rendered, and on motion this decision was accepted and adopted as the sense of the Board in this and any similar cases that may arise, and reads as follows:

NEW YORK, January 18th, 1872. MESSRS. COWPERTHWAITE & Co.:

Gentlemen :-The Arbitration Committee of the Publishers' Board of Trade have carefully read all the papers put into their hands, and have weighed the evidence in the case of C. Scribner & Co. vs. Cowperthwaite & Co., and they are clearly of the opinion that your agent has violated the By-Laws in the exchange of books in Weymouth, Mass. These By-Laws distinctly state:

46

By-Law I. The money shall be within ninety days." By-Law III.

old books."

actually paid

66 'No allowance shall be made for

By-Law V. "No longer time than ninety days, and in no case shall the publisher negotiate with a bookseller or dealer."

That these provisions have been violated is shown by evidence from members of the School Board, from booksellers, and from teachers in Weymouth. All use substantially the same expression-"arrangements made with the New England agent of Cowperthwaite & Co."

While these gentlemen differ about the allowance to be made for old books, the booksellers all agree as to an arrangement with your agent to procure "second hand Geographies," or those in " "good condition," for the bookseller in Boston, whose store was the headquarters for your agent.

It is moreover noticeable that the statements of teachers, not even questioned by your agent, use the term "exchange" in speaking of the prices, and that the transaction in Mr. -'s store was an exchange pure and simple.

From all this evidence, and from the tenor of your agent's communications, we must decide that he has been guilty of such a violation as is contemplated by By-Law X., and is therein provided for. Admitting that this violation may have been through "indiscretion," we yet think that he was too old an agent to allow of such a plea being available in this case. Certain it is that if any agent of the undersigned had been guilty of so clear a violation, we should have had no hesitancy in applying the said By-Law to his case, or to the case of any one who either through lack of intelligence or principle, should so compromise us. We are clearly of opinion that By-Law X. should

be enforced in this case. Signed,

H. IVISON, Chairman.
WM. H. APPLETON.

J. ABNER HARPER.
SMITH SHELDON, ex-officio.

The vote was then taken on adoption of Committee's Report, and it was unanimously adopted. Chairman of Executive Committee verbal report that no business had been brought before him during the last three months.

Report of Special Committee of five was made by Mr. O. J. Wilson.

handling the books. It was furthermore decided to report, as the sense of this committee, that it is inexpedient to modify or change By-Law XVII." On motion it was voted to accept the report. On motion to adopt said report it was voted that the recommendations of the Committee be consid. of By-Laws as presented by the Committee. ered separately, and adopt by section the revision

In lieu of old By-Law No. I., the above version as reported was adopted, and will become new ByLaw No. I., down to the word books, in sixth line. Co. voting nay. Adopted. Ginn Brothers and E. H. Butler &

2d. Publishers shall cause all old books received in

exchange in making introductions to be torn up or otherwise so mutilated before disposing of them as to prevent their subsequent use as class books.

Previous to adoption of above it was moved by laid on the table. The motion on being voted Mr. Taintor that the above proposed By-Law be upon was declared lost. Vote on the adoption was then taken and the By-Law adopted. Messrs. Taintor & Brother, and E. H. Butler & Co. voting

nay.

3d. In all cases where a bookseller or other introduction on better terms than those provided in third party shall agree to furnish school books for offered for introduction shall refuse any introducthe By-Laws, the publisher of said books thus tory terms whatever for such supply through the said party offering improper terms.

4th. When introductory terms are granted, the books received in exchange shall in all cases be returned as vouchers to the publisher within thirty days from expiration of introductory time, as pro vided in By-Laws.

5th. Publishers shall issue on or before the 1st of June a list, naming the exact price, one-half retail, will be furnished for first introduction in exchange at which each of their school book publications for corresponding old books in use, also the exact price at two-thirds retail at which each will be furnished for first introduction where the old books is not received in exchange; and shall mail three copies of said list to each member of the Board of Trade. This section in lieu of present By-Law II. Changes in present By-Law No. III. by striking out all after word "displaced." Present By-Law VIII. changed and read as fol· lows: "Introductions of new editions of books

in the matter of terms shall be regarded as new books, and shall be introduced at the same rates as new books; and by new editions is meant such a revision, alteration, or change in the matter of arrangement of a book as will prevent its use side by side in classes with previous editions in use."

