Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1833-08-14

Iamazing, with what seems to strike at the
root of all prosperity. He sees the most
profuse expenditure, not by the mobiles alone,
but by large classes besides; and, through
out classes far larger, the most resolute ln-
dustry supplying its demands and repairing
its waste; taxation strained to the utmost,
with an ability unparalleled to meet it; pau
perism that is startling, with public and pri-
vate charity munificent and unfailing, to
feed, cothe, and house it; the boldest free
dom, with submission TO law; ignorance and
crime so widely diffused as to appal, with
genius and learning and virtue to reassure;
intestine connections perpetually predicted,
and never happening: constant complaints
Iofpoverty and suffering, with constant in
crease in aggregate wealth and power.
These are some of the anomalies he sees.
How is he then at once to pass upon them
lalE he, stranger, when the foremost of the
natives in knowledge and Intelligence, do
ndhing but differ alter studying them life
tine!
! One of the things that strike me most, is
tielr press. | live north of Portman square,
nearly three miles from the House of Com
mons. By nine in the morning the newspa-
tpers are Upon my breakfast table, containing
the debates OF the preceding night. This is
the case, though 1t may have lasted until
one, two, or three in the morning There is
no disappointment; hardly a biographies
error. The speeches on both sides are given
with like care and fulness, mere rule of
Justice. to be sure, without which the paper
ha hut e. l.
ed where party feeling always runs as high
as in England.
This promptitude is the result of what
alone could produce 1t; an unlimited com
mand of subdivided labor of the hand and
mind. The proprietors of the great newspa-
pers employ as many stenographers as they
want.-One stays until his sheet is full; he
proceeds with it to the printing office, where
he is soon followed by another with his; and
so on, until the last arrives. Thus the de-
bate as it advances is in progress of printing,
and when finished, is all in type but the last
part.-Sometimes it will occupy twelve and
fourteen broad, closely printed columns
The proprietors enlist the most able pens for
editorial articles; and as correspondents,
from different parts of Europe. Their pecu-
mary ability to do so, may be judged of from
The fact, that the leading papers pay to the
government an annual tax in stamps of from
twenty to fifty thousand pounds sterling. |
have been told that some of them yield pro-
ht OF fifteen thousand pounds sterling year,
alter paying this tax and all expenses. The
profits of 'Ihe Tines are said to have ex-
Iceeded eighteen thousand year. The cost
OF a daily paper to regular subscriber, Is
about ten pounds sterling year; but subdi-
vision comes in to make them cheap. They
are circulated by agents a penny an hour
in London.-When few days old they are
sent to the provincial towns, and through the
country. at reduced prices In this manner
the parliamentary debates and proceedings,
lmpartially and fully reported, 60 through
the nation. The newspaper sheet is suited
TO all this service, being large, the paper
substantial, and type good. Nothing can ex-
coed the despatch with which the numerous
impressions are worked off, the mechanical
operations having reached perfection cal
culated to astonish those who would exam
inc them.
What is done in the courts of law is dis
seminated in the same way. Every argu-
ment, trial, and decision, of whatever ma
ture, or before whatever court, goes imme
dlately into the newspapers. There IS no
delay. The following morning ushers it
forth. took the liberty of remarking to one
OF the Judges, upon the smaIlness of the
rooms in which the courts of Kings Bench
and Chancery sit, when the proceedings
were sointeresting that great numbers of the
public would like to hear them. we SIT
said he. emery day in the newspapers.' How
much did that answer comprehend what
an increase of responsibility in the Judge!
understood from a source not less high, that
the newspapers are to be as much relied
upon. as the books of law reports in which
the cases are afterwards published; that, in
fact, the newspaper report is apt to be the
best, being generally the most full, as well
as quite accurate. If not the latter, the
newspaper giving it would soon fall into dis
Irepute, and give way to more accurate COM
pettors. Hence, he who keeps his daily
London paper, has, at the years end, vol
umo of the law reports of the kingdom, be-
sides all other matter; and what variety,
what entertainment, what power of origi-
nal discussion and anecdote, does every pa
per contain!
In the discussions. editorial as otherwise,
there is remarkable fearlessness. Things
that IN Junius's time would have put London
in flame, pass almost daily without notice.
Neither the sovereign nor his family are