The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-10-20
circulation of our New York journa,s ranges


Giving total ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. $1,000
To these we may add
The Daily Herald. .........> $4,000
Sunday and Weekly, de-. ,................5l,00 900
Giving total for the Berald Of .1o3,0 900
Comparing these figures, which we believe to
be accurate, with tine ascertained circulation Of
the papers named about year ago, or more, it
will be seen that the Wall street organs have
remained stationary, or nearly so, their sub
scr:Sers being confined to the mercantile class
as before. The Tribune has fallen of consider
s'oly, fact that is due, in q great measure, to
the injudcious candor with which its conductors
avow their infdel opinions, and also in some
degree to the scurriity and indecency gifts tone.
Should it pass into the hands of Christians or
gentlemen sensible improvement in its pecu-
mary circumstances might be expected. The
Times has advanced Judiciously combining itself
80 the sphere in which the Home Journal formal
ly stood prominent it fills creditably enough a
vacancy in the newspaper world, and supplies
the public with light reading at very small
cost. So long as it pursues this course it may
be expected to prosper; and the deficiency of
intellectual vigor and business ability which
characterizes its conductors will hardly be felt.
An attempt to aspire to higher place in
journalism would probably prove its ruin.
The HERALD. we are happy to say, has con-
tinued to advance, for what reasons the fifty
odd thousand people who buy it every morn
ing are perhaps better able to say than our
selves. Its principles and course are now we
fatter ourselves, too well known even at
Washington to need explanation from u.s. Of
the degree of favor it enjoys. some conjecture
may be formed from the fact that the rivalry
between the Tribune and the Times is now
mere struggle for the surplus subscribers whom
we are unable, from the want of mechanical
means, to supply with morning paper.
On the whole, there has been decided pro-
gress in the New York press Of late. That
progress is still more clearly evident five look
to the moral power it yields. 1t is notorious
that greater share of influence over the two
last Presidential elections was exercised by
the pres. Of New York than by any other agen-
cy in the country. Radiating from hence in
the columns Of the daily papers, opinions and
principles permeate the country, and become
settled convictions in the minds Of men scat
tered throughout the United States. Citi
zens of Ohio, Maine, Florida, and Ar
kansas, would be bound to confess, if
closely questioned, that they derive the
bulk of their political and general opinions from
the independent journals of this city. How
could it be otherwise? Take the bundle of news
papers received at this office every morning
from all parts Of the country, and see how much
reason, how much logic, how much instruction,
how much sense are to be found in them A
sorry show, in truth Squabbles between Shocks
and Jenkins, political discussions reduced to
mere scrambles for plumber puffs Of everything
in Heaven above, in the earth beneath, or in the
waters under the earth, dispositions stolen
rom the New York papers-without spark of
original intellect-the whole conveyed in a
heavy and 'slangular'' style-such is the
epitome of their editorial matter" And yet,
the people of Boston. Philadelphia, Baltimore,
&c, are not generally considered to be intel.
lectually inferior to their fellow-citizens of
New York; though it seems they cannot pro-
duce first class newspaper, and have to rely
in this respect upon the metropolis.
1t was. we presume, this anomaly which first
suggested to certain parties the notion Of es-
tablishing, simultaneously, on a joint stock
basis, three new papers, one at Philadelphia, an
other at Boston, and third at Baltimore all
three to be under the control and management
of Mr.. James Gordon Bennett, Of the HERALD,
and to be as nearly as possible counterparts Of
this journal The facts we have stated seem
to indicate that there is a wide field for an en-
terprise Of this nature; and we see no reason
why independent journals, conducted on the
plan Of the HERALD, and pursuing the course
which has been so successful here, should not
meet with a like reward in our sister cities
The facilities for rapid communication which
are afforded by telegraph, would obviate all the
obstacles which distance would throw in the
way of unity of action. Guided by past expe-
rience, Mr.. Bennett would be enabled to avoid
the errors which usually retard the progress of
new papers and his friends are convinced that
by displaying the energy which built up the
HERALD. he would again command success. IL
is proposed that capital of $500, 600 be raised
for the scheme, half Of which would be offered to
MT. Bennett. These ample means would place
the earliest and most reliable news within reach
Of the papers, and would enable them to sur
pass, at the very outset, the best of the rivals
with which they would have to contend. The
project is now under Mr.. Benefits considera-
tion, and will be decided in a few days.
THEATRES AND THEATRICAL BUSINESS IN New
YoPK-Wa recently made como editorial ra
marks on the condition of the musical drama in
Europe and this country, and on the difficulties
which must be encountered in every attempt to
establish it here on any enlarged aud perma-
ncnt footing. There do undoubtedly exist Sc
rious impediments inherent in the social and
moral construction of our community. to the
successful establishment Of opera in New York: