17 MARCH 1923, Page 3

On Tuesday the Times published extracts from the letters of

Lord St. Vincent, who died on March 13th, 1823. The letters are interesting as showing the import- ance even then of " keeping on the right side of the Press." The Admiral was, it seems, an intimate friend of the first Mr. John Walter, and the two men assisted one another in various campaigns. .The Times appears to have annoyed the „members of .the .Pitt Ministry in 1806 by. supporting. St.. Vincent's. administration of the Board .of ,Admiralty. Mr. Walter •was deprived of the Government printing and the foreign news. Thus .it was that the Times set up as an independent newspaper. Ex tenebris