it.IBF:TI\r, " AINII " Till.: SHOP."

nicle of last Sunday (..o.dains to l,ln dialrlin' oil our political retro- spect of the !week...ling %N..k.ek. called The Coutiding Liberals and the Spectator." It is chanteteriZeil by the vvriter's usual want of close and consistent reasoning, and by an extrat wain:ivy escape front the real points at issue. The streatsr part .at' the paper consists oi' solemn twaddle s's eelsiims rebus, or of ceiling malts':, and sheer abuse against ths et.'pecteter, or persons connected with its_ not intellieible, we should ineesines to the bulk of its readers.

Amid the hie., p coarse or trashy verl+lases there are, however, germs of ideas in general politics. or inttleations of tilts trading animus of the proprietor of the paper, involving, though unknown * For example- - mat sesisst this _reap liimitiary from Oa, whit pro„,..., to , he given el' maetleahaiperi, rimy, in 11.••• TM-, •.‘t

the Pilgrim. ne dontt, toas the a .1,7,11,1 tiro in 0, 5 i■mee. and tir,t

in Circulation. • time are la.. e: )1••!voli•,. sem • •1:1:-.0,0 ....yeatue-s, am!

some hate great:A.,: tcp i • ''old 41. none .04. the three. He II tot :::•••■I. 111.1. 1••••■•14. Ill, D.-, achieved 14 tile 1 LI:1,11 •••••'' 11.•I• ■•••• ;II IL, i•■•', lila( .1. 1.il,eral Jour- nals 110100 III 0•5:■•-1•••..•••• Ilit• • • I4 • • . ; . •• , 10Ii•■:•15 II,t1,1 Ito It, I•I !a • , hr. IS 11, beta thrust upon him,' the migneehil et* the Liberals to the that lie has lavished urn them during :he 1:1,1 lit r t r n., being, from lir,t to I tit, the secret

of his comp:aints."- Mardi 15.

[In quoting the above as a specioncii of the writer's spirit. there is no reason why we should pii-s 00-■21' falsehood of the word: at' Liberal journals now in existence the .`■p...tater ,,talitis the lowest." For nisi:owe, the only paper that has any ri,!ation to the pro !,:tor in rice. size• and general character, is the Atlas: the Stamp:: of the .4/his for the last lialf-wear were 71.500--of the Spectator, 88,000: and surely the ..liberal " character of the .Atlas will not be disputed.] to him, the philosophy of the newspaper shop. To develop these more general subjects, must serve as an apology to our read- ers and ourselves for any further notice of a writer whose windy verbosity will always impel him to seek the last word. In dealing with the two topics, it will be best to consider them under separate heads ; and we begin with the iteattitl anti protipect# of tljr itibtrai According to the Confiding Liberal of the Press, the " advice of the Spectator has always been wrong in spirit or wrong in time :" and " had the Liberals followed the advice, our contempo- rary would have said, with a thousand proofs offailure, before his eyes, like his prototype Malvolio," &c. &c. But before the Libe- rals are entitled to sneer at the " failure" of " advice" winch was not followed, they ought to be able to show some successIbl re- sults from the policy pursued. Can they ? either in those ques- tions upon which Whigs and Radicals were united, or in those which are purely Radical ? Let us see. The questions which the 111 Emmen-an :Ministry undertook to carry, with the sincere approbation of the united Liberals, were the "Appropriation" principle, a Corporation Bill for Ireland on the English basis, the abolition of Church-rates, and a reform in the English Ecclesiastical Establishment. Have the Liberals gotten one of these measures ? have they gotten the chance of one ? Alas for the " wise" Refigniers and the "confiding" policy! The Ap- propriation principle is not merely discarded, but dead and buried. How fiired the Irish Corporation Bill ?—Pared down to the dicta- tion of the Lords when its use as a trick was exhausted. Arc Church-rates abolished ? or abandoned ? Where is Church Re- form ?

So much for practical measures advocated by all Liberals. What have the Radicals in particular to show ? The first question, pro- perly termed "the Question ofQ,uestions," was whether the new con- stituencies were to possess the power which it was the design of the Reform Bill to give them, or whether the Peers were openly to rule the Reformed Parliament by expressing their will, as they covertly ruled the old house of Commons by means of rotten boroughs. This was the question really mooted in the shape of Peerage Re- form; and when the point was fairly raised in May 1836—that the Lords or the Commons must succumb—we were for joining issue with MamieitnT and going to trial at once. But this advice was deemed "wrong in spirit, or wrong in time." We were told- " Be quiet: you would run beyond public opinion." "It is not yet quite matured." " To think of risking place !—monstrous ! " " Wait till next session." " Then there will he wonders worked— perhaps by a reconstructed* Ministry ; and the pear will be ripe by Easter." Easter came, and there was much speculation on political existence, but, alas fbr the prophets ! it was the existence of the Ministry, not of the Lords. Since then, " the Question of Questions" has ceased to be a question ; and when opinions differ, the poor Commons have to yield to the Lords, as if it were an established point of constitutional usage.

