240 Prerogative Copi/ngliL [Ch.Xl. Sec.IlL head of the church^ he liatli a right to the publication of all liturgies, arid books of divine service, &c. (a 3. He is also said to have a right, by purchase, to the copies of such law books, grammars, and other compositions, as were compiled or translated at the expense of the Crown [b). And upon these two last principles combined, the exclusive right of print- ing the translation of the bible is founded (c). There are, however, very forcible objections against any prerogative mo- nopoly in bibles, bondjide published with annotations, prints, and explanations. And in the case of Grierson, the King's printer at Dublin, v, Jackson, which originated upon an appli- cation for an injunction to prevent the defendant from printing an edition of the bible in numbers with prints and notes; Lord Clare asked, if the validity of such a patent as the King's printer enjoyed, had ever been established at law ? and said, that he did not know that the Crown had a right to grant a monopoly of that kind. He further added, " I can conceive -the King, as head of the church, may say, that there shall be but one man who shall print bibles and books of common prayer, for the use of churches, and for particular purposes ; but I cannot conceive that the King has any prerogative to grant a monopoly as to bibles for the instruction of mankind in revealed religion. If ever there was a time which called aloud for the dissemination of religious knowledge, it is this ; and, therefore, I should, with great reluctance, decide in favor of such a monopoly as this, which must necessarily confine the circulation of the book. As to very particular purposes, I have no doubt that the patentee has an exclusive right to print bi- bles and prayer-books ; but unless I am bound very strictly, I will not determine upon motion that no man but the King's printer has a right to print such works as these." The Crown has no prerogative copyright in almanacks {d). But the King has no prerogative property in the art of printing, nor can he restrain the press- on account of the sub- ject-matter upon which the author writes, or his mode of treating it. He has no controul over the press, but what (a) 1 Bla. Rep. 105. 2 Burr. 661. (c) Ibid. 2Bla. Com. 410. And see 5 Bac. Ab. (rf) 2 Bla. Rep. 1004. 21 Geo. 3. tit. Prerogative, F. 5. Generally Millar c. 56. s. 10. And see Ld. Erskine's t>. Taylor. 4 Burr. 2305. Speech, in 1 vol. Coll. of his Speeches, (i) 2 Bla, Com. 410. p. 42, &c. arises
