616 Literary Property. [Junz, 
“The reward of glory may, indeed, stimulate the production of works of 
pure genius, and the more especially as the exercise of the imagination is so 
peculiarly delightful ; but this cannot be the case, in an equal degree, in the 
department of philosophy. Great, persevering, aud often painful labour, is 
necessary to the accomplishment of many works of science; and, therefore, 
every possible inducement should be added, instead of being diminished, that 
may tend to encourage the prosecution of such labours. 
“ Besides, an author who wished for no other reward than renown, might still 
exercise his liberality, and either present his labours gratuitously to the public, 
or bestow them on some meritorious object. He can do so now in favour of 
the Universities ; and the glory of the bequest would be greater, because it 
would be more rare and generous.” p. 187. 
Such then being the real state of the case when stripped of its false 
decorations, let us see what are the objections to holding out the utmost 
stimulus to production to which the law is capable of being applied, by 
Securing to the labourer the whole fruit of his labour. The only two of 
these which have ever appeared to us worth listening to are well an- 
swered by Mr. Maugham :— ; 
“It is objected,” says he, “ that it would prolong the power of the owner 
to deal with the public as he chose, and that he might either suppress a valuable 
work, or put an exorbitant price upon it; in both of which events the public 
would be injured. 
“ The fear of suppression may be easily provided against. If the proprie- 
tor does not re-print the work when required within a reasonable time, there 
would be no injustice in considering the copyright as abandoned. It is replied 
that there would be a-difficulty in proving an abandonment. We do not 
perceive the difficulty, at least, in the majority of instances and regulations 
which experience would suggest, might be adapted to circumstances. Gene~ 
rally speaking, if it were worth while to re-print a work, the copies of which 
were exhausted, it would not be abandoned. When it was out of print, 
notice might be given to the last publisher and entered in the registry of the 
Stationer’s Company; and if at the expiration of a certain length of time 
(perhaps proportionate to the magnitude of the work) it were not re-printed, 
it might then become common property.” pp. 184-5. 
With respect to the price, he elsewhere observes: 
““ It is obvious, that if the period were extended, a higher remuneration 
might be afforded for works of superior importance, on account of the endu- 
ring nature of the property in them. » The profit, it is true, might not be rapid, 
but its unlimited continuance would, generally, in the result, compensate for 
the advance of a larger amount of capital. We might illustrate this fact by 
reference to the nature of leasehold and freehold property, For all ordinary 
purposes to the great bulk of mankind, lony leasehold property is really as 
useful as freehold, and endures as long as the lives of any for whom they feel 
an interest ; yet we may perceive that such is not the general feeling, for the 
price in the market is exceedingly different: men are content with about 
three per cent. when it is ensured to them in perpetuity, but they expect 
seven or eight in the other case, though it may last out three generations. — 
“The cheapness of a work would thus obviously be promoted by the just 
extension of the period of its protection, because the proprietor would not 
depend upon any sudden return of his capital, but proportion his gain to the 
extent of its duration. As he would ultimately receive a better remunera~ 
tion, he could afford to diminish its present amount. The calculation is now 
made upon an immediate return: if that does not take place, the work is 
supposed to be condemned—no matter what may be its intrinsic merits, no 
further efforts are made to bring them before the notice of the public. The 
legal period being so short, it is not deemed worth while to keep open the 
account, and it is closed as soon as possible.” p. 194. 