Present By-Lay No. XXII. be stricken out. Article 13th of Articles of Association shall be changed to read after words By-Laws, "shall continue in force from July 1, 1872, to July 1, 1874."

Voted that the foregoing changes in By-Laws. take effect, and are binding from and after July 1, 1872.

Resolution offered by Mr. Soper (Appleton & Co.):

That in publishing the introductory price list the ten per cent. which may be allowed to the party who handle the books shall not be published thereon. Carried.

Voted, to appoint Nominating Committee of five to nominate officers for the ensuing year.

Voted, that the Chair make the nomination of Committee, and the following gentlemen were ap

Mr. Henry Ivison, R. S. Davis, T. M. Brewer, Mr. Cowperthwaite, and Mr. Cooper.

The nomination of Officers by the Committee

CORRESPONDENCE.

BOSTON, April 1, 1872. THE Israelites had a hard time of it trying to "make bricks without straw," but it is an open question whether their task was more difficult than to write a letter of news when there is no news. But matters with us are intolerably tame, and the only consolation is that a storm may follow the calm. There are some good things in quiet preparation of course, for it is not to be supposed that Boston mind is ever stagnant, but trade is quiet, the grand "slaughter sales" have ceased, with the exception of the rainister-Bible, children's-library, ticket-sales of H. A. Brown & Co., who still persist in the self-sacrificing occupation of selling books so much below the cost of manufacture that the purchaser is conscience-smitten at the small price he pays, and almost feels like bestowing a gratuity upon the sad-eyed salesman. And then, opportunely, there is an "unfortunate nobleman " abroad who is compelled to part with his library, and he, for the time being, takes the place of the "gentleman lately deceased." It is a remarkable coincidence that all these books have a strong family resemblance, and they seem like old friends. There is some little change in business details. For many years A. Williams & Co. have had the agency of the publications of Harper & Brothers, but with the first of this month the business is transferred to Lee & Shepard, and Mr. Stocking, Harper's agent, has a room nicely fitted up in their store, and henceforward here will be the Harper headquarters. D. Appleton & Co., who for a long time had their New England agency at Lee & Shepard's, went, some time ago to Graves & Ellis's, 20 Cornhill. Of course there could have been no dissatisfaction with A. Williams & Co., the personal and business character of the firm forbidding such a thought, but the immense jobbing business of Lee & Shepard naturally gives them greater facilities for fostering the business of any house whose interests they may especially espouse.

66

Among forthcoming books is one that will interest a wide class of readers, especially those whose inclinations and recollections run in the track of the political life of the country; I refer to the Autobiography of Amos Kendall," in press by Lee & Shepard. It will be a 700 page octavo, full of entertaining and valuable matter, mainly historical, and a large portion in Mr. Kendall's own language, Mr. K, was for many years as widely

known, perhaps, as any American citizen; as an editor, a Government officer, a politician, he was a man of mark, of decided opinions and energetic action. From the proof-sheets, now in my hand, I extract a single letter which will show how a sturdy old-fashioned Democrat, in spite of all party proclivities, and in the dark hours of the rebellion, kept his faith strong in the National Government, and was ready to "sink or swim" with it. The letter also gives an insight into Mr. Kendall's private moods. It is written to William Stickney, Esq., the compiler of the memoir.

My Dear Stickney:

BRIDGEPORT, July 11, 1861.

Your letter of the 9th inst., came to hand this morning.

If I live much longer I fear I shall have no memory at all. In writing a paragraph I seem to forget before I get to the end what I had said at the beginning, and it is unsafe to let anything pass from under my hand without a careful revision. This infirmity is sadly realized in reading my old journal. I find transactions recorded and names of acquaintances mentioned of which I have not and cannot recall the slightest trace in my memory. In other cases, the record and the memory of the same transactions are essentially [at] variance. My mind seems to be like a daguerreotype plate on made that the original figures are buried up and the which so many irregular impressions have been recent ones scarcely discernible. In writing of past events, therefore, I feel that I am in imminent danger of a departure from the truth, whereon I have to rely on memory alone.

*

*

*

*

I have been at a loss in which to invest the money I now have to spare, everything is so uncertain; but I am now inclined to put it into the next gov else depends on the Government, and hence its own ernmental loan. The value of almost everything stocks ought to be good property.

