Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-05-07
PERSONNEL OF TIE LONDON TINES
Correspoadencs of the ". Y. Herald

Correspondence of the ". y. Herald
Did not say that would commit to paper some of
my souvenirs of personnel of the Timesy Well don't
know it is quite the proper thing to do, for people wish
10 keep their secrets others have right TO divulge
them and am not that newspapers do not suffer by
the withdrawal of the aOminis UB,brd under which the
best writer's love TO shelter themselves. What is
paper but the reflex of public opnion-he material form
given many minds moulded and shaped to represent
the grand suggestion of the powerful intellect? An
editor it to me- should be myth-never beh,ld
the flesh and that his only responsibility should lie i'll
his subscription list But this would scarcely suit the
Unsuitable curiosity of the many headed monster, sup
pose must draw the veil little.
The Times newspaper, the most wonderful organ of
popular opinion ever known III England or any other
country is the property of John Walter NJ p for Not
tingham Other persons have shares in the paper, eth
er given to them by Mr. Walters father sold to them
for large consideration but only the condition that
the shares share shall be resumed at any time Mr. Wal
Ger may think proper. Old John Walter a remarka-
ole mana very superior man. lie made the Times by
acting upon the principle that newspaper should lead,
by following the fluctuations of popular opinion. He took
telaDora natct,T ct nos &C. his private motto, and
the apparent paradox of the principles he enuncaed has
sustained the Times in its preemnence, in spite OF the
innovation of half dozen fiery daies all ably conduct
ed. When old Walter waxed rich he bought estate in
the cOuntry-the usual ultima Mde of English
mans hopes-and became hnd.hoder,
teal knowledge and his philanthropy. He was
particularly active in the cause of the poor
and the aborng classes and did much to the pa
sage of the Poor Law. Radicals hated him because he
was behind their ideas OF what the present age should
be- and Torres dctested him because he went before it
lie was the representative Of the OPTIONS of the great
masses who content with gradual progress To all
his relations he very kind provided they did not at
tempt to thwart his views. To Mrs Bodie his niece he
gave two numbered columns OF adyertiseucnsor rather
the proceeds thereof which equivalent to 81 900
Der annum lie was equal to any OF labor and
always edited the Times himself From or O'Clock
p NJ until the same hour the following morning, he
generally IN Printing House Square, and nothing in the
shape of leader letter went into the paper that he
did not Members Of Parliament would call upon
him Chancellors of the Exchequer and Foreign Minis
ters would write articles and send them TO him con-
IDENTIFY ior insertion leaving him to adapt the facts and
opinions to his views which he invariably did
Prime Ministers have sent TO him TO call on them
privately, aud great inancer5 and stock obbers ac-
knowledge the Importance OF line or two III
the money market article by throwing good things
in his way. On this point John Walter here was
peculiarly susceptible. He had something of the French
politician his composition and did not disdain ope
ration on the BOuTae which would put $4,000 in hls
pocket par seitm About sAt years ago. he discov-
cred that William DeLane his manager, and Alsager his
city article writer dabbed in the funds Of their
count squaring the quotations and in the "maI
kctn to suit their peculiar cards The moment he
made the discovery Walter red and dismissed them,
not 80 much for the trick for their excluding him
from any share in the SOS. plogue oat when
t.ve. cannot bc true 70 each other" Alsaeer went
to office but iu different department aud his John
WIS placed in the position he had occupied, aud
In became eLiOr. Barnes, the previous nominal editor
having died. There no stir made in The Times
about the DeLane and Alsager business for il
OF alters principles never to benire his own nest He
u not SEE the force Of making Jonah of every dei
quent on board the good ship Young John Walter
celcd TO the fathers property and position. He had
been well trained TO the system, and has vigorously fol-
lowed it, His chief aids John Delane and Mowbray
Morris do not believe that either of them write word,
but they regulate the editorial details find out the best
writer's and put themselves in communication with peO-
PIE suited to the purposes OF the paper
The oldest writer Oh the Times is Rev. Canon Mosey.
