Post'-The United Service Gazette'--and 'The London Weekly Journal,'

"One great beauty of "The Examiner's' articles is, the singular ease with which they are manifestly written. There is no appearance of effort about them: they seem to proceed quite

naturally from the writer's pen; as easily, indeed, as if he were unconscious at the time his most ingenious arguments and happiest illustrations are following each other in rapid succession, that he was giving expression to any thoughts at all."

This sketch really exhibits our beau ideal of a newspaper: an assemblage of all that is admirable and praiseworthy.

In point of circulation, the liberal journals have a still greater, proportional superiority. "The 'Dispatch,' alone," says Mr. Grant, "has a greater circulation than that of all the Tory Weeklies put together." That paper circulates, steadily, nearly 32000 copies: a greater number than any other in England, or, probably, in the world. "The Observer,' and 'Bell's Life in London,' both owned by one proprietor, circulate, unitedly, more than 18000. Bell's Weekly Messenger,' nearly 13000." 'Bell's New Weekly Messenger,' above 5000. The Sunday Times,' about an equal number. The John Bull,' 4500.

The following will remind the reader of many a splendid failure" among the newspaper enterprises of the United States:

"It is amusing to contrast the lofty pretensions and prodigal promises made in the prospectuses or first numbers of some papers, with the fate to which they are doomed. Not long since a weekly paper started on Conservative principles. Never was journal ushered into the world amidst a greater flourish of trum

"The Observer' obtains its items of intelligence, on terms that may well make American Editors stare. Besides keeping in regular pay, a strong corps of news-pets. It was started for the purpose of rescuing the Constitution reporters, it pays other persons three pence a line, for all they furnish, worthy of publication. The usual rate, with other papers, is but half that sum.

To the gentlemen of our newspaper press, who often themselves observe and deplore the uncontrolled bitterness that sometimes reigns in their encounters, pervades all society, and sets neighbor against neighbor, friend against friend,-we commend the following traits in "The Observer' and 'The Examiner,' as at once becoming the dignity of the press, and calculated to preserve peace, and diffuse true light, among the people. The former "is conducted with much gentlemanly feeling. Anything in the shape of coarseness or virulence never finds its way into its columns...... Every thing in it is previously examined, often re-written with the greatest care, both with the view of guarding against any impropriety of expression, and insuring a condensed accuracy in its statements of facts."

"The Examiner's' original articles

from the clutches of the Radicals, and of saving the Church from the destruction with which it was threatened by infidels. It was not the worst part of the joke, that the two editors engaged to conduct it were actually, in their private opinions, both Radicals and infidels. The crisis to the country which this Conservative hebdomadal pledged itself to avert, by timely arresting the proitself. It only lived six weeks, and during that time the average gress of Radicalism and Infidelity, speedily, alas! happened to of the number sold-a good many copies were given away gratis-did not amount to thirty."

After comparing, or rather contrasting, the newspapers of France with those of England; assigning to the English an immeasurable superiority both in the quantity, and in the character, of their contents;--Mr. Grant says-

sent day, with what it was at the commencement of the last cen"It is curious to compare an English newspaper of the pretury. Then, it only consisted of one leaf, or two pages, of the quarto size, each page divided into two columns. There was not then anything in the shape of reports of the proceedings in Parliament, in the courts of law, or at public meetings. All the intelligence the newspapers of that day contained, was given in a few general paragraphs. Anything in the shape of original remarks or disquisitions, there was none. Indeed it was not until 1758, that the practice of making original observations in a paper, was resorted to. Even then it was rather in the shape of an essay on some literary or moral topic, than a discussion of any political question. The first original article that ever appeared in any newspaper, was an essay by Dr. Johnson in "The Universal Chronicle and Weekly Gazette,' published by Mr. John Newberry, of St. Paul's Churchyard. This was in the year I have just mentioned. The Universal Chronicle' was a paper of four folio pages, printed with a large type; and Mr. Newberry, the proprietor, in order to add a novel feature to his journal, engaged Dr. Johnson to furnish original articles for it, in consideration of which the great lexicographer was to have a share in the work. The essays which Dr. Johnson furnished to 'The Universal Chronicle,' were afterwards republished in 'The Idler.'"'

"are always full of wit and argument. You never read one of them without being struck with the brilliancy of some of the writer's ideas or illustrations. There is, too, a vein of quiet subdued sarcasm pervading the whole of Mr. Fonblanque's articles, which possess the rare good fortune of being equally perceived and admired by the most intellectual and the least informed readers of newspapers. Hence there is, perhaps, no weekly journal whose readers are in such equal proportions among the higher and lower classes. The Examiner' never indulges in declamation. This is somewhat surprising, when every one knows that Mr. Fonblanque's attachment to his principles is not exceeded by that of any man. He feels strongly on all great questions: he is the uncompromising advocate of the most liberal principles; he is incessant in his attacks on a Tory oligarchy, and a most strenuous asserter of the rights of the people, and yet he never betrays the least warmth or violence of manner. 'The Globe,' when twitted some time ago by 'The Times,' on an alleged loss of temper, took credit to itself for being "as cool as a cucumber." If ever one journalist was entitled more than another to claim this credit for himself, that journalist is Mr. Albany Fon- We have heard some eminent men speak contemptublanque. How he would behave-whether he would take mat-ously of the practice of "scribbling for newspapers," ters as cooly, were his house on fire, I know not; but amidst the sound of trumpets and the clash of arms, in the political conflict, he retains the most perfect composure. Many persons, when looking on the agitation and excitement and ardor of feeling, evinced by all its contemporaries on both sides of the question, have felt The Examiner's' coolness to be provoking. How much more annoying must Mr. Fonblanque's frigidity of manner prove to his brother journalists, when they see themselves worked up to what I once heard a coalheaver somewhat happily characterise as a "jolly good passion." But though Mr. Fonblanque never suffers himself to lose his temper, and consequently guards against that coarse abuse, in dealing with an opponent, which is the usual accompaniment of undue ardor of

feeling, his wit and irony are felt more sensibly by a delicate mind, than would be the most abusive language which it were possible to employ.

as a practice which they deemed far beneath them: and some of these, too, were men not unable to shine in a political essay,—had they been so disposed. Such has not been the opinion of many Minds in this country, whose talents and virtues would go far to sanctify almost any usage. Wirt, Turnbull, (William) Livingston, Ames, Giles, Jay, Hamilton, Madison, and Franklin,-not to mention great living names,—were voluminous and powerful contributors to newspapers. If we look to Great Britain (besides the instances mentioned in the paragraph we are going to quote), we find Brougham, Jeffrey, Southey, Campbell, Moore, Sidney Smith, McCauley, and a host of others not equal, in

deed, yet not far inferior to them in power,-furnishing | they exercise on public opinion, is incalculably great." articles to Reviews, magazines, and newspapers. Mr. Of the talents, and the laborious processes, by which

Grant says:

this influence is earned and maintained-of the nature "The character of the newspaper press of the metropolis, has of the art of reporting-of the ludicrous inconveniences been greatly raised within the last quarter of a century. Before of verbatim reports-and the comparative advantages that time no man of any standing either in the political or literary of stenography and of long-hand, in taking down speechworld, would condescend to write in a newspaper; or if he did, he took special care to keep the circumstance as great a secret es,-much is said, and entertainingly. There is a judias if he had committed some penal offence of the first magni- cious suggestion, that if reporters could and would curtude. Now, the most distinguished persons in the country, not tail the long, rambling speeches of members, so as to only often contribute to newspapers, but are ready to admit it, except where there may be accidental reasons for concealment. present only the main points, these great advantages Many of our Peers, and still more of our representatives in the would be gained: A greater number of speeches could House of Commons, write for the London newspaper press. In be inserted in every newspaper, and read by its readers; speaking of the daily papers, I have mentioned some of the dis- every speech would be more easily understood,-its tinguished persons in the habit of writing for the London jour-fallacies discerned, and its sound arguments appreciated; nals. Mr. Canning and Sir James Mackintosh, were both con- and the speakers themselves would abandon the tedious nected with the newspaper press, for a considerable time." From the enthusiasm with which our author asserts impertinences into which they now run,-if their vanity the superiority of newspapers over other periodicals, were no longer gratified by seeing them blazoned in we incline to suspect that he was himself once editor of print. one. Yet we do not know that we should differ with him in his preference; especially, if newspapers were always conducted in the spirit which he ascribes to The

Examiner and Observer.

