TOWER ON SHOOTER'S HILL. THIS tower, which commands a very extensive and beautiful prospect of the Metropolis, Greenwich, Woolwich, the Thames, and the adjacent counties of Kent, Surrey, and Essex, was erected about 40 years ago by Lady James, widow of Sir William James, Baronet, to commemorate the gallant conduct of her husband at the taking of Severndroog Castle, on the coast of Malabar, April 2, 1755: he being at that period Commander of the Company's marine forces in the East Indies. The building consists of three floors; and on each of the upper stories is a room, with two closets adjoining, neatly fitted up. The vesti bule, at the entrance, is ornamented with armour and trophies, taken at Severndroog Castle; and on the front is placed the following Inscription: 66 This building was erected in 1784, by the representative of the late SIR WILLIAM JAMES, Baronet, to commemorate that gallant officer's achievements in the East Indies, duing his Command of the Company's marine forces in those seas, and in a particular manner to record the conquest of the CASTLE OF SEVERNDROOG, on the coast of Malabar, which fell to his superior valour and able conduct on the 2d day of April, 1755." 66 Sir William resided at Park-place farm, in the parish of Eltham, Kent, where he died, and was buried in December, 1783. Sir Edward James, his only son, was also buried at El tham, November 24, 1792, in his 18th year. Not far from the tower stands one of the Telegraphs which communicate between Dover and London; and on the top of the hill is a mineral spring, some account of the virtues of which was published by a Wm. Godbid, in 1673. Shooter's Hill was formerly a place much dreaded by travellers, the steepness and narrowness of the roads, and the harbour which the neighbouring coppices afforded to robbers, rendering it a very fit place for their depredations. Shakspeare has made it the scene of Falstaff's robberies in Henry IV. Measures were taken for improving the highway here, so early as Richard II's time, but they proved ineffectual; and it was not till 1739 that any material improvement, was made, when a road of easier ascent and greater width was laid out, at some distance from the old one. Very recently the hill has been still more lessened, by cutting through it, so that what was formerly one of the steepest ascents in the neighbourhood of London, is now reduced to a convenient slope. 66 NEWSPAPERS, PRINTING, &c.* These vehicles of historical intelligence and political discussion began to appear in England during the civil war. The paper called The English Mercury, which gave the first example of this kind of publication, scarcely deserves to be mentioned in a general estimate. It seems to have been established by Queen Elizubeth in times of great difficulty and danger, in order to communicate such intelligence as she felt interested in • For great part of this article we are indebted to a cleaver weekly work, lateJy commenced, under the title of "The London Mechanics' Register.” . making known, and counteracting such rumours as her enemies were anxious to propagate. Of this publication we have seen three printed numbers in the collection of state papers in the British Museum. The earliest number preserved is No. 50, dated July 23, 1588. It is entitled "The English Mercurie, published by authoritie for the prevention of false report ;" and is said at the end to be " imprinted by Christopher Barker, her Highness's printer." It would appear not to have been published at regular periodical intervals, but as occasion required, or events of importance occurred. We observe, for instance, the publication of No. 50 on the 23d of July, and No. 51 on the 26th; while subsequently more than a month elapsed without a new number. The first article in No. 50, dated Whitehall, July 23, 1588 contains advices from Sir Francis Walsingham, that the Spanish Armada was seen on the 20th in the chops of the Channel, making for the entrance of the Channel, with a favourable gale. An account is then given of her Majesty's fleet, which consisted of 80 sail, divided into four squadrons, commanded by the Lord High Admiral, in the Ark Royal, Sir Francis Drake, Admirals Hawkins and Forbisher. By the best computation, it is added, the enemy could not have fewer than one hundred and fifty ships; but as soon as they were seen from the topmast of the English fleet, instead of exciting any fear of the result, they were hailed by the English sailors with acclamations of joy. An account is then given of the attack made on the Armada on the 21st of July, after which it fled. This official article goes on to state, that such preparations were made, not only at Tilbury and Blackheath, but along the coast, that nothing was to be feared should the Spaniards even effect a landing. The article concludes By God's blessing, there is no doubt but this unjust and daring enterprise of the King of Spayne will turn out to his everlasting shame and dishonour, as all ranks of the people, without respect of religion, seem resolute to defend the sacred persone of their Sovereigne, and the lawes and liberties of this country, against all foreigne invaders." Under the head London, July 23, it is said "The Lord Mayor, Aldermen, Common Council, and Lieutenantcie of this great city, wayted upon her Majestie at Westminster this afternone, with assurances of