How stand the other purely Radical questions ? Not very hope- fully, according to the Sanguine Liberal's own showing-

' The franchise que,t in 1011 be fraught with difficulty, a change in property king sought (and perhaps risked) by every change in the balance of power." "The Ballot will ben:nin denounced, as a step to Universal Suffrage ; and every amelioration of our system opposed, upon the plea of danger to property from the increase of political rights." " The Tories and the Radicals may, with equal justice, be accused of com- promising with their men COtnieletWES in Me roe rse they are persainibt> "No party seems to lie able or inclined to net up to its own principles. All arc more or less in aj;ilsepositirt."

Thus, the policy followed by the Liberals has involved total fail- ure upon every point. They arc generally as well as most parti- cularly " d—d," as the Wise Man delicately prints it. have they any set-off? There have occasionally appeared men of such vast capacity for general government, or some particular branch of government, that both despots and aristocracies have postponed their own wishes to their servants : are the Whig Ministers men of this stamp ? have the Confiding Liberals submitted to be "d--d" that the whole commonwealth might be protected by a galaxy of heaven-born Ministers ? Have they consented to sacri- fice all that honest politicians hold dear, that the world might have pPace ?--Wc are at war with l;70 million6 of people, and the de- ments of discord are rife everywhere. Ilave they by being " d--d" procuretl us internal tranquillity ?—Let Chartism and the discontented masses answer. have they sacrificed themselves for the prosperity of the country ?—Inquire of the manufacturers of our Northern hives. Or have they, like Sonvaims the Magni- ficent, borne with a tart and domineering minister for the sake of the finances?—Gsod lack ! the National Debt has been augmented, yet we are still some millions behindhand; our expenditure exceeds our income ; that excess is certain to increase ; and we are threat- ened with new taxes, a quarter of a century after the termination of the last war, and before the bills of the new one have conic in. So stands the past and the prceamt : does the future show well in support of the Liberal policy ? When the present rickety concern is broken up, or there, comes a natural dissolution, what have the Confiding Liberals to go to the country upon ? Where is their party ? What is their rallying-cry ? What can they point to its dune IS hat can they promise for the future ? But of far more consequence than the individual fate of Parliamentary im- postors, is the moral effect the Liberal policy has produced upon the country ; destroying all thith in public men ; turning constitu- * It was sometimes half-intimated during the recess of 1836, that Open Questions might be adopted by the Cabinet.

ents into self-seekers like their members, and by their example; spreading corruption throughout the land, as if it were a necessary element of government ; and teaching men to receive for gospel the homely saying, that "all parties are alike—that public principle is a mere blind, and private interest the object.

But we are told to look at the " sacrifices " of the Liberal party- " Mr. Ward," quoth his mouthpiece, " belongs to a party, which, if the sacrifice of all the ordinary objects of ambition, perhaps for many years, to the advancement of certain principles be any proof of disinterestedness or sincerity, may claim credit for both."

What sacrifice, except their independence, " the party " and Ms, WARD have made; we do not perceive. They are on " the sunny side of the hedge" : they have all the importance which the great- ness of great men reflects upon humble followers; they luxuriate in dinners and " harmonious meetings," where " unanimity "t is se- cured by Radicals suppressing their opinions—from the palace of the Sovereign down to the official residence of the Whipper-in ; the patronage of Government rewards their exertions ; and it is no secret, that but for some judicious misgivings about Sheffield, Mr. Waal) himself would have been a placeman. The old complaint is repeated, that we lose no opportunity of " depreciating " the Liberals. If we speak ill of them, it is be- cause we think ill of them ; aunt they take good care to give us no reason to think otherwise. Putting aside all the specific failures we have adduced, what unprejudiced person can calmly answer the question, " Is the Liber«l cause better or worse under their tutelage?" without coining to the conclusion that they are treacherous, or in- capable, or both. Compare the numerical and moral strength of the party when it carried Lord .111ELDOURNE and the Whigs into office, in despite of Page's adverse possession and an adverse Court, with its position now ? In the country the Liberals consist of many classes, with varying objects and varying degrees of honesty and ability : in the Parliamentary Liberals, as a body, we recognize but two classes—those who delude, and those who arc willingly or Unconsciously deluded.

be erinwtprr OTop.

