therefore, small; and hence it is that authors are badly paid. In strong
contrast with the limited sale of English books at home, is the great
extent of sale here, as shown in the following facts: Of the octavo
edition of the "Modern British Essayists," there have been sold in five
years no less than 80,000 volumes. Of Macaulay's "Miscellanies," 3 vols.
12mo., the sale has amounted to 60,000 volumes. Of Miss Aguilar's
writings, the sale, in two years, has been 100,000 volumes. Of Murray's
"Encyclopedia of Geography," more than 50,000 volumes have been sold, and
of McCulloch's "Commercial Dictionary," 10,000 volumes. Of Alexander
Smith's poems, the sale, in a few months, has reached 10,000 copies. The
sale of Mr. Thackeray's works has been quadruple that of England, and that
of the works of Mr. Dickens counts almost by millions of volumes. Of
"Bleak House," in all its various forms--in newspapers, magazines, and
volumes--it has already amounted to several hundred thousands of copies.
Of Bulwer's last novel, since it was completed, the sale has, I am told,
exceeded 35,000. Of Thiers's "French Revolution and Consulate," there have
been sold 32,000, and of Montagu's edition of Lord Bacon's works 4,000
copies.

If the sales of books were as great in England as they are here, English
authors would be abundantly paid. In reply it will be said their works are
cheap here because we pay no copyright. For payment of the authors,
however, a very small sum would be required, if the whole people of
England could afford, as they should be able to do, to purchase books. A
contribution of a shilling per head would give, as has been shown, a sum
of almost eight millions of dollars, sufficient to pay to fifteen hundred
salaries nearly equal to those of our Secretaries of State.
Centralization, however, destroys the market for books, and the sale is,
therefore, small; and the few successful writers owe their fortunes to the
collection of large contributions made among a small number of readers;