20 The Book- Trade. [JoLy; 
mittee) “that the Cambridge library claims in the mass every book that 
is printed.” These, as they come, down, are first examined by the 
librarians, who cull only such works as, beyond all question, ought to 
be in the library. The Syndicat next inspect them, and select such 
others as they may wish to place upon their shelves. What does the 
reader think is done with the rest? Sent back, perhaps? Oh, no! 
Piled in boxes and baskets to rot! For they have just conscience enough 
left not to sell them, or give them away.—Can any thing be more paltry 
and pitiful than this? These leviathans swallow all the shoals of books 
which swarm from the press—the very minnows and tadpoles of literature, 
as well as the higher species. The good and the bad; the moral and the 
obscene ; the religious and the blasphemous ; all sorts of trash and trum- 
pery ; racing calenders ; boxing registers ; and Harriette Wilson’s Me- 
moirs—all, all are claimed in the name of these grave and reverend 
doctors, and are duly conned over and judged, bofore they are assigned 
to the shelf above, or the dust-hole beneath. The committee asked Dr. 
Clarke whether he thought it necessary to claim works the titles of which 
plainly shewed they were not suited for their collection, and instanced 
«“ The Laws of the noble Game of Cricket”? The librarian answered 
there was no judging from titles, and that they made it a general rule to 
claim every thing, and select what they liked afterwards. Like the dog 
in the manger, they not only gorge their own food, but retain that also 
which they cannot touch. ; 
Such facts as those which we have related could not fail to make a due 
impression on the Committee. They seemed to be of the same opinion 
with ourselves, that these drones should notbe fed, for nothing, with the 
honey made by the industry of others. Their Report concludes with 
the following resolutions :— } 
*‘ ResoLveD, I. That it is the opinion of this Committee, that it is 
desirable that so much of the Copyright Act as requires the gratuitous 
delivery of eleven copies should be repealed, except in so far as relates 
to the British Museum; and that it is desirable that a fixed allowance 
should be granted in lieu thereof, to such of the other libraries as ma 
be thought expedient. a 
“JJ. That it is the opinion of this Committee, that if it should not be 
thought expedient by the House to comply with the above recommenda- 
tion, it is desirable that the number of libraries entitled to claim such 
delivery should be restricted to the British Museum, and the libraries of 
Oxford, Cambridge, Edinburgh, and Dublin Universities. : 
«III. That it is the opinion of this Committee, that of all books of prints, 
wherein the letter-press shall not exceed a certain very small proportion 
to each plate, shall be exempted from delivery, except to the Museum, 
with an exception of all books of mathematics. = 
_ “IV. That it is the opinion of this Committee that all books in respect 
of which claim of copyright shall be expressly and effectually abandoned, 
be also exempted. 
““V. That it is the opinion of this Committee that the obligation imposed 
on printers to retain one copy of each work printed by them shall cease, 
and the copy of the Museum be made evidence in lieu of it.” 4 ite 
Now, subscribing most heartily, as we do, to the first and fifth of thes 
resolutions, the adoption of which would nullify the rest, we cannot but 
as heartily regret that no bill passed Parliament, in conformity with their 
recommendations. We think it very adviseable that one library should 