During the discussions on the Reform Bill, it was generally sup- posed that the new franchise would introduce many journalists into " the House." What effect this might have had upon Parlia- ment we cannot tell, but the connexion of Members of Parliament with the Press is any thing but advantageous to the latter as re- gards quality or respectability. Mr. RoEnum—able and accom- plished above all the others—began his first number with three personal accusations, not one of which could he substantiate when the statements were denied by the injured parties and be was chal- lenged to the proof. Mr. Bucanaonam's lucubrations were less personal, but insufferably tame and twaddling. Nor has the suc- cessor of the first Member for Sheffield greatly contributed to raise the character of newspapers. The fact is, most of these gentlemen have their trade to learn. They come to their task full of crude or narrow opinions; they have not the habit of raising their minds above the clique in which they move; they judge every thing by the notions flung out at random around them; and find a reason for a change of measures in a change of wind—as the Weekly Chronicle, after questioning Mr. VILLIERS for deferring his motion on the Corn-laws to the 2fith of March, found out a fort- night afterwards that he was right for postponing it till after Easter, (19th April,) because the wind had blown from the eastward!

These amateurs mostly bring with them, too, a laxity of assertion productive of direct falsehood—not often, we believe, so intended, but arising from a social or natural habit of pouring out whatever comes uppermost, without regard to truth in facts or justness in opinions. And all the matters in the 1Veekly Chronicle pertaining to "the shop" are more or less of this kind. The article commences with these words—" The Spectator has given us a fair challenge." The ,Spectator has never challenged the Weekly Chronicle, nor ever thought of doing so. We have never descended to notice it controversially, but twice, and then only after repeated yrovocation. That journal is often carping at the Spectator for weeks together, under the ludicrous profession of a general agreement as to objects, only differing (very convenient and ever-ready excuse for shuffling!) " as to the means of attaining them"; not raising any point or principle, where some truth might be elicited, or sonic practical course discovered by discussion, but indulging in general and sweeping censures. And we have an impressions that those attacks have increased in frequency and intenseness, whenever we have chanced to bear upon Mr. WARD as a Member of Parliament, in our political summary of events. One of the points of constant endeavour at disparagement has been the "circulation" of the two papers ; on which point, dealing with figures, it is impossible to avoid concluding that trading jealousy, much more than political. difibrences, has induced a wilful mendacity. The "Liberal" journal publishes a professed extract from the Stamp Returns, purporting to "begin, of course, at the lowest point"—and beginning with the Spectator. Our readers will appreciate the veracity of this statement when we tell them, that seventeen London weekly newspapers, whose circulation is lower + But for this crumb or comfort administered to the Radicals, [old Mr. Bras gelid', that a safe extension of the franchise might he made with safely.] we might have emiel inlet', from the yr, (pod in es of Wednesday, Mot iniquisnt was celebrating its Ju- bilee in lieu of Mr. Hypo. The priiicipal speakers were Who of tin' prat water, and those. 01, ertrr not 1Phills. Mr. Gisborne and Mr. tilled, grouabt down their rebel- lions inclination., lo the u.rthndoe standard. * The Vales are furious, of course, at so inuelt unosimity. It Males them no good. Their wish is to see a sort of Speetaloritadiealism obtruding itself everywhere, mid musing amendments wherever three Liberals meet. [It is not the custom of the Spectator to move foolish amend- ments.] In Middlesex, at all events, these holies have failed, fur men of all shades of opinion have told us that they agree had the pleasure of passing so perfectly harmonious a niyht."—Weekly Chronicle. March 15. than ours, are altogether omitted, and that the list of the Weekly Chronicle only contains eight papers.* The "Liberal" journal, moreover, in its attacks upon the Spectator, has been in the habit of estimating its own influence by reference to its circulation, and then comparing that circulation with ours. If the comparison were legitimate, it might be fair enough, though in bad taste ; but what comparison can there be between us? The Spectator never expected a very high numerical sale ; for it never formed its plan with that object, or descended to the arts by which it is attained. The price alone must shut out our journal from the market of the populace ; and the subjects treated of, the manner in which they are treated, and the absence of scandalous reports or indecent news, are equally distasteful to the rich vulgar. In addition to these drawbacks, our course has not been one to stimulate circulation. We are the organ of no party ; we run counter to the prejudices of all parties ; and instead of lending our columns to the propagation of delusions, it is one great cause of the dead 8C1 made against us by the organs of the Government, and all the journals the Government can in any way influence, that we expose them on fit and proper occasions. Yet in spite of all these drawbacks, and all the open opposition and private backbiting of the Whigs and their followers, which we have en- countered-not as the organ of a party, whore support front its

i

friends would increase in proportion to the virulence of its enemies -but as a Power of ourselves, which is what the Treasury hacks always seem to think us-our circulation has steadily increased through a series of years. Here are the Stamp-office Returns.