their hearty and unanimous resolution to stand by and support her Majestie at this critical juncture with their lives and fortunes, when her invaluable life, the true Protestant religion, and all the priviledges of free-born Englishmen, are threatened by an open attack from our bigotted and bloode-thirsty-adversaries the Spaniards. The queen received them very graciously, and assured them that she did not doubte their zealous endeavours to serve their Sovereigne on the present very important occasion; that for her part, she relyed on God's providence and the goodnesse of her cause, and was resolved to run all risques with her faithfull subjects." No. 51, dated Whitehall, July 26, contains "The journal of what passed since the 21st of this month, between her Majestie's fleet and that of Spayne, transmitted by the Lorde Highe Admirall to the Lordes of the Councill." Also, A letter from Madrid, dated July 16, details" the hopes of Spayne in the Armada expedition." The next number in the collection, being 54, is dated Nov. 24, an interval of four months. It contains an account, under the head of London, of "the solemn general thanksgivinge for the successes obtayned against the Spanish Armada." Her Majesty went in state to St. Paul's. dined at the Deanery, and rode back to Whitehall by torch-lights. She From the time this publication was given up, we find no continued vehicle for political intelligence with a fixed title for many years. In the reign of James 1. packets of news were published in the shape of small quarto pamphlets, as they arrived. These pamphlets were entitled "News from Italy, Germany, Hungary," &c. as they happened to refer to the transactions of those respective countries, and purported to be translations from the low Dutch. No discussion could of course exist, nor could any news but such as pleased the government be communicated, when the Star-chamber and High Commissioned Courts exercised an uncontrolled sway over the liberties and ears of authors, or while the first of the British Stuarts was issuing frequent proclamations, forbidding the people even to converse with one another on political topics. At that time, besides, there was neither a very extensive reading public nor a system of convenient post communication. In the time of the civil war, newspapers multiplied to a great extent, and whole flights of "Mercuries" (for that was their favourite title) were weekly dispatched with royal or parliamentary intelligence. In the course of one year (1643) nearly a score of papers were started, 14 or 15 of which we have seen. Among them we find the following titles: Special Passages, or certain Informations;"" England's Memorable Accidents;" Diurnal of Certain Passages of Parliament;" "Mercurius Aulicus ;" "The Kingdome's Weekly Intelligencer;" Mercurius Civicus, or London's Intelligencer;" "The Parliament's Scout's Discovery, or certain Information from both Armies ;""The Parliament s Scout;""Mercurius Rusticus, or the Country's Complaint of the Robberies, Plunderings, and other Outrages committed by the Rebels on his Majesty's Faithful Subjects," Mercurius Britannicus," a parliamentary paper; "The Weekly Account ;" and "The Scotch Intelligencer." "The Mercurius Aulicus" was first published at Oxford in January, 1643, to counteract the alleged falsehoods of the Roundheads or partisans of the Parliament. This purpose is expressed in the following introductory paragraph. "The Mercurius Aulicus" begins thus : "The world hath long enough been abused with falsehoods; and there's a weekly cheat put out to nourish the abuse among the people, and make them pay for their seducement. And that the world may see that the Court is neither so barren of intelligence as it is conceived, nor the affairs thereof in so unprosperous a condition as these pamphlets make them, it is thought fit to let them truly understand the state of things, that so they may no longer pretend ignorance, or be deceived with untruthes, which being premised once for all, we now go into the businesse, wherein we shall proceed with all truth and candour." At the Restoration, the wings of political fame were clipt, and the "Mercurius" disappeared. In the time of William and Anne, though the press to a certain extent was free, and though several literary journals were established, the only vehicle for news was "The London Gazette," which was established in 1642. During the reign of the two first Sovereigns of the House of Hanover, more than a dozen of journals, almost exclusively devoted to the communication of news, were established in London, but as yet much was wanting to complete the scheme of our present newspapers. At the late King's accession, and for many years subsequently, we find in the newspapers ("The London Chronicle,' James's Chronicle," and "The Daily Advertiser," for instance), no political discussion, no parliamentary intelligence, and no reports of the proceedings of the Courts of Law. The debates of Parliament at that time seem to have been as unknown to the body of the people as the deliberations of the Privy Council; the commencement and conclusion of a Session were mentioned sometimes in a single paragraph; and if a member wished to inform his constituents of the particular line of conduct which he had pursued, or the individual speeches which he had St. delivered, he was obliged, like