"That, by an act of 8 Anne, for the encouragement of learning, by vesting the copies of printed books in the authors or purchaser of such copies during the time therein mentioned, it was enacted, amongst other things, that if any person should reprint any book without the consent of the proprietor, as therein mentioned, the offender should forfeit such book, and also one penny for every sheet found in his custody; but it was provided, that no one should be subject to such penalty unless the title to the copy of such book should be entered in the register book of the Company of Stationers; and it was further provided and enacted, that nine copies of each book, upon the best paper, that should be printed and published as aforesaid, or reprinted and published with additions, should, by the printer thereof, be delivered to the warehousekeeper of the said Company of Stationers before such publication made, for the use of the royal library, the libraries of the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, the libraries of the four Universities in Scotland, the library of Sion College, in London, and the library belonging to the faculty of advocates in Edinburgh; and that, by an act of 41 Geo. 3, for the further encouragement of learning in the united kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, by securing the copies and copyright of printed books to the authors of such books, or their assigns, for the time therein mentioned, it was, amongst other things, enacted, that, in addition to the nine copies then required by law to be delivered to the warehouse-keeper of the said Company of Stationers, and each and every book which should be entered in the regular book of the said company, one other copy should be in like manner delivered for the use of the library of the college of the Holy Trinity in Dublin, and one other copy for the library of the society of the King's Inn, Dublin, of every book that should be thereafter printed and published, and entered in the said register book of the said company; and that it was the general persuasion of authors and book sellers, that, by the said act of queen Anne, copies of those books only were required to be delivered which the proprietors chose to enter at Stationers' Hall to entitle themselves to the protection of the said forfeiture of one penny a sheet of the pirated copies, and therefore, when by the increased expences of publication, the said forfeiture of one penny a sheet be

came an inadequate protection, the practice of entering the books gradually lessened; and that the University of Cambridge, having lately contended that copies of all books, whether registered or not at Stationers' Hall, should be delivered, commenced an action against a printer of a recent publication for not delivering the several copies thereof, upon which case it has been determined that the said act of queen Anne enjoins the delivery of copies of all works printed and published, whether registered at Stationers' Hall or not; and that this determination will subject the petitioners to great expence, and operate very seriously to discourage literature; and that the best paper copies, at the period of the passing of the said act, were not similar to the expensive fine paper copies now printed, nor were any works of that costly description, which now issue from the British press, at that time known, many of those works are now printed by authors at their own expence, and many others upon their sharing the profits after the deduction of all expences; and the petitioners humbly submit that to enforce a delivery of eleven copies of all books will, in the cases in which, from the nature of the works, and limited sale, a small number only is printed, operate as a great discouragement to the undertaking of such works; and that, by the said act of queen An. e, the term of twenty-eight years' copyright is secured to the author, and his assigns, in case he should be alive at the end of the first fourteen years, but, in case he should then be dead, the copyright ceases at the end of the first fourteen years; and the petitioners humbly submit that this distinction is, in many cases, productive of great hardships to the families of authors, and is not founded upon just principles; and that the petitioners could state innumerable instances of works lately published and now publishing, to prove the heavy burthen which will be thrown upon authors and publishers, by enforcing the delivery of the copies required on best paper; upon ten works published by one bookseller, the amount would be 5,6987.; upon twelve works published by another bookseller, the amount would be 2,990l.; and the petitioners need only add to this statement some single works on best paper, viz. Daniel's Oriental Scenery 2,310%; Sibthorpe's Flora Greca 2,500l.; tish Gallery of Engraving 1,0651.; Mr. Johnes's Froissart and Monstrelet Chronicles 1,100.; Dibdin's Typography

Bri

TELLERS OF THE EXCHEQUER LETTERS FROM THE MARQUISSES OF BUCKINGHAM AND

CAMDEN.] Mr. Wharton'presented the following Letters of the marquisses Buckingham and Camden, addressed to the Chancellor of the Exchequer; relative to giving up a proportion of their net Incomes as Tellers of the Exchequer as well as all Proceedings of the Treasury thereupon.

No. 1.-The Marquisses BUCKINGHAM and CAMDEN, to the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Exchequer, Nov. 21, 1812. Sir; under the impression which we entertain of the encreased sacrifices, to which the country will in all probability be called by the pressure upon its resources, in a moment of unexampled expence and difficulty; we are anxious to express, through you, our desire and intention of contributing our voluntary aid to the expences of the war: we therefore request you, as the regular official channel of communication from the Exchequer to the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, to signify to them, our intention of paying in aid of the general services of the year, and in quarterly payments, one-third of the net profits arising from the salary and fees of our respective tellerships of the Exchequer. We propose, and intend, to continue this voluntary contribution for and during the present war; and to commence it from and after the present quarter ending on the 5th of January next. We have the honour to be, &c.

(Signed) NUGENT BUCKINGHAM, CAMDEN.