CIRCULATION OF THE SPECTATOR FROM JUNE 1833 TO DECEMBER 1839.

Total Weekly luerea.:.• Stamps. Average. per Week.

1833-June no to .Tan. 1, 1S34 26 weeks ... 49,500 ... 1,903

1834 52 weeks .,. 101,500 ... 1,951 48

1835-Jan. 1-to June 30 26 weeks . 63,000 . 2,423 472 [Either no rattrap the last half year of 1835 was issued, or our c py has been mislaid.)

1836 52 weeks 142.000 .. 2,730 307 1837 147,000 2,326 96 1838 158,000 3,038 212 1839 174,000 .. 3,346 308 Weekly Increase from Jan. 1S34 to Dec. 1839 1,443

What are the facts connected with the circulation of the journal, which would institute a comparison with the Spectator, which the nature of timings prevents. The Weekly Chronicle was started in 1836, immediately on the reduction of the newspaper stamp-duty. It professed, in gigantic capitals, to be " the cheapest, largest, and best weekly newspaper ;" and so far as nominal price and quantity were concerned, it deserved the character of the first two claims. It was double the size of the Times ; it was sold at 3d. or 3,id. ; it contained an immense mass of " news," selected for the taste of common readers, and mostly transferred bodily from the columns of the daily press. Besides these attractions, it pandered to the grossest tastes of the grossest vulgar ; it set up as pettifogger and quack-doctor, professing to advise " correspondents," gratis, in law and physic ; if a big balloon went up, there was a picture of its de- parture; and when Mr. GREENACRE murdered Miss BROWN and cut up the body, the delicate " offence " was minutely traced through all its details, and illustrated by cuts representing the trans- action in its various phases. By these and similar arts, coupled, we believe, with considerable knowledge of the newspaper business on the part of the first projectors, it rose in the course of 1837 to a circulation of nearly three millions. About that time, we think, it was strengthened by a new " connexion ;" and, in the language of the Government organs when it was their cue to use it, was " understood to represent the opinions of the honourable Member for Sheffield." To apply his own quotation, he neither achieved greatness, (of circulation,) nor had it thrust upon him, nor was " To put time falsehood beyond a doubt, and to record a remarkable instance of trading trick, we subjoin an extract verbatim et literatim (including several false figures) from a leading article of the Weekly Chronicle of the 16th Februaiy, with a list of the omitted newspapers alluded to in the text, and their average weekly circulation fur the same time.

"Tub: remsment STAMP nwronNa.

" The Stamp 13cturns for the 1 lalf.y,,ar ending January, 1810, have jnst been 0nb- 1 ished by order of the House of Commons, and we extract Irmo them a very gratifying proof or the hold, which the Wevkag/ Chmnicle has continued to retain upon the Public favour. The facts speak for themselves ; :old, in submitting them, in a Tabolar form, to our Readers, we feel it to be unnecessary to accompany them by any remarks. If begin, if coarse, at the r.uwrs'r point. lot Qoarter. 2nd Quarter. Total.

Spectator Weekly I rue Sun

Era .

Obser:er Examiner Sunday 'rimes (ti ll'sWeekly Messenger Weekly GhrUniele

The following list of papers LOWER than the Spectator, are all, it will be sceu, omitted by the Weekly amide. Weekly 1st Quarter. 24 Quarter. Total. Average.

43,000 44,000 87,000 51,750 41.830 93.600 45.000

54.550

9,1,500 51,000 67 000 118,000 71,000 72,000 143.000 169,000 201,000 '170.000 "28,000 227,000 455.000 394,000 360,000 754,000" 01,1 England . Journal Court Gazette United Service Gazette Britannia Court Journal Naval end Military Gazette Age Conservative Journal Champion Gardener's Gazette

Planet

Argos Bel's New Messenger Atlas.

Charter Satirist ..

Spectator 12,000

18,0110

18,000 19,500 .,..

, ...

..., ....

23 000 ....

24.4 ....

22,550 .. ,.

27,000 ....

22,000

...

22,439 .....

211.600 ....

r:9.000 ....

33,000 ...„ 35,500 ....

32,500 ....

42,875 ....

34,000 ....

44,000 . . ..

17,000 , . ...1 t.

