The Sun.
London, England, 1863-07-04 00:00:00

TR3 DAILY PRESS-REVIEWED !

We observe, with not unnatural interest, an announce-
ment given in the Literary Times of to-day to the effect
that that clever little penny weekly organ of criticism is
about boldly and vigorously to hare at—the whole of the
Daily Newspapers ! The design here projected may be best
explained perhaps by an extract from the article in which
the Literary Times makes this rather startling, this cer-
tainly very novel, announcement. " Our new feature," it
says, "is to review those who have heretofore reviewed us
all; yes, up to the epees in the sun. Let proprietors go on
dictating to their enlightened staff, who shall sing high,
who shall sing low; but let others be the judges as
to how the bass does the treble. We pretend to
nothing but our own opinion; we would not ad-
vertise the ?lutes if we were asked. Like the
student who put to the professor a question, and got for
answer, I are sure I don't know ;do you ?' we have a right
to venture to ask Telegraphs, Was that the real
message ?' end Stars, ' Is that your real light when looked
at through a prism ?' The Daily Press is the great Re-
porter. Its short-hand stretches to the poles, and ascends
them, ice-greased as they are ; its fingers snatch messages
from the line in every ship that crosses it ; but it is no con-
' juror—ad is done at the office. Presscraft all I But we
are not all imposed on by sights'; we are not all held at the
reins by the printer's devil, while the leader mounts. The
Emperor of the French is the best of men;' ride the daily
Press. The Emperor of the French is the worst of men;'
vide the daily Press. Yet what a mixed blessing is this
great Reporter. All speak through its mouth: the explorers
of the Nile, the Royal Institution, and the doings of King
Dahomey. In the Daily Press these live before our
eyes. Mary Ann Walkley dies among its columns, like
Samson Agenistes ; and Lancashire starves upon them,
but for subscriptions already advertised. What should
we hear if it were not for the Times' we live in ?
sve are not otherwise in the confidence of ' the hus-
band of Madame Elise,' nor of Mr. Cebden's supporters ;
much less did we go with Captain Spekeup the Nile, The
daily press is indeed rich in information : it is not to be
wondered e.i, then, if its reasonings are often no less rich.
They were rich (i la Rothschild), for they paid, when in
a shameful moment England got out of bed and advocated
a prize fight between Heenan and Tom Sayers ; and when
imposed on by its advisers, the spiritual and corporeal peers
present, it avowed itself a convert to the nation. If the
press does not now regret the part it took, all that we can
say is, there are those who do; and had we been
hatched at the time we should have shown our
teeth—not false ones like theirs, but ready to do their own
bidding. We are grateful for the daily press, but
its leading articles have become leading strings to
the million, to drag the world its own way; and it
would be well if they were more critically examined.
In Parliament there is more discussion; yet there,
even, the truth is half hidden, like gold scattered through
the quartz. The press is seldom reviewed; and this is the
opening we seize on, not to break in upon, but to complete
the intellectual circle. To criticise the newspaper
press
when its opinions are injurious and false is a legiti-
mate 11,Id of labour, and it will be worked by the
IN? ary Times. People talk by the newspaper column,
right or wrong, for reflection is scarce, except it be such as
the mirror of party affords. The intellect of the people, in
politics not least, is liken strawberry in June,—ripe on this
side, green on that ; it does it good to be turned over. It
there be a lazy appendage to the body, it is the mind, so little
it reflects; yet so much does it love ideas that rather than
be thoughtless, it adopts those of others and 'brings them up
as its own. Now, it is urged that there are principles in
nature, human and divine, which should be standard, but
that aro constantly overlooked for want of reflection im-
maturities are put forward by the press in place of truth;
why should not these be exposed, like the green side of the
strawberry, to the sun ? Such are the foibles that re-
quiree to be pointed out by those who happily are not to b
imposed on by the grand spectacles of the world; and we
shall try our hand at the task, reminding those concerned
that, as our work will not be done by halves, we shall give
no quarter."

CAPITAL PUNISHMENTS.—Mr. Hibbert has given
notice that on the 14th inst. he will ask the Home Secre-
tary whether, in the ensuing session of Parliament, ho will
bring about such a change of the law as will permit capital
punishments to be carried out, under certain reetrietions,
within the interior of prieons.