Verbatim reports have been vehemently insisted on, by some orators in Parliament. "Pretty speeches, in that case," as Mr. G. says, "would some of their orations appear!" To exemplify this, he tells a diverting "The newspaper," says he, "is incomparably the noblest and anecdote of an Irish member, Sir Frederick Flood, 'a most useful purpose to which the invention of printing has been great stickler for verbatim reports.' A waggish reporter, turned. It is by far the most glorious of the triumphs which ty- desirous to shew him how little he would gain by havpography, in all probability, is destined to achieve. The news-ing his wish, presented one morning in a newspaper, the paper preeminently comes home to the business and bosoms of following effusion, uttered by Sir F. in the House, the evening before:

men.

Talk of the varied information and utility of the cyclopædias and almanacks! Why, these publications are not to be mentioned in the same breath with the newspaper; it addresses itself to our immediate wants; affords you that information, without which you could not spend even the day on which you have entered, with a degree of comfort. Deprive us of our newspapers, and a greater calamity could not befall us. Life without them would be scarcely worth the having. What to the man accustomed to his morning paper, along with his rolls and butter, would be his breakfast without one? Speak to this point, ye subscribers to the morning journals, who have occasionally, through heavy debates in Parliament, important expresses received at a late hour, or other causes,-been deprived of your paper until eleven o'clock,-say, have you not, in such cases, spent a most miserable morning? Has not your breakfast been deprived of its usual relish? Have not even the smiling faces of the members of your family, supposing you to be married, lost

"Mr. Spaker,-As I was coming down to this House to perform my duty to the country and ould Irelant, I was brutally attacked, Sir, by a mob, Mr. Spaker, of ragamuffins, Sir. If, Sir, any honorable gintlemin is to be assaulted, Mr. Spaker, by such a parcel of spalpeens, Sir, as were after attacking me, Mr. Spaker, then I say, Mr. Spaker," &c. &c.

"This," says Mr. Grant, "proved a complete extinguisher to Sir Frederick Flood's penchant for verbatim reporting. He went, the day on which his oration appeared, to the editors of all the morning papers, and said he would thereafter leave his speeches to 'the discration of the reporthers.""

Many are the orators in the Congress and State Legislatures of our Union, who owe as much to the reporters as Sir Frederick Flood did. We have known the charm which they possess at all other times? The newsat least one confess, ingenuously, his obligations to them. paper is now become a necessary of life. Its uses are innume- They are great levellers, it is true: raising up or pulling rable; it addresses itself to its readers as intellectual men, as down every speaker, to their own intellectual height: members of the body politic, and as private individuals. It is but they raise up, many more than they pull down. the first to inform them of any new discovery of importance in the science of mind. It points out, by its reviews, its reports of One good story which Mr. G. tells of Jack Finnarty, the proceedings of literary and scientific societies, its advertise- a noted Irish reporter in Parliament, may more justly ments, &c. every thing of interest which transpires in the repub-claim the equally famous Mark Supple, as its hero. It lic of letters. As to politics, again, it is preeminently its province runs, according to our recollection, to this effect: to communicate the amplest information regarding them. Whatever bears, either directly or indirectly, on the destinies of the nation, is to be found in the columns of the newspaper. To all such matters it has an eagle eye; and not to the politics of this country only, but to those of the whole civilized world.

"Read your newspaper carefully, and it is your own fault if

you have not a clear view, without rising off your chair, of the state of matters in all parts of the globe. I was much struck with an observation which a pious Baptist minister made some years ago to a friend of mine, when on a visit in the north of Scotland. A newspaper having been brought into the room, he held out his hand to receive it, saying, "Be kind enough to let me have it for a few minutes, till I see how the Supreme Being is governing the world!" A more forcible or felicitous expression, as applied to a newspaper, could not be employed."

