The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1856-04-26
Gclcft nlisfcllanp.
Annals OF the Newspaper Press,

The October number of the Edinburgh
Review has an article on "thc newspaper
press" containing some interesting statistics
of the RISE progress, and fortunes of that
Fourth power" in the British realms. We
have not yet had time to peiuse the article
attcntively or form a careful and accurate
analysis of it. Such facts, however, as we
have been able to gather from cursory
glance it, may not be uninteresting to our
readers, indebted as they are to the press for
the chief part of their knowledge of the cur
rent history Of the times, as well as for no
mean part Of that direction and guidance in
the affairs of life, political, commercial or
personal, which, in the present structure of
society may be regarded as indispensable.
The earliest newspaper published was
The Weekly News" which appeared in
1929, under the auspices of one Nathaniel
Butler. Up to that time, and down to
much later period, the political warfare of
phlets, of which, not less than hWty thousand
were issued between 1910 and 1860. During
the contest between Charles the F,st and
and his parliament, Peter IIeylin established
a journal to advocate the royal cause: Mat
thew Necdham established the "Nercrius
BuionmcuS" in the Parliamentary interest;
the "Nercuins Praematicus" on the other
side, and the "-McrCurius Poltticus" in be-
half of the popular party. in 1868. Boyer
l. 'Estlangc set on foot the Public Intelligent
cer," and 1857, the "Observator," sorry
looking copies Of which We have ourselves
seen, encaScd III picture frame: and pre-
scnting in every respect the strongest con-
trast Imaginable to the great sheets of the
present time, employing so large a daily ex-
pcndturc Of capital, patient and slccpltss
| toll, and various talent as do these enlisted
in the cause OF catering for the instruction
and amusement of the modern newspaper
reader. The "Observator" was in no sense
IA newspaper; such an idea not having yet CHI
tered the human brain.-It was repository
Of virulcnt political sluibs, and would scare
ly compare with those vile and unnamcablc
sheets winch arc sometimes obtrudcd on the
unwilling sight Of the denizens of our Amer
lean cities, and sllaightway transferred, by
| the aid of a pair of tongs, to the most adia
cent stove. Yet the number of newspapers
in the reign of Charles H. appears to have
amounted to scventy-such as they were.
1t was in the reign of Queen Anne that
newspapers first obtained general circulation,
and became the accredited organs of the diff.
crcnt factions. At this time the stamp duty
was first imposed. The journals of this peri.
cd were remarkable for the eminent talent
| enlisted in them. Members of Parliament,
ministers Of State, and literary magnat,s did
not disdain to become journalists. "The
| Examiner" the "Whig Examiner" the
| Crisis" the "Englishman )" &c, were the
names of the principal papers Of this period.
The advent of Junius served to give an i'm
press to journalism, which in all subsequent
limitations has never been Glazed. 1t was in
1869 that this writer communicated his eel
cbratcd papers to the Pubic ADVERTISER"
the influences Of which have EXTENDED to the
journalism of the nineteenth century, both in
England and America.
The progress of the newspaper press, in
extent, influence and reputation, from that
rcriod to the present, has been marked and
steady. The ''ThundcrCr of Printing House
Square was established in 1888 about con-
tcmporancously with the establishment ofthe
National Iutclligencer at Washington. The
Times of the present day, contains ninety six
columns Of a large quarto; the fullest and
amplcst information from every quarter Of
the world: admirable writing on every sub
jcct of the day, in which any interest is ftl.;
frequent literary criticisms of nasty talent:
full reports of all debates and transactions in
parliament: and, to crown the whole. not
fewer, on an average, than two thousand adj
refreshments daily. In 1858, the aggregate
newspaper circulation IN Great Britain was
7,4ll ,757. In 1892 it had reached l5,0O5,-
go. In 1886, before the reduction of the
stamp duty, the issue in Great Britain was
above 29,n0p,0OO. In 1927, after that re-
duction, ~ 600 900. In 1913, 10000 900
for England, and $50, 900 for Scotland. In
the year 1919, the total number of journals
in the United Kingdom was 547. The num-
Der in 1851 had sllll further ncrea scd, and
the stamps issued had arisen to 81 600, 900.
OF that thick cloud of witnesses. the news.
papers of the United States of which every
backwoods settlement contains at least one,
the article in the Edinburgh makes no ac-
| count -I1mericga Publishers Circular