for 258. or 30s. Mr. Slater followed; want of books; and though, as we have then Mr. Routledge took up the ball; said, we could point to periods in the and Mr. Bohn also added his Shilling history of our national literature, when Library to the others he was publish- a much higher and more enduring ing. In these Libraries some of the character was imparted to it, still there best works of our best authors have is great merit in the productions of the been reprinted, and Ainsworth's and present day; and although we should James's novels have been republished hail improvement, it will be well at 1s. and 1s. 6d. each, having origin- if the literature of the future does ally been sold at 31s. 6d. The ball is not sink below that of London in still rolling, The Library for the Times, 1851.

and The Traveller's Library, we see an- DIVISION II.—THE NEWSPAPER PRESS OF nounced in shilling volumes; and LONDON, AND ITS CHARACTERISTICS. more are talked of. Till lately only republications have appeared in these One of the most striking features in Libraries, and they have comprised London, is the daily newspaper press; history, theology, travels, poetry, fiction; which, if not so much diluted as it is but recently original works have been in Paris and New York,-we mean, if introduced another proof that the sale there be not so many separate journals must be great. A beautiful addition to as those cities can boast of,-far exour periodical literature has also been ceeds either the French or the American made by the publishers of the Illus- press in the sterling character of its trated News, in their National Illustrated literature, in the extent and variety of Library in half-crown volumes. Two its information, and in its influence. volumes of Boswell's Life of Johnson, the redresser of grievances; the modern "The press is the corrector of abuses; as well as a work on Nineveh, and a volume of Ballads have already appeared. chivalry, that defends the poor and But we have, besides the class of helpless, and restrains the oppressor's publications to which we have alluded, hand in cases where the law is either many religious periodicals in the influ- too weak or too lax to be operative; or where those who suffer have no ence of the church, or the dissenters: works on science, as the Mechanics' means of appealing to the tribunals of Magazine, and Chemist; and works on their country for protection. It is, too, the fine arts, as the Art-Journal, and the scourge of vice; where no law the Journal of Design, the former, could be effective, where the statute decidedly the most elegant illustrated law does not extend, where the common work ever published. It is remarkable, law fails, the law of the press strikes that this journal gives three line the offender with a salutary terror, engravings, on steel, by the first artists, that awaits him, and not unfrequently causes him to shrink from the exposure full 4to. size, in addition to a large number of exquisite woodcuts, and arrests him in the career of oppression, much valuable letter-press, for 2s. 6d. or of guilt. To diffuse truth, then, to being, after all, the cheapest publication redress wrong, and to uphold right, of the day. During the Exhibition, a to spread knowledge, and to advocate double number of the Art-Journal sound principles,—this is the real misappears, containing an illustrated cata- sion, and these are the high functions logue of the works of art, &c. exhibited. of the press; and those who execute Colburn, Bentley, and Nugent, also, those functions worthily, deserve all every now and then, gratify the lovers honour from society-the gratitude and of fiction with a new novel, very different, esteem of their country."

like our periodicals, from the novels of the last century. Thus there is no

Twelve daily papers are published in

*Mitchell's Newspaper Press Directory.

the metropolis- -seven morning, and tion contained in its columns. Adopting five evening. The morning ones are, an idea of the Times, whose Comthe Advertiser, the Chronicle, the Daily missioner' gave such graphic and interNews, the Herald, the Post, the Public esting details of the state of Ireland, Ledger, and the Times. The evening the Morning Chronicle has sent its papers are the Express, the Globe, the Reporters' into every corner of the Standard, the Sun, and the Shipping metropolis, and into every part of and Mercantile Gazette. We shall England, for the purpose of ascertaining say a few words as to the character the social condition of the people; and and principles of each, as a guide to the articles contributed by these gentleour readers. men, on labour and the poor,' are MORNING ADVERTISER.-Established, amongst the most valuable contribu1794. This journal "advocates free tions in the department of social trade, and the abolition of capital economy which we possess. The same punishments; and is the recognised industry, talents, and habits of research organ of the society of licensed vic- have been brought to bear upon the tuallers." As the organ and advocate continent; and a series of most excellent of a vast mass of the population, it has letters upon the industry, productions, always held its interests indissolubly and condition of the people of Europe linked with those of the merchant, the are now (1851) publishing in its columns. trader, and operative; while the num- Whilst attending to England and the ber of its proprietors, amounting to continent, Ireland is not neglected; near 3,000, affords a sure guarantee many able articles on the 'Sister Isle' against its being diverted from the appear from time to time in the tenour of its political advocacy to Chronicle."

advance the designs of party or indi- DAILY NEWS.-Established, 1846.vidual. It is honourable to this journal, This is a "liberal" and "free-trade" that it has, for half-a-century, continued paper. It has only been established in a consistent course. The Advertiser, five years. It is ably conducted in through its proprietary, distributes up- every department. The gentlemen wards of 8,000l. annually to charitable employed upon it are all men of high purposes. At the commencement of talent and extensive information; and, this session of parliament, the Adver- whether in its politics or literature, its tiser, previously a single sheet of four domestic and foreign news, its English, pages, was enlarged to a double sheet Irish, or continental correspondence, it of eight pages, like its morning con- yields the palm to none of its contemtemporaries. poraries. Its literary and musical MORNING CHRONICLE.- Established, articles are distinguished by great 1770. "This journal is liberal-conserva- ability; and its criticisms on the fine tive and the ablest advocate of the arts by a gentlemanly candour. policy and measures of the late Sir MORNING HERALD.-Established 1781. Robert Peel, in the wide circle of the -This paper supports the principles so press. It is asserted, and we believe ably advocated by the late Lord George with truth, that a number of gentlemen, Bentinck; and it is an advocate of the friends of the right honourable baronet, Evangelical party in the Church of with an eminent nobleman at their head, England. It has always been consistent purchased the Morning Chronicle in in its political course. "It was an able February, 1848, and it has since been and energetic supporter of the ministry distinguished by the force, and vigour, of the late Sir Robert Peel, until that and general ability of its leaders; the statesman promulgated his free-trade extent of its foreign news; and the measures, in January, 1846; it then, amount of valuable domestic informa- honourably adhering to its principles,

became one of the right honourable to which it is attached: its attachment Baronet's most decided opponents, at- to the cause of protection in particular, taching itself to the party of which won for it no small regard, when, Lord Stanley and Lord George Bentinck' among the faithless,' still faithful, it are the acknowledged leaders. Since it clung to the maintenance in all their came into the hands of the present integrity of those principles which proprietor (E. Baldwin, Esq.), it has modern notions have almost discarded. received a vast accession of strength The philosophy of the school of Politiand of influence through the ability cal Economists has ever found a deterwith which it has been conducted. A mined enemy in the Post, which has great degree of energy and enterprise-ever maintained the rights of labour, those essentials of newspaper prosperity while it has not overlooked the claims of -have been exhibited, especially in the capital to protection." procuring of foreign news; and the PUBLIC LEDGER.-Established 1759. considerable advance which was made -This is exclusively a commercial shortly after the results of the new paper, and of use only to merchants and management were perceived, and which traders to whom its information is is still maintained and increasing, affords very valuable. It is the oldest of the a striking instance of how much indivi- daily journals. dual ability can effect, even when exerted in a very extensive field."

THE TIMES.-Established 1789-This paper is one of the phenomena in MORNING POST.-Established 1772.- newspaper literature. On its establishThis paper is, in its principles, "Tory, ment, and during its progress, The Times High Church, and Strong Protectionist." made little impression on the public, In its social relations, "it is the leading till a considerable part of its property organ of the aristocracy and the fashion--for there are several shareholdersable world," to whose views it adapts and its entire management, fell into the itself, by giving "just as much of hands of the late Mr. John Walter. He politics as may inform, without dis- had great sagacity, and a ready and tracting; just so much of public busi- determined mode of action; and seeing ness as may interest, without fatiguing the want, he provided the means of the lounger, or disgusting the exclusive. meeting it. The want was really a It seeks to distil the essence of public newspaper: a journal which would give events, and to compress, into as small a to the public the earliest information, space as possible, the verbosity of public from all quarters, and information that men, leaving as much of the spirit, with could be relied on. The Times led the as little of the dulness, as can be way, therefore, in establishing what is, managed; while every opportunity is in truth, the "wonderful machinery" of taken advantage of, and a variety of a London Daily paper. Machinery, by means employed, for ministering to which the " news from all quarters of educated leisure such agreeable enter- the globe is concentrated in one small tainment, as the last opera, or the last spot-the editor's room-from whence, book the theatre and fancy ball'— by the activity of the printer, it is, in a paintings and sculpture-and the move- space of time that would have been ments of high life-can afford. It has, formerly considered so short that it however, nobler merits than these- would be impossible to accomplish the (though it is no mean praise to associate object-diffused throughout London, with the exigencies of political contests England, and the world. Mr. Walter the amenities of civilised life). The effected this by collecting and orPost has acquired a perfect confidence ganising that corps of reporters, corresfor the consistency and courage with pondents, and contributors which makes which it has ever advocated the opinions The Times ubiquitous; it having its

representatives in all parts of the world frequently appealed to. It still retains -in every quarter of England; and all the aids and appliances which first also, by perfecting that complete ma- won for it its high character; but in chinery in the printing office, both of this it is no longer unequalled-they men and of mechanical contrivances, have been adopted by the other morning which is the object of such general papers, which, at the present day, cominterest. [See Chap. V. and Chap, X.] bine as much energy, as much disregard The Times long stood alone in the of expense, when expenditure is necespriority of its news, which frequently, sary, and as much talent, as that which during the late war, anticipated that of is still deemed the "leading journal." the government couriers; and in the The Times, undoubtedly, led the way pre-eminence of its reporting depart- in improving the character of the newsment, although all the Daily papers paper press; it made the first move in have followed in its wake, it still reaps the right direction; and it is right that the benefit of its original enterprise, in it should reap the reward.

an unequalled circulation-a circulation THE EVENING PAPERS.Of these which has enforced fresh appliances of journals [the Express, established 1846; ingenuity to render the "printing the Globe, 1811; the Standard, 1827; machine" capable of meeting the de- the Sun, 1792; and the Shipping mands made upon it. The information and Mercantile Gazette, 1836,] it is furnished by The Times was, during the not necessary to say much, they are war, of the utmost consequence to mer- now so completely eclipsed by the cantile men, who gave the paper, in morning papers, though considerable return, their support, and their adver- talent, and energy, and money are extisements; and placed it in the position pended upon them. Before the estab it still holds of being the "leading" lishment of railroads, or of daily mails, journal, in point of circulation, and its and the rapid transmission, by railway number of advertisements, in the king- parcels, of the morning papers, where dom. With that interest it is still the post-hours would retard their deliintimately connected; with it are most very, the evening papers formed the of its sympathies; and although, on chief circulation of the London daily any political question, it is impossible press in the provinces; that circulation, to say the course it will take, upon though still considerable, has been, and questions connected with commerce and is decreasing; still there are a great trade, it will always be found advocating many news and reading-rooms, where the interests, and supporting the cause, loungers expect, on looking in early in of the "Merchant Princes" of England. the morning, to see a newspaper on the During its existence, The Times has table; therefore, the evening journals supported and opposed almost every will always command a respectable public measure, except one-it was number of country subscribers. For never an advocate of the New Poor the last two or three years since the Law; and it is an honourable trait in intercourse with Paris has become so the character of The Times, that the rapid-the evening papers are also poor and the aggrieved always find an superseded, even in London, to some advocate in its columns, no matter what extent, by the morning ones; which, the wealth, the station, or dignity of about the middle of the day, appear in the offender. It is only just to remark, a "Second Edition," with the informathat none of the other daily journals tion brought by their "Expresses ever show any want of a disposition from Paris, down to a late hour on the to defend the right and rebuke the previous day. 66 Third," and even wrong; but such is the circulation and "Fourth," editions are often published, influence of The Times, that it is most on the arrival of successive expresses, if

any thing extraordinary occurs. All Standard, which emanated from it; these things continue to throw the and it is largely supported by clergyevening press into the shade; and men. The Record, established 1828, is haye deprived it of a portion of its a paper published twice a week; also a importance. Still, the journals evince Church of England paper, but exclu no "falling off" in their energy, or sively devoted to the Evangelical deficiency in their talent. As to their party: pity that there should be any principles, the Express is a re-echo of parties in a Church where all should be the Daily News, being the property one. The Patriot and the Nonconof its proprietors. The Globe sup- formist are published twice a week, and ports the Whigs, and is the only party attached to the Dissenters. There are adherent they have in the daily press. 43 weekly news-papers published in The Standard, established at a time London, besides several which cannot when party-spirit ran high, and faction be placed in that category, as they are was raging furiously, has always firmly purely scientific, as the Architect and and consistently adhered to the princi- the Builder; literary, as the Athenæum, ples it was established to support-i. e., the Literary Gazette, and the Critic; or those of the Protestant Church of Eng- professional, as the Law Times and the land, and Toryism; and this with great Musical World. They adopt the newsability. The Sun belongs to the paper stamp, on a part of their impresultra-liberal party, but supports the sion, to enable the proprietors to Whig ministry in most of its measures. forward them into the country by post. The late proprietor, Murdo Young, first There are many clever men engaged introduced the practice, by the evening upon these weekly journals, the majournals, of sending reporters to the jority of which embrace the side of the Houses of Parliament, for the purpose" Liberals" in politics. Those most in of giving the early proceedings of both repute are, John Bull, the Britannia, Houses, in a Second Edition," for the and Bell's Weekly Messenger, with the country. On extraordinary occasions, Conservatives; the Atlas, the Examiner, it also reported the proceedings up to a the Economist, the Observer, the Speclater hour, and despatched copies all tator, the Sunday Times, and the Weekly over the country by rail, engaging News, with the Liberals; the Weekly special trains for the purpose. The Dispatch with that party which is most foreign news of the day was, in the inveterately opposed to the aristocracy. same manner, collected and despatched. There are several religious papers: the By this means, that journal was raised English Churchman, the Guardian, and from a depressed circulation to a very the Church and State Gazette, attached large one; but the expense was enor- to the Church of England; the British mous, and very prejudicial to the Banner, and the Christian Times, to the spirited proprietor. In all these means principles and practices of Dissent; of diffusing news, it has been followed whilst the Watchman and the Wesleyan by the Standard and Globe. The Times represent the Conference party Shipping Gazette is perfectly neutral and their opponents; that large and in politics; its shipping information is influential body, the Wesleyan Methodunrivalled; and it gives a very good ists, having a schism in its ranks. epitome of news. Bell's Life in London is the sporting THE THREE-DAY, TWO-DAY, AND paper and authority in all matters reWEEKLY PAPERS. In the Standard lating to the turf, cricket, and other Office a valuable evening paper is pub- sports and games; and the Era is a lished three times a week, the St. James's good paper of the same class. The Chronicle, established in 1761. Its Court Journal contains a record of politics are the same as those of the fashionable life, and a mélange of light