One of the most amusing chapters in the book is filled with an account of the Parliamentary Reporters; who have been jocularly called "The Fourth Estate:" a joke, says Mr. G., "in which there is much more truth than is generally supposed. The influence which

The House was waiting for some tedious form or other to be gone through; perhaps the signing of bills. The orators were mute-the clerks were writing-the reporters had mended their pens, but were waiting, vainly, for something to do with them-the Speaker, (Addington) a tall, prim, starched personage, remarkable for his appearance of dignity, sat uneasily in his chair, as near fidgetting as one so dignified could be. Mark Supple (a professed wag, and a general favorite), overcome by weariness, and potently stimulated with liquor, at length broke the silence by yawning out, "A song from Mr. Speaker!" After a momentary stare of amazement, a universal roar of laughter shook the House. An officer forthwith entered the gallery, and inquired who was the offender. Mark silently pointed to a little, demure Quaker, sitting before him. (We tell the rest in Mr. G.'s words)

"The officer immediately seized the unoffending little man by | adjust nicely the scales, of his literary judgment seat. the breast of his collarless coat, and without condescending to At all events, it is as right, as it is difficult, for a reviewer give a why or wherefore, dragged him down stairs, and transferred him to the care of the sergeant-at-arms. The latter, after keeping him in safe custody during the night, and compelling him to pay nearly 301. for his lodgings, set him at liberty on the following day."

We would gladly extract several other choice and laughable anecdotes of the reporter's gallery; but space would fail us. We pass to the closing subject-the Reviews, and other literary periodicals, of London.

There are five quarterly reviews: The QUARTERLY,— The LONDON AND WESTMINSTER,-The FOREIGN QUARTERLY, The BRITISH AND FOREIGN,-and The DUBLIN. Of these, the first is notoriously Conservative in its politics: the last was established to advocate the claims of the Catholics,-is edited by three gentlemen of that persuasion,-and therefore, can hardly be very much devoted to free principles in government or religion: the other three are decidedly liberal. The Quarterly Review has a circulation of 9000; being by far greater than that of any other in Great Britain, except the Edinburg,-which circulated once, and probably still circulates, the enormous number of 18 or 20 thousand! The other Reviews are comparatively stinted. The London and Westminster, (the most successful of them) circulates only 1500. The Foreign Quarterly,

1200.

to be unbiassed by any personal, local, or party considerations, in the sentence he pronounces upon an author. "As a critic, he knows no private friendship. He will overpower you with his hospitality and kindnesses in his own house, and in the very next number of 'The Quarterly,' make melancholy havoc with your literary character. A marked instance of this occurred a short time since in the case of a Frenchman of distinguished reputatior in his own country. As Monsieur had every reason to believe a work which he had just then finished would be noticed in 'The Quarterly,' and as he trembled at the very idea of its being "cut up," he thought the best way to guard against such a calamity would be to procure letters of introduction to Mr. Lockhart, and come over to London to make his friendship. He did so; and, to his ineffable delight, was received by the 'Quarterly' critic with every mark of the most cordial friendship. They dined and "drank wine" together day after day during the Frenchman's stay in London. In the course of their conversation Mr. Lockhart mentioned that an elaborate notice had been drawn up of his guest's work, but did not throw out any hint as to the strain in which it was written; of course the latter did not put the question whether it was favorable or otherwise; that would have been to a certain extent an infringement of the rules of good breeding. He assumed, however, that the review would be commendatory, from the marked attentions which the editor of 'The Quarterly' paid him. At last the hour of departure from the hospitable abode of Mr. Lockhart arrived, and away the Frenchman went back to Paris, in raptures at the thought of the English popularity which the forthcoming number of The Quarterly' was to confer on him. On reaching Paris, he mentioned the circumstance to all his friends.

Judge then of his horror, when, in less than a fortnight afterwards, The Quarterly' contained an article on his book, which,

as a specimen of literary butchery, has scarcely ever been equalled."