19 803 20 500

20 000 34 500 37,800 40,000 1.115 1,326 1.453 1.538

18.100

41,100 1,580

18.000

42,500 1,6.14

22,7'.:5

45.225 1,739

23.000

50,000 1.923

31,000

53.000 2,038

35,500

57,939 2,228

32,050

59,250

2,278

31,500

00,500 2.326

28,500

61,500 2,365

34.500

70.000 2.092

39,000

71.500 2,750

30.000

72 875 2.802

40,000

74,00 2,810

44,000 • • .. 88.000 3,384

born to it : he bought it, and is losing it very fast. Since the time the Weekly Chronicle was understood to be conducted by an M.P., it has exhibited a decline in circulation without a parallel, we suppose, in the history of the periodical press. See.

CIRCULATION OF THE WEEKLY CHRONICLE.

Total St Imps. Weekly Average.

1837 2,916,500 56,086 1838 1,601,000 32,326 1839 1,342,720 25,821 Weekly Decrease in two years 30,255*

Part of this enormous decline-considerably beyond one-half of the whole-may be attributed to a change of price (first to 4d. then

to Vid)-almost the only change made except the appearance of the lucubrations attributed to the new proprietor : but against this cause of decline must be placed very great exertions with a " Na- tional Portrait Gallery," in other words, tap-room, pictures- re- markable specimens ot' the fine arts ! And this " National" affair was brought into notice not only by all usual modes, but by a regi- ment of ragamuffins parading the streets with the wooden-looking heads, and frames to put them in. Even without these nicely- balanced pros and con,:., a journalist who in two years knocks down "circulation" by /1,,*rty thousand a week, is surely ill-advised to force the subject on attention.

Still less is a circulation made and maintained, or rather not maintained, by arts such as we have described, likely to have " in-

fluence "-for that depends upon other causes than time mere num-

ber of readers. Their character has much to do with it ; so has the character of what they read. The influence of the Spectator is irrespective of the number of copies printed and purchased ; it arises from the class of minds it operates upon, and from its in- fluence more or less direct over the views of other journals, as well as from the circulation of its articles in their columns. We are read, too, (unluckily for our profit!) by many who do not bay-in too many reading-rooms and clubs, by too many rich economists who make one paper pass through several families. And, no bad judges of the rationale of circulation, advertisers seem to understand all this : we believe the advertisements of the Spec- tator, taking number, character, and price together, will challenge comparison with any journal of its "order." Nor does a comparison with circulation fail, where comparison can be instituted: the Spectator's is not " of course the lowest," as our tradesmaulike detractor asserts, but the highest of the high-priced papers. It is frequently objected by our assailant, though in a tone which speaks annoyance and a sort of envy of at a good thing," that a part of our circulation is " Conservative." What channel of opinion it runs in, we do not know ; we never inquire ; nor ever shape our conduct. and square our views to gain the pa- tronage of any class. Truth, and what is more, truth in its just proportions, is our aim, whether in facts, political opinions, or criticism. That we always succeed in this aim it would be pre- sumptuous to affirm ; but if there is a body of Conservatives who will bear with the blows we frequently deal at the politics of their party, in consideration of their general belief in our integrity, so much the better for society. A class of readers who will submit to opposition to their prejudices from respect for a spirit of free inquiry, is far more respectable, both morally and intellectually, than pretended Liberals, who require a journalist, as the price of their support, to suppress unpleasing or disadvantageous truths; to sink down into the unscrupulous advocate of their party; to go with all their gullibility, and to change his course with every change of their caprice, or every necessity of their baffled blundering or intrigue.

We are aware that an apology is due to our readers for this long disquisition on a subject of such limited concern, and with such an opponent. They will perceive that the matter has been forced upon us by a systematic attempt to injure this journal as a property ; -a property of no great money value, it is true, but in the creating of which, much money as well as labour has been spent. They know it is an offence of rare occurrence in the Spectator to obtrude its individual interests on public notice; but, the thing being to be done, they will probably allow that it was best to do it thoroughly .

* If the Weekly Chronicle had intended any true or candid comparison, why did it altogether omit so considerable a competitor as the Dispatch? We will supply that omission.

CIRCULATION OF THE DIsrATcH.

Total Stamps. Weekly Average. Increase

per Week.

1837 2,056.009 2.091.000 674

55,1..t7/57)

1.134

2.7o0.000 52,88-1 1108;3189

Weekly Increase in two years 1,803

'this omission illustrate: the lying spirit in which these quack tables of news- paper circulation are got up. It did not suit the compiler of the Weekly Chronicle table to show that a Liberal" paper, of a higher price. and of the same class as his own, enjoyed more than double that circulation" which he deems so just a criterion of worth and influence, and had even been increasing its enormous amount during the period of his own rapid. declension. Decrease per Week.

23,760 6,505