The Secretary read the following letter: Scru‘m WASHINGTON r, run Usi rnn S'rnns. D. 0., February 25.1866. Sm: By not of Congress passedin 1827 Congress gaveto the reporter of the decisionsof the SCOTUS$1,000a year and he was to give the Governmenteight ycopies of his annual volume in return. 80 copiesnot being foundenoughfor the needs of the Government.nor 81,000for the reporter, an act was passedin 1842(bStatutes, 545)giving him $1, 300, be giving the Goverpment 150 copiesin return: and it beingprovnled that hewould nccoetdsienlgl his book to the public at large for a priceex 5 dollars a volume. toBty0thGiosvaecrtnomf aefnotrainnedrrdeacy omthpeernespeofrrtoemr'siotbalirgeastitoilnl governed. It gave the reporter for severalyearsa compensation nt‘spmethingover 3,000 dollars a year. But it did so only in consequenceoftwo facts: 1. That the reports were publishedin the cheapest style over way. 2. That.n the “ long term, " as it is called, the reporterswould issue, when the occasionalloWed, 2 volumesa year. insteadof one; and that Congress on thesevarious occasions.gavethem$2, 600instead of 81.300. i ngB, uatnwdithotthheeriniteermeassed costof paper, printing, bind formerly a compensaotifonpisroduction, that which was now no compensationat all and mayevenend in considerableloss. The cost oi‘pubhshing 1,000 copies of orie of Mr. Howa 'svolumes.so thelsstone. the 20 foiirth. was thus, asshown y the publisher’s books: Composition stereotypingand press work. $97807 Paper. 346 Bindin Total cost of 1,000volumes(Howard). $l.72420 The cost of publishing 1,000 copies oTe u 6 Wallace. the paper for which costo1905810s: than the pBper for volumeone, was thus: Composition stereotyping and press work 82,08789 Paper. Binding Models. p] casesu out Government tax, exact sum not recalled.but on volumeone. 7577 Total cost 1.000 volumes (Wallace). "$3, 86306 Supposing the former reporter to have sold 1,000 volumes, say at 4 dollars each, a large price, expensesbeingdeducted.he got: Net profit (formerly). prSicuep, pIogsientgme to sell same number at thesamefull Gross. Deducteost. Net profit (at present). 813694 Difference. staIyminaken Washington k.ownhitchheffoarcmt tchralyt tchois'itfi.tvheemreopnothrts' ers say, 80 dollars permonth, 8100, cost now, at $160a month, what I pay for board accommodations. $300. The salesof the U.S. Supreme Court reports are not large, so man of the casesare of local interestonly; so man on act alone: the reportsof the Statecourts have become so numerous and come soimmediatelyhome to the daily business of the bar that sales of muchmore than 1,000copies are net to be counted on. After selling 1,000 copies ofl Wallace, I invited the Johnsons. Friends of mine, and large booksellers in Philadel phia.whohad paid moli orally for other copyrights, to make me an offer for the copyright of the book just named. Their reply was, “After the 1st 1,000 ropics sold sales are so small and so slow that the copyright is not worth making you an otferfor:" and they would make none. My own volumes have sold, I believe, better than any since Whenton’s; but yeevaerns tahgeo snaelaerslyo, f my volume one. published 2 only go sourcereturn cost. If paper will somewhat higher than it is. I need only to sell enoughcopiesto beruined, and Mr. Black abandoned the office at the end of a 2ndterm. coIpfieths, eg Givoimve.Irtnhmeerenpt worotuelrd$2on, 5ly00tfaokreththermee, provided they are delivered in 8 months after the end of the term, matters, Ithin would standon amorcjnst basis; the necessitiesof the Government for the decIisions of the Supreme Court have uito outarown. should think. the old act of 1842. circuit, district, and territorial judges to whom this act gave copies in vinirgt, ue of their offices have multiplied and are increas and the someis true of the Depts generall, I should think. submit the whole matter to you, and am, with greatrespect, sir, 'our obedientservant. OHN WILLIAM WALLACE. Reporter.J‘c. lIon. JAMES HARLAN, SecyInterior.