The Sun.
London, England, 1842-09-06 00:00:00

WHAT IS A NEWSPAPER?

This is a question, though apparently simple, which
cannot be answered in a moment. The query might
be propounded a hundred times, and be replied to as
often, with as many different meanings, and yet with
perfect accuracy. A newspaper is a mirror which
reflects intelligence from all quarters of the globe, as
the first four letters of its name denote—N EW S—
(north, east, west, south). There is not an event which
does not, sooner or later, make its way, through a
variety of secret channels, to this reservoir of public
information. From the great occurrences of the wide
world, to the little incidents of private life, we are
made acquainted, by this notorious "tell-tale," of
what is passing in the earth ; and nothing can be
more interesting, or exciting to our curiosity, than a
newspaper just published from the press. It is laid
upon the breakfast-table in a folded form; and while
we open its damp sheet, we are moved with a prying,
eager, and anxious anticipation, to which nothing but
the newspaper itself can afford satisfaction. There is
something innate with our very nature, which craves
so for information, that such a source of comniunica-
tion as a public journal, becomes an object of un-
equalled interest ; and history, biography, romance,
poetry, or any other species of literature, is almost in-
variably set aside, when this great literary informant
makes its entree. On opening it we find it to be a
cabinet of curiosities, in almost kaleidoscope variety.
So diversified, in fact, that unless our mind is fixed on
one particular feature, we become bewildered with its
diversity, and are as much perplexed in making a se-
lection as a child while culling the blossoms of a va-
riegated flower garden.
" Among its printed columns may be traced
A paragraph for each peculiar taste."
Whilst we are disposed to philosophy, divinity, poli-
tics, or what not, we are sure to be accommodated
with some " tit-bit," according to our fancy, and
seldom is it that a newspaper reader lays down the
" broad sheet" without some gratifications. A news-
paper (viewing it in another light) is an universal
critic on society. "Whatever is produced is brought
under the inspection of this eagle-eyed scrutator.
Books, music, machinery, and indeed everything else,
natural or artificial, are made the objects of comment
by this great commentator ' • and it is often an useful
sieve in separating the 66chaff from the wheat"—the
good from the " good for nothing." Nor is there a
man living (whatever his pretensions)—who does not
flinch and cringe beneath the castigating stripes of a
newspaper critique. A newspaper is often a spot of
ground on which talent and genius spring up and
blossom ;_ and, but for this fruitful soil—this culti.
vated bed—

" Full many a flower were born to blush unseen,
And waste its sweetness in the desert air."
A newspaper (in another character) is the mighty ex-
poser and corrector of public abuses and offences.
Like the fumed Argus, its eyes are ever on the watch ;
and few errors or delinquencies can escape their con-
stant vigilance. But to represent a public journal in
all its phases, would be an interminable task. What,
then, must be the nature of the operations by which
it is produced ! What diversity of gift—what won-
derful instruments of art—and what astonishing faci-
lity must be called forth to its accomplishment ! Were
it a vulgar detail of casualties, collected and commu-
nicated in a loose and imperfect style, we might re-
gard it as an object of less astonishment ; but when
we know it to be a source of almost ad.infinitum intel-
ligence—presented in a correct and interesting form
of literature, we can scarcely be persuaded that so
vast a project is the accomplishment of four-and-
twenty hours.

THE LATE MARQUIS OE HERTFORD.—The per-
sonal property of the late Marquis of Hertford has been
sworn under 700,000 L, the duty on which will amount
to 10,0001. It is stated, on the best authority, that the
report of the executors being about to commence a civil
action against Suisse is totally without foundation. It
was at one time thought that a dispute would arise with
respect to the property left by some of the codicils, in
consequence of their being without a date ; but all has
been amicably arranged. The executors are allowed by
law 12 months from the death of the late Marquis to pay
all or any of the respective beguests to the several per-
sons therein named ; but whether they will avail them-
selves of such a privilege in the case of Suisse is not at
present known. It is said that he intends leaving a
power of attorney in this country to receive the amount,
and that he intends shortly leaving England to join his
wife. We have it from good authority, although we
cannot actually vouch for the fact, that the recent prose-
cution of Suisse was not with the consent or wish of the
present Marquis of Hertford, and that many extraordi-
nary facts in reference to this singular case were kept
from the public eye.—Britanoia.
Yesterday evening an accident occurred to a fine
lad, named Joshua Wardell, ten years of age, whose pa-
rents reside at No. 20,1Roupell-street, Cornwall-road. It
appears that the lad had been sent on an errand by his
mother to the Borough Market, and, whilst crossing the
road in Park-street, he was run over by a cab. The
driver, who had previously called to the lad to get out
of the way, and who exhibited the greatest regret at the
occurrence, immediately stopped his horse, and the child
being placed in the cab, was conveyed to St. Thomas's
Hospital. The wheels had passed over his neck and
head, and considerable doubts are entertained of his
ultimate recovery. This is the sixth case of accident
(three of which have terminated fatally) in the family of
the lad, and three of them having been run over by
vehicles.

A man, 22 years of age, named Wattrelot, who
acted as assistant to his father-in-law, a farmer, named
Foutry, at Carvin-Epinoy, was tried before the Court of
Assizes of the Pas-de-Calais, on the 25th ult., for the
murder by poison of his father-in-law, mother-in-law,
and sister-in-law, the motive for his crime having been
to become more speedily in possession .of the property,
which at their death would belong to him in right of his
wifr. The father-in-law was murdered by mixing ar-
senic in his soup, and six days afterwards the murderer
adopted the same course with the two female victims.
Ile was found guilty by the jury, but (to the astonish-
ment of the Court) with extenuating circumstances. The
was, consequently, sentenced to imprisonment for life,
with bard labour and exposure in the pillory.
A letter from Alexandria, 22d tilt, in the Sema-
phore of Marseilles, says—" It was supposed that the
Pacha had renounced the intention of sending out his
fleet, but the contrary appears to be the case, for, dur-
ing the lava two days, the ships have been taking in
provisions, and Said Pacha has been sent for by his
father. This sudden determination has given rise to va-
rious conjectures. Some say that the fleet is about to
be sent on a secret mission ; while others assert that it
is to join the squadron of Admiral de la Susse. There
is reason to believe, however, that the Egyptian fleet
will not proceed to any distance front the coast, and
that the chief object in sending it out is for exercise and
manoeuvres."