Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-07-31
THE LONDON PRESS.


that contained in an article in the last Westminster
(l.ondon) Review and have thought some ex
tracts from this article would ne interesting to ou
readers. The first we make, relates TO the size OF
modern newspaper.
''The Times has high reputation for the great sa
gacity with which II selZes questions during tn,
period in which they most particularly occupy the
public mind. Broad tins sheet was, it seems tina
IL Is to be still broader The Globe of January 18th
says:-ln consequence Of the act of Parliament re-
curing an extra stamp for every supplemental sheet
OF u newspaper, mode of giving tse required addi-
tional matter, without mourning further stamp C
", has just been adopted by the Times newspaper
Instead of giving supplementary sheet the Times
this day, is printed upon entire sheet of paper
measuring four feet In length, and three in breadth
and containing forty Eight columns of matter. oi
which rather than thirty re filed with advertise
ments, being considerably upwards of ninety thou
sand words. There fifteen columns of reports
and news OF different kinds, printed in small type,
aud containing more than forty-f thousand ords,
anu about three columns III the larger type contail
lug nicrr than six thousand words-so that there are
nearly one hundred and fifty thousand words in the
paper: This quantity OF matter would form cunsid
cEAbly more than thick octave volume OF any of the
modern works as they printed. Indeed, on
calculating the quantity Of OF the most recent
and by no means the most closely printed we find
that the contents of the Times Of this day, il prin-
ted IN the same manner would exceed by eighty pa
ges, the contents of the volume which we have ex-
amined. If by the side of this colossal paper we
were to place one Of the earliest numbers printed u-
der the same TITLE the contrast wod be curious
On referring of the earliest newspapers prin-
ted in this country, find its Contents to be equal to
less than one hundreth part OF the Times Of this day
Considering the shortness of the time " icL must
have elapsed between the commencement and the
termination of the labours ofgetting up such sheet
the number Of hands in every department can have
fallen little short Of one hundred. The lovers of
quantity can, oil course. find 10 fault with this
arrangement Of the Times newspaper, but there
may be some who will dread the task OF get
ting through an octave volume at their breakfast
table. To persons who like to read all that
newspaper contains before they set about the
business of the day, the task of swallowing little
less than one hundred and fifty thousand words with
their rolls and cofeethe feat of getting through the
forty eight columns Of the Times with due regard
TO the importance of lis Leading artcles-its news
foreign and dOmcstic-its reports--the announce
1ents of sales by auction of bankers estates and seats
III Parliament, cobs and cabriolets-the infinite
sundries of wants and Wonderland last, not least
births, datfs and marriages-such feat this will
exceed the wonders of the prize ring the phenome
LA o. The turf, aud satisfy the cravings Of the most
unsuitable HeIuo broru!n. How the coffee usc
keepers and other heads of places of public resort
and entertainment will relish the plan we know not
We think the intellectual artisan in his snare
nan hour, waiting till the other gentleman has done
with the paper, casting at him chances half angry
nal! iInploring Every one has heard of certain no
BE students aptipathy TO 'square book one glimpse
OF the times of to-day, must, should conceive,
.hHame morbid feeling OF this kind to fearful pa
raysls of horror"
We have heard the copyright ofthe Times calca-
lated at from 00000k to 100000; but it would be
difficult to aix value to such an establish.
Inent II II be true that the share holders have some
times divided nett profit of 24000 per annum the
capital must be estimated at much higher rate
he next to the mode Of carrying it OIL.
The number of persons employed upon the daily
newspapers, taking tie average of the morning and
evening papers, is upwards Of six hundred; and that
OF the weekly papers, including those which appear
TWO or three times per week. than five hun
dred; making total of more than eleven hundred;
he 1bprc cd INN . Ia
provincial English papers, and upon those which an
pear in Ireland and Scotland, we shall have rrand
total OF two thousand seven hundred. Employed
upon each morning paper, there arc editor, sub
editor from ten to fourteen regular reporters at sa-
larles of four 10 six gunoas per week, each; from
thlrty TO tryhve compOsors in the printing Office:
some o. whom being what IS called full hands that
Is, men who work the whole of the day, receive
~ 0S each as wages, win some additions for over
hours whilst others, who called supernumeraries
and compose only a limited portion Of matter. called
galley receive H. S. Gd each; one or two readers
who correct the proofs they come from the com
posters. aud who receive each, from two and q half
10 thtce md half guiueas per week; reading bow.
whose duty 1t Is TO read the copy aloud whilst the
Ieahor makes hls corrections upon the proof priI-
Ter, who receives from four to six or even cyht NH
meas per week. and certain number of men and bows
10 attend TO the printing mschne and TO take off ia
papers a. they fall from the cylinders publisher and
suo-publisher two or clerks in the office 10 re-
Ceive advertisements and keep the accounts. a nor.
terra number of GRAND boys, &c.
Ihe salary of ~ editor, upon respectable NOR
nng pnper, IS 6OOi. 10 1oOOi per annum; and a sub.
editor receives from 1907 TO COOL per annum We
have heard that the editor Of one OF the lending NOR.
nng papers, has lO0OK per anDum and that at least
another l000i. per annun, is paid to gentlemen, not
regularly on the est blishment, for political articles
thus providing variety Of matter. Besides The re-
gniar reporters Of newspaper there several
casional, or as they called, penny line repor
ters from The circumstance Of their furnishing artj
ces oi intelligence ~ fixed price per line; viz H.
ha1 I'm nv ritz In
newspaper. The aggregate charge for copy furnish
cd IVY these Pcrsons forms considerable item in the
weekly expenditure Of n newspaper. The salaries
Pald Dy hrst rate morning paper, weekly, 10 iis
od''''a 'Hnrir's and others the establishment.
' r"r week; and it