no press, now or hereafter, can justly press
out of him.

"That as a landed proprietor does not lose his right to his
estate in perpetuity by throwing open his grounds for the
convenience and gratification of the public, neither ought the
property of an author in his works to be taken from him, unless
all parks become commons.

"That your petitioner, having sundry snug little estates in view,
would not object, after a term, to contribute his private share
to a general scramble, provided the landed and moneyed interests,
as well as the literary interest, were thrown into the heap; but
that in the mean time, the fruits of his brain ought no more to
be cast amongst the public than a Christian woman's apples or a
Jewess' oranges.

"That cheap bread is as desirable and necessary as cheap books;
but it hath not yet been thought just or expedient to ordain
that, after a certain number of crops, all corn-fields shall
become public property.

"That, whereas in other cases long possession is held to affirm a
right to property, it is inconsistent and unjust that a mere
lapse of twenty-eight or any other term of years should deprive
an author at once of principal and interest in his own literary
fund. To be robbed by Time is a sorry encouragement to write for
Futurity!

"That a work which endures for many years must be of a sterling
character, and ought to become national property; but at the
expense of the public, or at any expense save that of the author
or his descendants. It must be an ungrateful generation that, in
its love of 'cheap copies,' can lose all regard for 'the dear
originals.'

"That, whereas, your petitioner has sold sundry of his copyrights
to certain publishers for a sum of money, he does not see how the
public, which is only a larger firm, can justly acquire even a
share in copyright, except by similar means--namely, by purchase
or assignment. That the public having constituted itself by law
the executor and legatee of the author, ought in justice, and
according to practice in other cases, to take to his debts as
well as his literary assets.

"That when your petitioner shall be dead and buried, he might
with as much propriety and decency have his body snatched as his
literary remains.

"That, by th