BOOKS OF THE DAY

The Times " Under Delane (R. C. K. Ensor) 269 Fallen Bastions (Elizabeth Wiskemann) 270 I Think Aloud in America (D. W. Brogan) ... 270 Loyal Enemy (Christopher Sykes)... 27z Picasso (Roger Rinks) 27r The Ocean Tramp (W. V. Emanuel)

272

Money to Burn

272

Christmas Holiday (Evelyn Waugh) 274 Fiction (Katc. 0 Brim) 276 Current Literature 278

44 THE TIMES " UNDER DELANE

By R. C. K. ENSOR

THE second volume of the "History of The Times," like the first which appeared three years ago, compels some re- vision of accustomed ideas. In the earlier period, ending 1841, tradition had given the glory to the proprietor, the second head of the John Walter dynasty, who created the special position of the paper by his ingenuities in obtaining foreign news, and confirmed it, above all, by his prescient business decision in favour of steam printing. But the " History," without belittling John Walter II, set over against him on a companion pinnacle a great editor, Thomas Barnes ; whom the world had almost forgotten, but who emerged clearly on the evidence as having been an indispensable architect of The Times's success.

In this second volume, dealing with 1841-1884, it is the other way round. The popular hero of The Times's story during that pericd had always been the editor—the best- remembered of all editors—John Thadeus Delane. But the " History " shows the action of the proprietor, John Walter III, to have possessed an even more decisive importance. For not only did he keep a masterful hand on the paper's daily doings and a critical eye on the respective contributions of the principal writers on its staff, but it was he who at the vital cross-roads of x855 chose the turning which the paper should take. The abolition of the newspaper stamp had then at last made it possible to start penny newspapers, and the Daily Telegraph gave the lead by boldly offering itself at that price. Should The Times come down to it too? John Walter III said " No "; and thereby determined that the future of The Times should be that of a " quality " newspaper with a relatively small sale.

It is difficult for us to realise today the Copernican change which this implied. Hitherto The Times had, before every- thing else, been the journal of largest circulation. On the eve of the change it sold more copies daily than all its London competitors put together. And Delane, who had then been nominally editor for fourteen years (and fully for about eight), had much more a best-selling than a high-brow genius. He was not an intellectual, nor greatly interested in ideas ; he was a cheery, bustling Irishman, with an unfailing flair for news-values and a finger always on the pulse of sales. If he returned to life in the journalism of today it would be as editor, not of The Times or the Manchester Guardian, but of the Daily Express or the Daily Herald. No doubt it was fortunate for The Times that, when first it had to compete on a fourpenny or threepenny basis against penny papers, it had an editor temperamentally able to beat them at their own came. Perhaps had it not, it would have foundered alto- gether; as in its pre-Northcliffe era it so nearly did.

John Walter III's was a high-minded and self-sacrificing

decision. He knew that the penny policy would I:- the avenue to greater wealth. But he feared that it would be impossible to lower the price to that level without lowering the quality also ; and his pride in the paper and sense of responsibility towards the public rendered it invincibly re- pugnant to him. It is impossible not to admire such motives. But was his decision right? That is a auestion less easily, perhaps, to be answered in the affirmative than the authors of the " History " assume. The penny papers of the nine- teenth century (corresponding to the twopennies of today) were not a company that anybody need be ashamed of. The cap between threepence and a penny was excessive. Probably half of it could have been bridged by using a less extravagant quality of white paper ; and though I remember a witty the History of " The Times." Vol. 11: The Tradition Established, 1841-1884. (The Times. iss.)

nineteenth-century clergyman who used to take The Times because it was " the only paper fit to wrap your boots in when packing," economy there would have been sound policy. A good penny Times was certainly not impossible ; and the standardisation of high quality with adequate circu- lation at that price would have been an immense gain later, when the real conflict between quality and cheapness was precipitated by the advent of the halfpenny (corresponding to today's penny) Press. Between 1895 and 19to the great papers of London might not so easily have succumbed to their vulgarian rivals, if The Times had been one of their number instead of occupying a lonely eminence, untenable in itself and yet injurious to the others.

The price of 3d. was stabilised as from 1861. In that year the circulation was still mounting, and the sale of 9o,0oo on the death of the Prince Consort was the record till then. It was exceeded twice in 1863, when the marriage of the Prince of Wales carried the record to io8,000. But soon afterwards decline began. In July, 1868, John Walter III wrote to Delane : " The gradual decline in our circulation, which I attribute solely to the cheap Press, makes me con- template the possibility of a reduction to 2d. at some future and not very distant date." But this wise step was never taken till 1913. On the day when Delane retired in Novem- ber, 1877, the sales were only 60,886. One must remember that in the interval the total sales of London morning news- papers had enormously increased.

The figures of John Walter III and Delane dominate this period; though in its earlier years John Walter II was still in power, and his quarrel with Delane's father came near cutting short the career of Delane. But the office of The Times abounded in other remarkable men beside the editor and proprietor. Some—notably Henry Reeve—had been brought on the staff by Barnes; others—like the manager, Mowbray Morris—were originally Walter's men; but many were due to Delane, who seems to have been a good selector. It is surprising how much eminence these journalists had time to achieve outside the office. G. W. Dasent, Delane's brother-in-law and right-hand man, must still be known to thousands, who have never heard of his long Times service, by his admirable translations of Norse fairy tales and " The Story of Burnt Njal." Thomas Chenery, who succeeded Delane in the editorship, was one of the two or three leading Oriental scholars of his day. H. A. Woodham was a resident Fellow of Jesus College, Cambridge, the author of a great edition of Tertullian. Thomas Mozley was an active clergy- man, and his brother, J. B. Mozley (also a leader-writer) was Regius Professor of Divinity at Oxford. Time would fail us to particularise Robert Lowe, Lednard Courtney, George Brodrick, and others. It was indeed a heyday for the writing journalist.

The Times's political power stood at its highest under Delane. It was dreaded, hated, and courted by the politicians. Peel, Aberdeen, Palmerston, Clarendon, Layard, Lord John Russell, and Disraeli all play prominent parts in this second volume. Gladstone was always cool towards the paper, and his Treasury rules for civil servants did much to close The Times's channels of secret information. But its best news- getter in Delane's time was Delane himself. He went every- where in political circles and talked to everybody. He some- times made public opinion; he oftener focussed it; he never persistently opposed it ; he was perpetually tapping.

The Times under him was not an all-round paper; it was too political for that. Its penny rivals widened their scope ; it was left for The Times to do so under Chenery after Delane retired