THE ENGLISH COPYRIGHT COMMISSION. 179 



A. I think it exceedingly improbable. So far as I can gather the 

 state of public opinion in America, their reply to all remonstrances is, 

 "We want to have cheap books for our people, and we will not. listen 

 to anytliing which will interfere with our having cheap books for our 

 people." 



Q. You may probably be aware that a very large body of American 

 publishers, not, I think, including the largest houses, but still including 

 many large houses, have advocated international copyright ? 



A. Yes, I am aware of it. 



Q. And you perhaps are aware that, although the list of those who 

 have done so does not contain all the larger houses, it contains by far 

 the greatest number of those with whom we are acquainted ? 



A. I have understood so. I was never myself quite clear how far 

 the movement was in earnest. 



Q. T think that the house with whom you are yourself concerned, 

 that of Messrs. Appleton, agree to it, do they not ? 



A. I believe so. 



Q. I will not mention other names, but can I have reason for sup- 

 posing that they are not in earnest, considering that they have spent 

 considerable sums of money in advocating their cause ? 



A. I will not venture to say that particular gentlemen who have 

 advocated this cause are not in earnest ; very possibly they are ; but it 

 does not appear to me to be compatible with the universal cry which 

 one hears, or which is always raised, when this question is discussed, 

 "We want cheap books for our people, and we will have them at all 

 costs." 



Q. Are you aware that the Senate in the United States at one time 

 assented to a proposition for an international copyright ? 



A. I have heard so. It is a very cui'ious thing that whenever nego- 

 tiations of that kind arise they are carried on very successfully for a 

 time, and very admirable speeches are made upon all sides, but they 

 always come to nothing. 



Q. In our own legislation at home has it not generally been the 

 case that great changes have been ventilated for a considerable time 

 and have failed, and failed, and failed, until at last they have been 

 passed ? 



A. Yes ; that I think has generally been where there has been a 

 great popular cry in their favor. When I visited the United States 

 the popular cry appeared to me to be just the other way ; it was for 

 getting cheap books at all costs. I should not like to give very de- 

 cided opinions upon these matters, but that is what has struck me. 



Dr. Smith. If I understood you aright in reference to illustrated 

 works you said that the cost of the original drawing, and the drawing 

 in wood, and the engraving, must be very large, and that there are pro- 

 cesses, by means of photography and other means, by which they could 

 be reproduced very cheaply ? 