The present flourishing state of periodical literature does not contrast more strikingly with its feeble condition half a century ago, than its improved intellectual character now, contrasts with its deficiencies then. ForWe, and others, have doubted whether frequent remerly, an author of reputation seldom wrote, even view-reading had not some ill effects upon the mind. It anonymously, for the magazines and reviews. Now, as Mr. Grant remarks, there is hardly "a single indi- tends (we have thought) to puff up the reader with an vidual of any distinction in our current literature, who imagination that he is master of all that the criticised work contains, when in truth, he knows little more than has not enriched them by occasional articles. Many of our most gifted and successful literati, are regular con- low and vain. He is satisfied with the reviewer's (often is told by its title page. Thus he becomes at once shaltributors to our periodical literature." Possibly, he may be right, when he ascribes this great improvement garbled) abstract of the book; and is unconsciously led to adopt his opinions of it, with all the unquestioning in the character of periodicals, to the modern practice reverence that a pious heathen used to feel, for the resof paying for contributions. After quoting, and approv-ponse of an oracle. When the critic is able and sarcasing, the remark of Dr. Johnson,-that "none but a blockhead would think of writing, unless he were paid for his labor;" Mr. G. says-"It will generally be found, that persons of talent will not rack their brains for nothing. If first rate matter is to be procured, a corresponding price must be paid for it." Mr. Gifford received a yearly salary of 9001. for editing the "Quarterly;" and Mr. Lockhart is said to receive 1400l.: the same sum which Mr. Jeffrey had for editing the "Ed-upon the poor, blundering poet or philosopher, who is inburg." Besides salaries to the editors, each of those great reviews pays an average rate of 20 guineas for every 16 pages of printed matter; and for articles of extraordinary merit, or from very eminent authors, still higher prices. Southey has often received fifty guineas for fewer than 30 pages: and Sir James Mackintosh was once paid, by Mr. Constable, of 'the Edinburg,' 100 guineas for an article of but forty pages,-on the 'Partitions of Poland.' The other reviews allow but a guinea a page. Assuredly, no Muse, at all susceptible of mercenary influences, could fail to be stimulated by such rewards.

We like, on the whole, the following character given of Mr. Lockhart, as a critic; though we fear it be speaks him more prompt to draw the sword, than to

entering more easily, or better prepared, into the tic, his aim, too generally, is 'not to aid his readers in thoughts, feelings, or truths, which his author endeavors ish: and he prostitutes his talents to enable the comto teach or illustrate; but, to make the author look fooldown from the vantage ground of superior intellect, mon herd of his readers to suppose themselves looking

the subject of review.' [We quote, substantially, from that saucy but most amusing book, "Peter's Letters to his Kinsfolk,"-written by no other than Mr. Lockhart himself. He afterwards proceeds thus]:

ticle in the Edinburg Review, imagines for the time that he himself is quizzing the man of genius, whose labors are there sported with. His opaque features are illuminated with triumph; and, holding the journal fast in his hand, he pursues his fantastic victory to the last extremities. Month after month, or quarter after quarter, this most airy species of gratification is renewed, till, by long habit, our blockhead at last becomes bona fide convinced, that he is quite superior to any thing the age can produce. Now and then, to be sure, some passing circumstance may dart a mo

"The most vulgar blockhead who takes up and reads an ar

mentary disturbance into the sanctuary of his self-complacency: number of the Review, to convince him that he was all in the but this will only make him long the more fervently for the next right,-to rekindle the fluttering lamp of his vanity, and make

In all this, we fear, there is much truth; not as respects the Edinburg Review in particular-for that is not less impartial, and certainly far abler, than the Quarterly or any other existing Review;-but as respects all criticism, which is not actuated exclusively by the desire to present, candidly and fully, the true character and a faithful summary of the works criticised. signal benefit to literature in general. I allude to the facilities they afford to men of genius for developing their talents. I reSome of the objections which we have made or bor-ferred in a previous chapter to the just observation of Quintilian, rowed, are perhaps successfully answered by Mr. Grant, in a passage which, though rather long, will so amply repay the trouble of perusal, that we quote it entire: