A case of some interest c...
A case of some interest came before the LoRD (CHAN. CEtLOR yesterday. A periodical work on medical subjects, entitled The Lancet, had been accustomed to publish Sir ASTLEY Coorsa's Lectures as they were delivered, and vas proceeding in the same eiourse with respect to the Lectures of Mr. AbERXwTRn-the hig-hly-talented Mr. ABERNETHY, as the no doubt equally-highly-talented So- LICITOR-GENERAL styled lim. We believe that SirASTLEY COorER was not entirely content with the practice of the Editor of The La7wet: however, as there might appear to be as much sveet as bitter in it, he swallowed both. Mr. ABERNETHY 'Vill swallow neither: he is not content that his fame should be diffused by the violation of his exclu- sive right to his own literary property; and at the risk, also, of fathering whatever errors ani unauthorized reporter may commi:. He therefore applied to'tbe Court of Chan- cery yesterday, for an "t injunction" to stay the editors of he-Lanecet from publishing his Lectures. The matter ended in a temporary compromise, by which the number actually ia the press might be allowed to appear, anti the future publicatieTl be suspenidetl till th1e cause should be argued. It was easy, however, to see that the LonD (JwANCELLOU's opinion was decidedly hostile to the publication. The case,as acutely stated byhis Lordship, 1atotally differentfrom those in which the reports of courts of justice or police-offices are concerned.The proceedings of the latter arc pubdicijuris; the officers presiding are the public servants, and they mu3t speak and m-.st act openly; and the public, without the payment of any admission fee,. have a right to know ho-w they speak and aci; or otherwise British subjects would, fall into alshost a totat5prance of the practice of the law as die great mass of Roman Ti-Cholics are of the contenits of the Bible, being excluded fror the perusal or knowledge of it by -theit Inflllible Chlrclh The 4ase before the- Court yesterday was thus stated-by.l his LorJeiip ;-? i i40 b~ther.party attendiDg -Ietug "in any branch of philosophy or learning, for bis own in- X "formation, is at liberty to publish the kcctures for bis. own advantage 9 It is evident, if this be an accurate statement of the case, that the mental improvement derived by hearing is all that is paid for: the Professor has not conveyed away his right to the profit to be derived from publication. WVe believe Tte ILancet raniks very high among medical and surgical men, as a correct and able compilation of re- ports aud cases ; and is acknowledged to haverenderedl great service to the sciencee of which it treats.