No. 2.-TREASURY MINUTE, 24th November 1812.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer lays before the Board, a letter addressed to him by the marquisses of Buckingham and Camden, dated 21st inst. in which they state," that under the impressions which they entertain of the encreased sacrifices to which the country will in all probability be called by the pressure upon its resources in a moment of unexampled expence and difficulty, they are anxious to express, through him, their desire and intention of contributing their voluntary aid to the expences of the war; they therefore request him, as the regular official channel of communication from the Exchequer to this Board, to signify to us their intention of paying, in aid of the general services of the year, and in quarterly payments, onethird of the net profits arising from the salary and fees of their respective tellerships of the Exchequer; and that they propose and intend to continue this voluntary contribution for and during the present war; and to commence it from and after the present quarter ending the 5th January next."

My lords read the 218th section of the Act of the 43d of the King, cap. 122, directing the mode and receipt and application of the voluntary contributions for the purpose of carrying on the war.

My lords are pleased to direct, that letters be written to the marquis of Buckingham and marquis Camden respectively, expressing to them the high sense which their lordships entertain of their public spirited and patriotic intention of contributing one-third of the net profits of the salary and fees of their respective tellerships of the Exchequer, in aid of the general services of the year: and transmiting to them respectively copies of the 218th section of the said Act; and requesting their lordships will be pleased to give directions that the said voluntary contributions may be paid into the Bank, from time to time, conformably to the provisions of the said Act.

No. 3.-GEO, HARRISON, Esq. to the Marquisses BUCKINGHAM and CAM

DEN.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

Thursday, December 17.

PRINCE REGENT'S MESSAGE RESPECTING THE INVASION OF RUSSIA.] The Chancellor of the Exchequer presented the following Message from his royal highness the Prince Regent:

"George P. R.

"The Prince Regent, acting in the name and on the behalf of his Majesty, having taken into his serious consideration the accounts which he has received of the severe distresses to which the inhabitants of a part of the empire of Russia have been exposed, in their persons and property, in consequence of the unprovoked and atrocious invasion of that country by the ruler of France, and of the exemplary and extraordinary magnanimity and fortitude with which they have submitted to the greatest privations and sufferings in the defence of their country, and the ardent loyalty and unconquerable spirit they have displayed in its cause, whereby results have been produced of the utmost importance to the interests of this kingdom and to the general cause of Europe, recommends to the House of Commons to enable his Royal Highness, in aid of the contributions which have been commenced within the Russian empire, for this purpose, to afford to the suffering subjects of his Majesty's good and great ally the emperor of Russia, such speedy and effectual relief as may be suitable to this most interesting G. P. R."

occasion.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, when the Message was read, proposed that it should be referred to the Committee of Supply.

Mr. Whitbread said, that we ought to begin by relieving our own starving manufacturers, as he saw no reason why, in this instance, charity should not begin at home. Sir F. Burdett said, that this Message was not only extraordinary, but insulting to the people of this country.

Mr. Stephen differed much from the hon. baronet, and thought the grant recommended in the Message advisable in the highest degree.

Mr. Ponsonby said, that the Message, whatever might be its propriety, appeared to him, or rather came upon him, as a

some of his friends might have done so, he confessed that he had not, as yet, formed his opinion on the subject, but said, that he should do so before to-morrow,

Earl Temple said, though he had not as yet decided, that, at present, the strong inclination of his mind was to support the grant.

Mr. Lockart spoke in support of the grant, and was hostile to the remarks of the hon. baronet.

The Message was then ordered to be referred to the Committee of Supply to

morrow.

HOUSE OF LORDS. Friday, December 18.

SLAVE

EXCHANGE OF PRISONERS. TRADE.] Lord Holland expressed a wish to put questions to the noble earl opposite upon two subjects to which he had adverted in a former session. With respect to the African Slave Trade, six years had now elapsed since the two Houses of Parliament had united in a wish that applications should be made to foreign powers to procure the abolition of that inhuman traffic. He lamented, however, to observe, that the trade still continued to be carried on under the flags of our allies, Spain and Portugal, but he feared with a large proportion of British capital. He was anxious to know what steps had been taken, making use of the influence which we must naturally have in the councils of those allies, to procure the abolition of this disgraceful traffic, and whether, after the lapse of so long a period, any negociation upon this point had at last been nearly brought to a termination? He did not mean to impute neglect to his Majesty's ministers, but it could not escape notice, that the majority of the Prince Regent's council was now composed of those who were hostile to the abolition of this trade.-With respect to an Exchange of Prisoners, he was also anxious to know whether any steps had been taken subsequent to the last negociation, with a view to the attainment of this object; and whether if it was found not attainable consistently with the honour and interests of the country, it was not intended by ministers to institute an investigation into the causes which had prevented the attainment of this object, so essential to the interests of humanity?

The Earl of Liverpool stated, with regard to an exchange of prisoners, that