We are all in usual health, and as for Mollie, she enjoys herself so well that she does little else. before I sign my name. Lest I should again forget the check, I will write

it

There! the check is written, and no mistake this time ! Affectionately,

AMOS KENdall. WM. STICKNEY, Esq., Washington. Two religious, or semi-theological books have just been published, which are much above the average class of literature, viz.: one is, "The Fourth Gospel, the Heart of Christ" (Noyes, Holmes & Co.), by Rev. Edmund H. Sears, a book of real ability, admirable spirit, and conclusive argument; the author evolves the contents of the Johannean writings, which, he claims, clearly apprehended, are their own evidence, and prove Christianity itself a gift direct from above, and not a human discovery. Mr. Sears is on the extreme evangelical wing of Unitarianism, and his book must make a sensible impression upon thinking minds, whether they are merely intellectual, or intellectual and religious; the two qualities are not always found in company! I should remark that Mr. Sears has prepared a history of the whole controversy over the genuineness of the Gospel of John, which he considers as now firmly established, and if he will publish it, he will do an excellent service to Biblical scholarship.

The other volume is Prof. Townsend's "GodMan; Search and Manifestation." (Lee and Shepard); "Credo," by this same author, has had, and continues to have, a large sale, and the present volume is in the same general line of argument. The first portion of the work "Search," discourses

Comparative and Essential Theology; the second, "Manifestation," unfolds the humanity and deity of Christ in a strong cumulative argument. It is a book to be read only with careful application of mind to its train of reasoning, and yet, the average reader can peruse it with profit. The first volume of Senator Wilson's "Rise and Fall of the Slave Power in the United States " is a ponderous 500 pp. octavo; it is valuable, candid, and fairly, but not sufficiently comprehensive; it lacks vigor and compactness of style, and will perhaps be considered "heavy" and prolix, but the Senator equals Mr. Gradgrind in love of “facts," and if his way of putting them is not always the most forcible, it is a comfort that we can know where to find them in proper order and with commendable accuracy. Of Mr. Wilson's integrity of purpose in all his doings, no one, not even his political enemies, expresses a doubt, but it must be expected that his book will meet with severe criticism from partisans. Adeline Trafton's "American Girl Abroad," is a success; it is so vivacious, genial, happy-go-easy, and withal somewhat witty, that it meet with unusual approba- | tion. The cover-die is unique, with its trunk, water-proof bag, umbrella, and "Murray," and the author's name on the end of the trunk; Geo. M. Baker is a genius at such things. Chaplin's "Life of Henry Dunster," first President of Harvard College (J. R. Osgood & Co.), brings out much historical matter that has been hidden for generations, but it is presented in too partial a light, the author allowing ecclesiastical denominational sympathies to warp his judgment. Read with discrimination and with a knowledge of both sides of the controversy, in which Dunster has finally set aside; the book has a good place in our colonial literature. It is simply the old and never-to-besettled question, whether the early settlers of Massachusetts, after voluntarily exiling themselves from homes of ease and prosperity in the old country, had a right to regulate matters of Church and State according to their own pleasure. The weekly publication of Rev. W. H. H. Murray's sermons has been discontinued; it is only a wonder that it has been sustained so long, but then just enough has been printed to make two volumes, and this may have been the intention. The truth is sermonpublishing is rarely profitable, especially in weekly instalments, and then, smart as Mr. Murray may be, he is not Henry Ward Beecher, and herein is the gist of the whole matter.

But this letter is long enough.

B.

PHILA., April 5, 1872.

THE Book Trade Association held its third meeting on Wednesday last at Megargee Bros.' paper store, on Sixth, above Chestnut, where the members found strictly professional accommodations. Rolls of wrapping paper had been "up-ended," and boards laid across them for seats; brown paper in sheets formed the cushions, and on these convenient, but rather unduly elevated seats the Association perched itself and proceeded to business. This being a further adjournment of the primary meeting, Mr. Hazard and Mr. Ferguson acted as chairman and secretary, as before. The first business in order was the report of the committee appointed at the last meeting to revise the by-laws. Some alterations were made, but, as a whole, the by-laws reported were nearly the same as those published in the TRADE CIRCULAR two weeks ago, they were adopted seriatim. The next thing was the election of officers. The committee had a ticket ready printed, which was forthwith put in nomination. Only ten minutes were allowed for consideration, but even in this time the oppo

sition succeeded in objecting off one man, who, they discovered, was not a member of the Association. All the rest of the ticket was elected, though by very irregular votes, there being a great deal of scattering. The following is the list of officers: PRESIDENT, Edmund Claxton, of Claxton, Remsen & Haffelfinger, publishers.