He writes all the articles the Emperor Of the French
and his policy aud the articles education, civil and
military and many ecclesiastical matters. Ii is very
difficult to say who does who does not write the other
leaders Not less than hundred pens have been en-
poyed in this way in the OF year. for every
is authorized TO send communications cOnfdenay, and
if the circumstances of the party such render
return acceptable, it is forwarded and the amount
always in excess Of expectation. The literary depart
ment of the paper, well managed by SAmi Phil
lips is in the hands of S Lucas who also edits Once
a Week, and writes for the Constitutional Press. The
musical department is conducted by D. Davidson, likewise
editor oil the MUSICAL Otltl HuSDduu VI
Goddard the celebrated pianist The theatrical branch
of the Times is done by John OXenford and two or
three assistants the latter, only being employed when
there are several novelties at two or three houses on the
same night 0xcnord is also employed in trinsating
from French and Spanish works and in reviewing philO
logical publications OF high order. He is very accom-.
plisbcd very knd.hearted, and simple child
One advantage which results to him from his connection
with the Times il the ready acceptance which he obtains
for his TRANSACTIONS and adaptations of French lays
i. l.. H. = H.
ed in the Times aud thus, to secure them audi
ences This does not always follow, however. The
Romance of a Poor Young Man. written by Oxen
ford from o. Feulets original was striking failure
There are considerable number of men on the Times,
who are employed salaries ranging from five to six
puneas per week and expected to do many different
things Some of these attend a public meeting in the
morning. 90 into the gallery of the House OF Parliament
i'm the evening and during the Pariamcnts recess,
company her Majesty her excursions TO report pro-
ceedrgs musical gatherings and Oxford ce
lebrations or watch great enterprises The abest Of
these gentlemen next TO William II. Russell is young
Wood lie was sent to the Crmea by the London He
raid and his letters attraed much notice that DeAne
engag, him for the Times. lie wrote al admirable de-
scripton of the presentation of the Medals to the Cr
mean heroes by Queen Victoria the Inauguration oil the
Wellington College, the voyage of the AgamemnOn with
part of the Atlantic Gable and tie experimental trip Of
the Great Eastern.
The law reports of the Times are generally written by
Young barrstes who sit all day waiting for briefs which
do not rapidly come. Some OF our abest lawyers began
their London in this way. Lords Brougham and
Campbe are two OF the most distinguished in point
The foreign correspondents of the Times il located in
Europe are very well paid, because 1t is concluded that
they must 90 somewhat into society, and see people
about the courts in the police employ to give them
facts believe the Paris correspondent has from twelve
to fifteen hundred pounds per annum In fact Mr.. Wal
ter never spares expense to carry point, and defends
actions at law at auy cost His beay to printers and
their wives is proverbal but Indeed it is no more than
what Is dictated by justice and necessity The law Of
England requires that when redress is sought for bes
by criminal information, the recognized publisher shall
be the party prosecuted. Hence, the proprieors nev
er register themselves their editors the respon
sibe publishers, and the blow thus falls upon a
perfectly innocent person. Poor Mr.. lawson, the
printer and publisher, was, If i remember right
iy, twice imprisoned for lbels, with which he had 10
more to do than the man in the moon. But this sacri
fee of his liberty is secured in the printers wages The
Fine Art department of the Times intrusted in differ
ent hands Thackery has often b0en employed in this
way aud the late amable Richard Ford the author Of
the "Hand Book of Spain, and very kind friend OF
mine was frequently engaged iu Fine Art criticisms He
had beautiful taste high appreciation of merit, and
kindly feeling towards struggling artists. Thackery has
now other fish to fry man who can get 1850 month
for poor novel, which bis daughter writes to his dca
tion and the editorship Of magazine which is not en-
cumbered with the MS Of ambitious nobodles, can well
afford to drop his connection with the daily press. DO
YOU know that "The Vrgnians n great loss to the
publishers Smith Il Elderg Thackery gave them back
e5O for every month in which he had received $3.50
when he learned that the thing was pecuniary failure
Personally W. H. Thackery is fayorite with any one
If he had not written against snObs it might be imagln
ed from much Of his writings that he really belonged to
the fraternity.
He has often reminded me Of Theodore Hook in hl:
attachment to the "syer fork school Truly great mer
or men of conscious dgnity-do not evince rritaby
when their little fobles and external belongings are quiz
zed Had Thackery possessed this consciousness hi
would have insisted on Yates exclusion from the uA
rick club. r,...,