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    Untitled Article

    at present , but prepared like the Provincial Press to sell for one penny less per copy . For the country villages and hamlets , where I have continually seen the stamped Times received by train * it will , of course , be posted like the Provincial Press , or sent unstamped by train , and will , therefore , stand at no disadvantage in price so far . The only one point where it could be damaged would be l > y purchasers in the country placing a postagestamp on the paper , which would only frank it for

    one transmission ; but here , again , the country agent has only to order a stamped impression for the country purchaser , and this inconvenience is obviated ; the Times still sells at the same price in the country town as the country paper proper , and enjoys the same advantages as the country paper in multiplied postal circulation . You will perceive , therefore , that these dexterously-contrived clauses , if intended detrimentally to affect the London Press , will fail of their purpose for the facilities enjoyed by the Times are also possessed by the other

    metropolitan papers . These enormous advantages cannot be commanded by the Country Press to London , or even by the Country Press from town to town , since the demand being so small , the bookseller would not incur the expense of a daily railway parcel for the problematical dissemination of . a country newspaper , in which few people take any interest . Having disposed of the above question , one of greater difficulty meets us , the rapid publication of fac similes of the London papers .

    It appears again to be a very general impression that the Bill under consideration creates additional facilities in the above respect , and this impression is in so far based on truth , that the deposit of certain moneys and certain securities , and the prepayment of stamps foi the impression are abolished . With these few exceptions additional country papers will possess simply the privilege now possessed , by the country press and by the London journals , viz ., that of stealing ad libitum from any contemporary either news articles or other materials without" acknowledgment , and with only such inducements to honesty as may be afforded by a tender editorial

    consciencea not very substantial guarantee in the best of cases . That there will be the . most shameful . pillage after the passing of this act is to be anticipated , inasmuch as there has been the most shameful pillage from time immemorial . With the diminution in price of the stamp duty on the London papers , however , and on the present Country Press , and seeing that no additional facilities are created in respect to a system which is already unjustly legalised , I do not perceive how it can become more advantageous to steal in future than it is at present , and I certainly cannot perceive-how-additional-injury to the-London-Press . can arise . The Country Press has already for years

    past stood in the same position towards the London Press as it will henceforth stand ; and the same clauses which it is said would cause now an indefinite multiplication of metropolitan and country sheets , the facility of transfer , the consequent saving of expenses in all departments , &c , have been always in existence ; and since for many years past it has not served the purposes of speculators to establish rechauffes of intelligence , I do not believe that it will answer in future . Responsible persons could certainly always have provided the necessary caution-money and securities hitherto ; and , with respect to a low and

    debased literature , resulting from the non-employment of those precautions , certain it is that such a literature , however injurious it may be to the nation , will be perfectly harmless as regards the excellent journals at present established , which are conducted with too much enterprise and ability , and with too much gentlemanly feeling , to sustain a loss of influence from such an opposition ns is here mentioned . The above considerations would , therefore , lead to the conviction that the Times and other journals will sustain remarkably little , if any , diminution in the number of their impressions from the new Act .

    The circulation remaining undiminished , the advertisements that now appear in the London journals would still seek publicity through the same channels . It is not alone the number of copies sold by a paper that constitute it a valuable medium to the advertiser . Tho character of the paper is , perhaps , a still more important consideration . The Times addresses all classes , high and low ; its advertisements are therefore directed to all classes . Tho Morning Post ,

    although generally circulating also , circulates more especially in the higher regions of the community . Consequently , persona -seeking publicity are willing to pay that journal its present high rates for advertisements , and find their profit , I presume , in so doing . Tho Builder , Lancet , and other journals are prominent instances of this , " class" advertising , but the operations in forco as regards their columns are quite as powerfully operating in regard to tho press generally , although the shades of difference ore not

    so broad nor the line of demarcation so plainly marked . This class consideration is of very great importance in its bearing upon the new journalism , so much so , that for my part , taking this question conjointly with the questions of character , circulation , postal transmission , ' and facilities of 1 transfer as elaborated above , I confess it I do not understand how the Metropolitan , nay , even the Country Press is to be materially interfered with . In fact , these points confessedly remaining the same , can it be supposed that the mere abrogation of the caution money and security clauses , taken conjointly with the reduction of price effected by the removal of the stamp , will so liberate journalismor -will so diminish the total