VICE-PRESIDENTS, Willis P. Hazard, of the Philadelphia Publishing Co., and Thomas MacKellar, of MacKellar, Smiths & Jordan, typefounders. TREASURER, Alexander Kirkpatrick, of the American Sunday School Union.

SECRETARY, A. G. Elliott, paper.

DIRECTORS, Sylvester J. Megargee, of Megargee Bros., paper; Henry C. Baird, publisher; Roger Sherman, of Sherman & Co., printers; John A. Black, of the Presbyterian Board of Publication ; Frank McLaughlin, of McLaughlin Bros., printers; Henry T. Coates, of Porter & Coates, publishers; E. S. Talmage, of Talmage & Bro., binders; John E. Potter, subscription publisher; William Bargh, paper; Alfred Martien, publisher; George R. Fagan, of J. Fagan & Son, stereotypers; James M. Ferguson, of S. A. George & Co., stereotypers.

The president elect being absent, Mr. Hazard retained the chair, and made a brief speech, in the course of which he spoke highly of the TRADE CIRCULAR, advised his audience to subscribe for it, and recommended that it be made the official organ of the Association. His remarks on this point were admirable, and were listened to with great attention. The suggestion that the TRADE CIRCULAR be made the official organ of the Association was favorably received, and a motion was made that the by-laws as amended, together with the entire list of members, be published in the next issue, but the motion was forestalled by Mr. Baird, who offered to print them in pamphlet form free of charge. The meeting then adjourned.

The Association has gained but few members during the last week, but it is expected that the number will soon reach one hundred. At the meeting on Wednesday, twenty-nine votes were cast, which indicated the number of members present. Among these were the representatives of nine pub. lishing and subscription publishing firms. This was the regular April meeting prescribed by the by-la vs, and as no time was specified for the next meeting, I presume it will not be held until the next regular meeting in July. Neither was anything said about the work to be done in the interim. The Board of Directors is probably expected to make work and execute it too.

Some new books remain to be noticed. E. H. Butler & Co. are vigorously pushing Sargent & May's series of readers, which came out last Fall, and which are winning golden opinions from both teachers and pupils. One strong point is the excellence of the engravings, of which the series contains some three hundred. Even the aristocratic Fifth Reader is liberally supplied with fine woodcuts, the astute publishers arguing that as illustrated magazines are the most successful among men, who are but children of a larger growth, so illustrated books will receive most favor among children in all stages of lesser growth. The latest production of this house is the American Primary Speller, a work constructed on the principle of object teaching. Each page is headed with a large and elaborate woodcut, in which the nouns occurring in the lesson below it are skilfully introduced. For instance, that important family proceeding, "Weighing the baby," is made the subject of an illustration which exhibits the entire family, with all the near and remote relations and all the usual accessories; and when the neophyte has mastered

T. B. Peterson & Bros. are rushing through the press a new work by Mrs. Emma D. E. N. Southworth, whose name always reminds one of Saxe's

"Very voluminous Mr. James,

Who got at the font his strongest claims
To be reckoned a man of letters."

This work, "A Noble Lord," will be published next week. It is a sequel to "The Lost Heir of Linlithgow," issued about a month ago, which accounts for its following that story so speedily. Mrs. Southworth doesn't wish her readers' interest to grow cold until they have seen the death of the last victim. The same publishers have nearly ready "The Cancelled Will," by Miss Eliza A. Dupuy, one of the N. Y. Ledger's most successful writers. The publishers' preface says: "The Cancelled Will' is a story of American life, tracing the career of a young girl who is left in ignorance of her family, though carefully prepared to fight the battle of life; when the time comes in which she comprehends that on her own efforts must depend the future, she pants to make a brilliant succe-s. The story shows what means are used to this end, what experiences she passes through, how strangely her parentage is revealed to her, and the use she makes of that revelation" -all of which is delightfully mysterious, and in cites one to read the book just to see how she gets along, a point on which he preface (all I have seen of the work) is purposely non-committal. This story also will be speedily followed by a sequel entitled, "Who Shall be Victor?" In addition to these, Peterson & Bros. have purchased all the American plates of Henry Cockton's works, and will issue a new edition of them at intervals of about two weeks, commencing with "The Fatal Marriages," and ending with "Valentine Fox, the Ventriloquist," the first to appear in about two weeks from this writing.

