tion and reconstruction of American books to
suit English wants are common to a shameless extent."

In 1853 the question of a copyright convention with Great Britain was
again under discussion, the measure being favored by Mr. Everett, at
that time Secretary of State. Five of the leading publishing houses in
New York addressed a letter to Mr. Everett in which, while favoring a
convention, they advised--

1st. That the foreign author must be required to register the title of
his work in the United States before its publication abroad.

2d. That the work, to secure protection, must be issued in the United
States within thirty days of its publication abroad; and

3d. That the reprint must be wholly manufactured in the United States.

Shortly afterwards Mr. Carey published his "Letters on International
Copyright," in which he took the ground that the facts and ideas in a
book are the common property of society, and that property in
copyright is indefensible. In 1858 a bill was introduced into the
House of Representatives by Mr. Morris, of Pennsylvania, providing for
international copyright on the basis of an entire remanufacture of the
foreign work and its reissue by an American publisher within thirty
days of the publication abroad. The bill does not appear to have
received any consideration.

In March, 1868, a circular letter headed "Justice to Authors and
Artists," was issued by a Committee composed of G. P. Putnam, Dr. S.
I. Prime, Henry Ivison, James Parton, and Egbert Hazard, calling
together a meeting for the consideration of the subject of
international copyright. The meeting was held on the 9th of April, Mr.
Bryant presiding, and a society was organized under the title of the
"Copyright Association for the Protection and Advancement of
Literature and Art," of which Mr. Bryant was made president and E. C.
Stedman secretary. The primary object of the Association was stated to
be "to promote the enactment of a just and suitable international
copyright law for the benefit of authors and artists in all parts of
the world."

A memorial had been prepared by the above-mentioned Committee to be
presented to Congress, which requested Congress to give its early
attention to the passage of a bill "to secure in all parts of the
world the rights of authors," etc., but which made no recommendations
as to the details of any measure. Of the 153 signatures attached to
this memorial, 101 were those of authors, and 19 of publi