Cirrus@Austlit

A report, reproduced from an English newspaper, on Charles Dickens's tour of America. The report includes reference to Dickens's readings in Washington and Philadelphia - in the former, his net receipts for four readings amounted to $10,000; in the latter, eight readings netted $19,000.

The report also notes the publication in the Atlantic Monthly of two of Dickens's stories, and points out that Dickens, 'not being a citizen', has no copyright in the stories. 'Any person, therefore, may publish these stories in [either England or the United States] without risk or penalty. Their issue at a penny, say in London, would probably do more to hasten an international copyright than all the writing and talk that has been penned and said on the subject. Pirates to the rescue; now's your time!'