George Gebbie has published a thin octavo volume of 62 pages, large paper, containing a treatise on "The Origin and Antiquity of Engraving; with some Remarks on the Utility and Pleasures of Prints." The matter of this essay is good, but sketchy and devoid of any great depth; but the mechanical execution is worthy of praise. The typography is elegant, and the whole appearance of the work a credit to Mr. Gebbie, who is noted for fine books.

A new publishing firm, Ferguson & Woodburn, commenced business at 714 Sansom street in January. They will publish religious works, and keep a religious book store. (The expression is theirs, not mine.) They have met with good success in the retail line, but have not yet perfected their arrangements for publishing, though they have brought out a couple of small catechisms, and issue The Christian Alliance, a religious monthly, which has reached its fourth number, and is well conducted. It is edited by Rev. Alfred Nevin, D. D.

The Episcopal Book Society published this week a 32m0 edition of the Hymnal, in cloth, limp, which retails for 20 cents. It is a revised edition, from new plates, and corrects a number of errors in the former edition.

had become impaired by overwork, and he was placed under the treatment of Dr. Kirkbride of the insane asylum. Here his health became so far improved that he was permitted to leave the institution at will, and come into the city unattended. He made several visits to the city in this way, calling on his friends and visiting the store, always returning safely to the asylum; but one day, about five weeks ago, he was seen by the watchman to pass out at the gate and turn toward the city-since which time he has not been seen, nor can the slightest clue to his subsequent movements be obtained, although every effort has been put forth to find him. The firm naturally feels unsettled by his mysterious absence, and hesitates to engage in any new enterprises until circumstances assume a more settled state. The National Publishing Company will issue next week a new subscription book, entitled "Lights and Shadows of New York Life, or Sights and Sensations of the Great City," by James D. McCabe, a most prolific writer. The amount of work performed by this man is astonishing. He spent six months on this work-an octavo of 150 pages; and considered that an extravigantly long time. He has been known to write a volume of equal size in ten weeks. His average "stint" is said to be twenty-five octavo pages a day. The present work is a series of sketches of New York high and low life, is more or less sensational, but appears to be a pretty faithful description of the city within doors and without. It contains nearly 250 engravings, many of them full-page. The same house has issued a new edition of J. H. Beadle's "Life in Utah, or Mysteries and Crimes of Mormonism." of which over 70,000 copies have been sold in the two years it has been out. The present edition contains some seventy pages of new matter, bringing it up to the present time. It is now a book of 608 pages, 8vo, profusely illustrated.

Law books, as usual, are coming out steadily, and in abundance. Kay & Brother have issued "Wharton on the Conflict of Laws;" "Hilliard on Contracts." The first American edition of "Kerr on Receivers," edited, with notes and references, by George Tucker Bispham ; "Commentaries on the Intestate System of Pennsylvania, and the Powers and Jurisdiction of the Orphans' Court," by E. Greenough Scott; and the seventeenth volume of P. F. Smith's Pennsylvania Reports, embracing the reports of cases in the Supreme Court, to March, 1871.

L. P. Bourquin & Co. publish to-morrow "A Manual of Foreign Exchange," together with a "History of the Outstanding United States Securities, and the Funding of the National Debt," by Robert K. Lovatt, 12mo, pp. 8o. "An Analysis of Blackstone," by Frederick S. Dickson, will be ready soon, and the second American edition of the "Adventures of an Attorney in Search of Practice," (the first appeared in 1839,) will be out in about two weeks. This brochure, published anonymously, but understood to be the work of a brother of the late Sergeant Stephen, author of 'Stephen on Pleading," is a capital thing in its way, and has been heartily laughed over by thousands of the author's brother barristers. L. P. Bourquin & Co. will remove in a few weeks to 136 South Sixth street. H. C. S.

PARIS, March 22, 1872.