the "no copyright law," has been a continued wrong to the author for the benefit of the publisher. The rule has been that the author has been paid for the good his work has done on one side of the Atlantic, while some publisher has pock Anent certain English books consigned by Alexander Strahan, London, to me.-The New York Custom House officials confiscated three shipments of books consigned by Mr. Strahan to me, the reason given being "undervaluation on invoices," ascertained on revaluation by New York publishers and importers selected by the deputy collector for that purpose. The amount of confidence the Custom-house officials ultimately placed on the judg ment of the revaluators may be estimated from a consideration of the following facts: The original |