honest Andrew Marvel, to communicate with them every day by letter. We sub join a paragraph from Dr. Johnson'"Life of Addison," giving his account of the commencement and original character of a species of publication, which, like its cotemporary and constant companion-a tea breakfast-has almost now become a necessary of life : 1 "This mode of conveying cheap and easy knowledge began among us in the civil war, when it was much the interest of either party to raise and fix the prejudices of the people. At that time appeared "Mercurius Aulicus," Mercurius Rusticus," and 66 Mercurius Civicus." It is said, that when any title grew popular, it was stolen by the antagonist, who, by this stratagem, conveyed his notions to those who would not have received him, had he not worn the appearance of a friend. Those “ Mercuries" were succeeded by "L'Estrange's Observator," and that by "Lesly's Rehearsal." It is needless to say to what an extent the publication of newspapers is now carried. It was ascertained in 1821, by a return of the stamp office, where the paper for all the journals in London and the United Kingdom is stamped, that the number in London was 300 000; in the country, 650,000 weekly; making nearly a inillion weekly, and fifty millions per annum.* It would extend this article to too great a length to give even the most concise account of the origin, number, and characters of foreign journals. Holland led the way in this species of publication. Scarcely a country or a capital of any extent is now to be found without its "Gazette." They have flourished most where liberty is most widely diffused and most firmly established. America, next to England, seems the chosen seat of free discussion and newspaper publication. It is calculated that the number of newspapers published in the Amerį, See Nic-Nac, vol. i. pp. 118, 158. can union in the course of a year exceeds twenty-five millions. The number of newspaper establishments is much greater in proportion to the number of papers sold, than in this country. Few daily journals, we are told, number there more than one thousand three hundred subscribers, and only three journals of any description reckon above four thousand five hundred. Previous to the introduction of Machines into the business of printing, the press department was one of great labour and difficulty, and the number of copies of a newspaper, which could be printed within the hour, seldom exceeded 750*, even with extraordinary exertion. The consequence was, that in newspaper offices, where the circulation was extensive, it was found necessary, in order to get the paper published in time, to compose two or more copies, so that by going to press at the same time, the demands of the public might be complied with; thus occasioning an enormous increase of expenditure both in the compositors' and press departments. In a newspaper circulating seven or eight thousand copies, this expense, annually, could not have been less than £2,000; all of which has been saved by the introduction of machines, which are worked by steam or hand. A few years ago, the presses in use at most of the newspaper of fices, were of wood, and were found wholly inadequate to the purpose; by degrees, iron presses, which combined greater rapidity with equality of impression were introduced, and became general. Those most in use were invented by Earl Stanhope, and by a Mr. Clymer, a native of the United States; the former are called Stanhope, and the latter are called Columbian presses. The first machine used in London was made, we believe, by two Saxons, named Konig and Baur, in 1814. This machine, or one upon a similar principle, is now in use, worked by steam, at the Times Office, and there are others in various other offices. The great expense of erecting machines worked by steam, led to the invention of others, which are worked by hand, but which have been liable to many objections on the score of the labour requisite in turning the wheel, and the injury to the type. The number of newspapers printed weekly in the united kingdom, as shewn above, is nearly a million. We shall now say something of the periodical press, exclusive of newspapers. Thirty years ago, the number of weekly publications in the metropolis did not exceed 40; we may now, without exaggeration, state them at 150. The monthly periodicals have not increased to the same extent, be cause the increase in the weekly ones has naturally prevented it; but they are very numerous. In addition to the periodical publications of the metropolis, we may notice several, and many of them of real talent, in the large towns, such as Edinburgh, Dublin, Glasgow, and Liverpool. It is not in our power to state their precise number, but it is certainly within bounds to estimate them at 50, so that the total of the weekly periodi cals would be 200. The number of sheets printed must also, in some degree, be matter of doubt; but, from accounts which have been delivered to us, and which we have every reason to consider authentic, we may strike an average of at least 2,000. Many of these works do not exceed 1,000; but there are several which exceed 5000; consequently, our estimate will not be extravagant: we shall thus have a weekly account of 400,000 sheets of paper, used for literary, political, and scientific, publications, in addition to the 300,000 newspapers already no |