542 SCIENCE PROGRESS 



that the book so modestly introduced had reached quarters into 

 which Darwin's world-wide fame had not penetrated. 



Incidentally, Darwin's works, and especially the Origin of 

 Species, afford a telling illustration of one of the anomalies of our 

 copyright law. The copyright of the first edition of the Origin 

 of Species expired in 1901, and any one was then at liberty to 

 reprint this edition. But Darwin himself had expressly said 

 that he regarded it as imperfect, and did not wish it to be 

 taken as representing his views. 



The later editions, with their successive corrections and 

 improvements, form in many respects a different book, and yet 

 the imperfect book is being offered to the public without any 

 clear statement of this discrepancy. This is perfectly legal, 

 and no one can complain ; but as a question of ethics it is 

 somewhat difficult to solve. 



I hope, if a new Copyright Bill is ever drafted, that, in 

 justice to distinguished authors, this point will receive full 

 consideration. 



The system on which Mr. Darwin preferred to be remunerated 

 for his books was to have an estimate made of each edition as it 

 was printed, and to have his share of prospective profits paid 

 him in anticipation. This is an unusual method of payment, 

 and one which involves obvious disadvantages, if for no other 

 reason because no one can tell exactly beforehand what an 

 edition will produce, as there are several unknown factors in 

 the calculation. 



In the case of a disagreeable or suspicious man such a system 

 would open the door to endless bickerings and friction ; but 

 though Mr. Darwin constantly inquired into details — whether of 

 these estimates of payment, or of quality of paper or bindings, 

 or other questions connected with the publication of his books — 

 no angry or irritable word ever seems to have passed between 

 him and his publisher. He did not blindly accept facts and 

 figures which came before him ; he investigated them all, and 

 questioned where he was in doubt ; but his questioning was 

 always that of frankness and courtesy. 



O si sic Omnes ! 