    , price of a paper as to cause a universal alteration in the condition of journalism ? Doubtless many inferior sheets will be started , but only by those who could not comply with the laws previously in force . This consideration constitutes the paper a priori a stale sheet , makes its news some hours old , and precludes the enterprise , expenditure , and rapid information which , whatever may be asserted to the contrary , have for years past ensured the superiority of the London Press , and preve nted the profitable transfer and republication of news . Had this not been the case , it were quite preposterous to imagine

    that the mere caution money , security , and stamp duty , confessedly the only obstacles opposed , would for so many years past have acted as insurmountable . hindrances to the establishment of new Metropolitan and Provincial papers . Had there previously existed any law of copyright , and were it now proposed to abrogate that law , doubtless these alarms would be natural enough : and yet , as the event has proved , such alarm would be unfounded , for the daily papers , although unprotected by a law of copyright , have not up to the present time recognised themselves transferred and under a new name in the pages of a

    diurnal copyist . As respects question 5 , 1 confess it , I do not see my way so clearly . There is , doubtless , some foundation for the belief that journals of an inferior character , and addressed only to the lower classes , will be prepared for publication on the day the new stamp act shall come in force . There may also , and I doubt not will , be some few journals of a somewhat higher character , specially intended for those who cannot afford to buy a daily paper , and take it home under present circumstances , but who would frequently indulge the ir families with a late copy of news if it could be obtained at a considerably less cost . It will be , however , for such persons only that the new journalism can be made available , since the present

    high class papers may be obtained of any news agent for perhaps one penny per hour , or two hours , and so on . The educated classes , merchants and others , will still adhere to their high class paper for many reasons . The lower classes , should they be fortunate enough to obtain instruction from the new prints , will resort to other pages the moment . their intelligence , knowledge , and general ideas respecting the movements of the day shall haveJbeeni educated to a better standard . The new ~ journalising"indeed , " is much more likely to prove an efficient coadjutor to the established press—a sort of preparatory school , indeed—than to do it injury . On the other hand , in the event of any licentious sheets being published , and the new act encouraging such publications , its repeal will be an infinitely more rapid measure than

    its enactment . Points 6 and 7 are so intimately connected that they must be discussed together . The first portion of point 61 have already endeavoured to elucidate : respecting the second , limiting the weight of a newspaper to six ounces , there is much to be said pro and con . Taking the Post Office as an office established solely for the convenience of the public and not as a source of revenue to the government , and considering that there are other papers than the Times which exceed the weight appointed as the limit ; and seeing that these papers are , as a rule , the best in their districts , it would appear but just that the limit of weight should be tho present weight of the largest journals . This would establish a limit , which is , of course , a

    necessity . Yet it may bo said , that on the publication of two editions of the same book , the one an abridgment at Is . passing through the post for 6 d ., the other a full , complete , and admirable edition , heavier from these very causes , and requiring a shilling to frank its transmission , a manifest injustice would be done to the enterprising publisher who had already gone to greater expense , and produced a more admirable and instructive book for tho public benont . Such arguments , doubtless , have weight ; but Sir G . Cornewall Lewis will find that an endeavour to abolish a restriction which would doubtless weigh heavily upon the entorpriso and talent of tho country , would at all events clear the Government from suspicions and aspersions based upon tho evident encouragement held out to this new journalism . The new Stamp Act has now been fully considered in its different bearings upon tho journals already established , and upon those that may' possibly bo projected ; but there are several other circumstances introduced by public necessity , which also liave a very important bearing upon tho question .

    These circumstances are the establishment of clubs , reading-rooms , and the electric telegraph . The two first have already created peculiar classes of newspaper readers , men of taste , judgment , and education , who are now not at all satisfied unless thev are enabled to read or to skim over the majority of the London journals , not only daily ,, but-w eekly . The reading-rooms , coffee-houses , and taverns , als o offer convenient arid cheap enough opportunities to read the morning papers ; and so largely , ind eed , are these facilities taken advantage of , that where a London paper is purchased for only one person , its readers may be numbered by dozens , and that too both in town and country . The electric telegraph more especially affects the establishment of country sheets , since the present Country Pres 3 can procure late telegraphic summaries for their first editions and summaries at about ten a . m ., which ar e published in the form of a slip , and given away . The newsrooms again have telegraphic summaries as late as two and three , p . m . What is ttie new journalism to . effect against this mass of telegraphic news ? The Times and other papers are alread j' telegraphed down , or at least their choicest intelligence . This is concentr ated into the quantity of perhaps two columns . Of what avail to republish all this news some hours a fterwards in a more ample and extended form ? The new journalism can do little enough with the telegraph that is not already done . Should it copy from the London papers on their arrival , the entire valuable portion of these republications will have already appeare ' d . The newsrooms will be still obtaining later intelligence , and the new journalism will effect something new indeed , if notwithstanding all these obstacles , it should succeed in establishing itself in public favour , and in obtaining public support . I am , Sir , your obedient servant , A Feiend to " The Leader . "

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    OBSERVANCE OF THE SABBATH . ( To the Editor of the Leader . ) Sib , —Although our modern Scribes and Pharisees cannot yet be induced to acknowledge that the Sabbath was made for man , and not inan for the Sabbath , it can hardly fail that the late motion—illustrated by Lord Stanley ' s good sense—will have done some service in battering in breach a time-honoured prejudice , which most men support merely from fear of offending their wives . If perchance any one bo bold enough to speak in favour of innocent recreations on Sunday , some lady or other in the company is certain to exclaim with mingled solemnity and alarm ,

    «• Remember the Sabbath day , to keep it holy , at the same time laying a marked emphasis on the last word ; But * in what languageTdoes * holy "— mean " gloomy ? " In this case the translation itself is in fault , for it should run thus : " to keep it separate "that is , separate from the six days allotted to labour . And in the Book of Deuteronomy the reason assigned for this ' separation" is , that the Jews should not forget the years of bondage and affliction they passed in the land of Egypt . In the twentieth chapter of Exodus , indeed , another motive is given , viz ., the commemoration of God ? s repose from the work ot creation . But this is evidently rejected by Christ , when he declares that the Father is continually working without cessation even on the Sabbath . He also repudiates the doctrine and practice of passive inertness on that day , and everywhere inculcates by precept and example a cheerful spirit and social

    mirth . Besides , tho Jewish festivals , with one single exception , were occasions of rejoicing , of eating , drinK * ing , and making merry . And bo far was dancing from being looked upon as a carnal device and invention of the Evil One , that King David danced before tho ark " with all his might . " But whatever may have been tho custom ot an isolated race of men , our reason revolts at tho idea oi a Creator being honoured by tho gloom and ennm oi His creatures . By all means let the seventh day oo set apart for rest , that men may gather strength lor tho duties of tho six . days that follow . It " goofl also that thanks bo offered to the Most High lorau the blessings of this life . But tho true worship ot God is manifested in an upright heart and pure , ana in a faithful discharge of all duties , domestic , souai ,

    and political . Against these there is no law . a ™ that man is tho best citizen and Christian ™ "„ votes tho seventh day to tho development ot "is own faculties and to tho improvement and education a those who depend upon him . That day cannot , W botter employed than in instructive aniuflonieirt , sucu as may bo found in Museums and Gal cries rather than among tho donkeys of Hampstoad-heath , ortuo tea-and-shrimp parlours of Greenwich . Yours , &c , v »

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    IJJ THIS PBPABTMENT , AS AM , OPIJJIONS , HOWEVER KXTEKME , ARE ALLOWED AN EXPRESSION , THE EDITOR 2 JECES 3 ABILY HO 1 . DS 1 HMSELF RESPONSIBLE FOlt NONE . ] ~

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    328 THE LEADER . [ Saturday , I .. - ¦¦ .-. ! - ¦ . ^ ' —^— - ^^ m

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), April 7, 1855, page 328, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2085/page/16/