entirely unknown when the privilege was granted, to have a copy of all printed books. In the case of prints expensively got up, these copies become a prohibition on the publication; and by consequence have a decidedly injurious effect on the progress of the arts in these kingdoms; and take the bread out of the mouths of numbers of industrious and enterprizing individuals.
To make the injury more apparent, suppose a publication of this class is sold at as low a price as can be afforded, say ten pounds. The prime cost, together with the charges of the trade, advertising, &c., come to nine pounds, ten shillings: leaving ten shillings for the net proceeds on each copy sold. Eleven such copies, the number this impost exacts, reckoned by the outlay sunk in them, apart from any profit, are equivalent to one hundred and four pounds, ten shillings; which makes it necessary that two hundred and nine copies should be sold, before the proprietors can derive any advantage from the speculation.
To so plain a statement, sundry logicians by trade, (who reason no better than the first old woman we may light on) oppose their abstract right, just as Shylock does to his pound of flesh, without the least regard to any consequences, when he produces his knife and scales. If they are not like that caitiff virtually conspiring against the life of a citizen of Venice (or of London) yet it matters naught to these philosophers in professorial gowns, if, with the Jew, they uphold the selfish principle which learning is supposed to fortify the mind against;
osis beyond certain other aspirants to that honour, as far as it could be granted on earth?—The merit of James Watt most certainly was very great—but it should be acknowledged in accordance with that of his compeers; a Jenner, a Davy, and a Harrison, were severally, or "in quaternion" with him, entitled to the consideration of the assemblage: and while we would not interfere with the special purpose of the meeting, we yet are persuaded it should not have been attempted to allot him a consequence so transcendent as to throw into the shade all other benefactors to mankind.
