sow, as formerly, the book-trade is centered in London, though carried on to it considerable extent in Edinburgh, and in a less degree in Oxford, Cambridge, Dublin, Glasgow, and a few other places. There are various reasons for London being the metropolis of English literature. As a center of wealth, taste, and intellect, authors flock towards it as an agreeable and permanent home, and find in the library of the British museum the most ample materials for reference and study. By means of its ;I railways, and its port, assorted parcels of books can be conveniently despatched , to all parts of the United Kingdom, and of the world. It has numerous wholesale stationers, and abounds in printers, bookbinders, artists, and wood-engravers. Sta , tioners' ball, in which the rights to literary property may be inscribed, is situated in London. Through its channels of literary intelligence and. criticism, it possesses the most ample means of making new works known. Through favor of these circumstances, 3 the metropolis becomes the center of the British book-trade; almost every new work floats towards it, either for publication or to be issued wholesale on commission. In 1878, there were connected with the book-trade, within the bounds of the post-office district, 296 booksellers who were also publishers, and 446 booksellers alone. Of these, about 18 confined their business almost exclusively to the sale of foreign books, and 15 to the publication and sale of law-books. Among the booksellers are included corn trAion-houses; and among the publishing establishments are several branches from Edinburgh and other places. The London book-trade is partly carried on in distinct departments; miscellaneous literature, law books, medical books, treatises, periodicals, etc., respectively engage the attention of publishers; and as regards religious books, each sect may he said to have publishers and booksellers of its own. The greater number of the publishing and commission houses are situated in Paternoster row and the courts adjoining; so that this part of the city has become the great and acknowledged market for literature. In whatever part of the metropolis books are primarily issued. they may be found in one of the establishments in or about "the Bow," by which means the collecting of books to meet country or foreign orders is effected at one on the spot. Every commission-house has "collectors," who, with bags, are seen hurrying about, pick ing up the works which are entered in their collecting-book. When nut so found, books arc said to be " out of print." In Scotland, after struggling through an age of similar restrictions, the book-trade was developed about the middle of the 18th century. In Edinburgh, it was followed by Allan Ramsay, who published and sold his own songs, and his still more charming pastoral. Among his successors were Donaldson, Bell, Elliot, and Creech, each eminent in his way; more lately, the trade was ably sustained by Archibald Constable, the first publisher of the Edinburgh Review and iracerley _North; and by William Blackwood, the originator of Illwkwood's Magazine; still more recently the reputation of the Edin burgh book-trade was maintained by the late Adam Black, publisher of the EliCyClOySlhi Brillthltie«, and who, besides rising to the highest civic honors, became member of parliament for his native city, on the retirement of )Ir. (afterwards lord)Nacaulay (1855).
Considering the many advantages possessed by London, it may appear surprising that the business of publishing should be attempted to any extent in Edinburgh—the only place out of the metropolis to which we need specially refer. Yet, the Scottish capital is not devoid of recommendations. Its general society is of a character to invite the residence of men of literary acquirements, and it is fortunate iuu possessing an exten sive collection of books for reference in the library of the Faculty of Advocates. Edin burgh publishers are able to conduct their enterprises with a degree of calmness and deliberation which can scarcely be realized in London; while, at the same time. they enjoy a certain advantage in comparatively cheap labor. Paper also may be obtained at a somewhat lower price from Scotch makers than from the wholesale stationers of London—this last circumstance being of first importance in producing large impressions of cheap books and periodicals. As Edinburgh books are mostly sent to London, the expense of carriage and loss by commission form a drawback on profits. Notwithstand ing this and other disadvantages, the book-trade of Edinburgh continues in a thriving condition. It comprehends upwards of 30 firms carrying on the united business of publishers and booksellers, and 90 who carry on business ns booksellers alone. In this list are several leading publishing houses, which print the works that they issue, an economical and convenient union of professions which forms a peculiar feature of the Edinburgh book•trade. In the establishment whence the present work is issued, every
department connected with the preparation and dispersion of books is included.
The publishers and booksellers of the United Kingdom possess no corporate nrivi leges, nor do they associate for any professional object. No premiums arc offered to stimulate improvements in typography, binding, or anything else—the trade being entirely free, members being left to rise through individual exertion. All members of the profession, however, constitute, what is. par excellence the trade," through which there is a pervading and strong feeling of fellowship.
In the infancy of the trade, authors frequently resorted to the plan of getting friends and patrons to subscribe for copies of their forthcoming works; the publisher in such eases acting only as commission-agent. I)ryden's translation of Virgil's AWN was sold in this way. There were, in the case of that work, two classes of subscribers, one pay ing five, the other two, guineas for a copy. Those who paid the larger sum obtsined the additional value, by individually receiving a dedication plate with their arms under neath. There were 101 of the first class of subscribers, and no of the second. Pope made a fortune by his subscription books. He realized upwards of 1:5000 from his trans lation of Homer's Biad, and 12.3000 from that of the Odyssey, both sold by subscription. Johnson, who lived in the transition state between the old and new way of disposing of literary works, perceived that the subscription system was essentially an unsound one, and that booksellers formed a proper and necessary medium between authors and the public. "IIe that asks for subscriptions soon finds that he has enemies. All who do not encourage him defame him." And again: "Now learning is a trade: a man goes to a bookseller and gets what he can. We have done with patronage." Literature Iris now risen above this degrading system. At present, (1) the author sells his work in mann script to the publisher for a specified sum, giving him an assignment of the copyright. and leaving him to bring out the work according to his own fancy'; or (2) the mailer retains the copyright, pars all expenses, undertakes all risks. and gets a publisher to bring out his work; or (3) the author. retaining the copyright, incurs no risk, mid only allows the publisher to print and issue an edition of a certain number of copies for a sum agreed on; or(4)the author and publisher issue the work at their jnint risk, and 011 such other terms as are mutually agreeable. In some instances, the publisher will not undertake to issue a work, unless the author gets it printed, and delivers copies ready for sale; in others, he will relieve the nuthor of this trouble. and risking outlay, keep an account of charges and sales. Any plan by which au author retains a risk, is seldom satisfactory. Publishing is an exceedingly hazardous profession. Works of which the highest expectations are formed, may nut pay and books of a very frivolous and seemingly worthless kind may prove exceedingly remunerative. From a general misapprehension on this point., publishers have frequently been maligned as unjustly living on the brains of authors, who are ever' represented as an unfortunate and ill-used race. A knowledge of the hazardous nature of publishing. and of the heavy expendi ture ordinarily incurred for making new books known, not to speak of the unreasonable expectations which are sometimes formed by literary men. would do much to dispel the common notions on the subject. For one book that is highly successful, there are num bers that become a dead stock in the warehouse, and barely pay expenses, of which melancholy fact too many authors who undertake the expenses and the risks of publica tion must be well aware, from dear-bought experience. But with writers of really popular and successful works, English publishers usually deal in a most liberal spirit; numerous instances, indeed, could be cited in which they have voluntarily and largely added to the remuneration stipulated to be given for copyright. For the celebrated ser mon, Religion in Common Afe, preached before the queen by the Rev. John Caird (1855), though only a shilling pamphlet, the publishers, Messrs. Blackwood, of Edin burgh, gave £100; but the sale having gone for beyond expectations, they afterwards, of their own accord, presented the author with an additional sum of £400. Facts like this, while reflecting honor on the book-trade, show the baselessness of the imputations so inconsiderately cast on publishers as a body.