[1218] Russell wrote to John Bigelow, March 8, 1865: "You know, perhaps, that, as I from the first maintained the North must win, I was tabooed from dealing with American questions in the Times even after my return to England, but en revanche I have had my say in the Army and Navy Gazette, which I have bought, every week, and if one could be weak and wicked enough to seek for a morbid gratification amid such ruins and blood, I might be proud of the persistence with which I maintained my opinions against adverse and unanimous sentiment" (Bigelow, Retrospections, Vol. II, p. 361). Also on June 5, 1865, Russell wrote in his diary: "...had the Times followed my advice, how different our position would be--not only that of the leading journal, but of England. If ever I did State service, it was in my letters from America." (Atkins, Life of W.H. Russell, Vol. II, p. 115.) See also Bigelow, Retrospections, I, pp. 344-45. Russell was editor of the Gazette on its first appearance as a weekly, January 6, 1860, but left it to go to America. On his return he settled down to his editorial task in November, 1862, and thereafter, throughout the war, the Gazette may be regarded as reflecting his views. His entire letters from America to the Times constitute a most valuable picture of the months preceding the outbreak of war, but the contempt poured on the Northern army for its defeat at Bull Run made Russell much disliked in the North. This dislike was bitterly displayed in a pamphlet by Andrew D. White ("A Letter to William Howard Russell, LL.D., on passages in his 'Diary North and South'"), published in London in 1863.
[1219] June 25, 1864.
[1220] The Army and Navy Gazette, July 30, 1864.
[1221] Ibid., June 25, 1864.
[1222] Ibid., July 16, 1864. Similar articles and editorials might be quoted from many of the more important papers, but the Times and the Gazette will suffice as furnishing the keynote. I have not examined in detail the files of the metropolitan press beyond determining their general attitude on the Civil War and for occasional special references. Such examination has been sufficient, however, to warrant the conclusion that the weight of the Times in influencing opinion was very great. Collating statistics given in:
(1) Grant's The Newspaper Press; (2) in a speech in
Parliament by Edward Banes in 1864 (Hansard, 3rd Ser., CLXXV,
p. 295); and (3) in Parliamentary Papers, 1861, Commons,
Vol. XXXIV, "Return of the Registered Newspapers in the
United Kingdom ... from 30 June, 1860, to 30 June, 1861," the
following facts of circulation are derived:
(A) Daily Papers:
(1) The Telegraph (evening), 150,000 (neutral).
(2) The Standard (morning and evening), 130,000 (Southern).
Under the same management was also The Herald (morning), but with
small circulation (Southern).
(3) The Times (morning), 70,000 (Southern). Grant says: "The
prestige of the Times was remarkable. The same articles appearing
in other papers would not produce the same effect as in the Times."
Of Delane, the editor, Grant declared "His name is just as well-known
... throughout the civilized world as that of any of our
European kings.... The Times may, indeed, be called the Monarch
of the Press." (Grant, II, p. 53.)
(4) The Morning Advertiser (circulation uncertain, probably 50,000),
but very largely taken in the trades, in public-houses, and in the
Clubs (neutral).
(5) The Daily News (morning), 6,000 (Northern).
(6) The Morning Star, 5,500 (but with evening edition 10,000)
(Northern). Grant says that contrary to general belief, John Bright
was never a shareholder but at times raised money to meet deficits.
The Star was regarded as an anti-British paper and was very unpopular.
(7) The Morning Post, 4,500 (Southern). It was regarded as
Palmerston's organ.
(8) The Morning Chronicle. Very small circulation in the 'sixties
(neutral).
(B) Weekly Papers.--No approximate circulation figures are available,
but these papers are placed by Grant in supposed order of subscribers.
(1) Reynolds' Weekly. Circulation upwards of 350,000. A penny
paper, extreme Liberal in politics, and very popular in the manufacturing
districts (Northern).
(2) John Bull (Southern). "The country squire's paper."
(3) The Spectator (Northern).
(4) The Saturday Review (Southern).
(5) The Economist (Neutral).
(6) The Press and St. James' Chronicle. Small circulation (Southern).
In addition to British newspapers listed above as Northern in sentiment
The Liberator names for Great Britain as a whole Westminster
Review, Nonconformist, British Standard, Birmingham Post, Manchester
Examiner, Newcastle Chronicle, Caledonian Mercury, Belfast Whig, and some
few others of lesser importance. (Liberator, June 30, 1863.)
The attitude of the Manchester Guardian seemed to The Liberator to
be like that of the Times.
(1) Grant's The Newspaper Press; (2) in a speech in
Parliament by Edward Banes in 1864 (Hansard, 3rd Ser., CLXXV,
p. 295); and (3) in Parliamentary Papers, 1861, Commons,
Vol. XXXIV, "Return of the Registered Newspapers in the
United Kingdom ... from 30 June, 1860, to 30 June, 1861," the
following facts of circulation are derived:
(A) Daily Papers:
(1) The Telegraph (evening), 150,000 (neutral).
(2) The Standard (morning and evening), 130,000 (Southern).
Under the same management was also The Herald (morning), but with
small circulation (Southern).
(3) The Times (morning), 70,000 (Southern). Grant says: "The
prestige of the Times was remarkable. The same articles appearing
in other papers would not produce the same effect as in the Times."
Of Delane, the editor, Grant declared "His name is just as well-known
... throughout the civilized world as that of any of our
European kings.... The Times may, indeed, be called the Monarch
of the Press." (Grant, II, p. 53.)
(4) The Morning Advertiser (circulation uncertain, probably 50,000),
but very largely taken in the trades, in public-houses, and in the
Clubs (neutral).
(5) The Daily News (morning), 6,000 (Northern).
(6) The Morning Star, 5,500 (but with evening edition 10,000)
(Northern). Grant says that contrary to general belief, John Bright
was never a shareholder but at times raised money to meet deficits.
The Star was regarded as an anti-British paper and was very unpopular.
(7) The Morning Post, 4,500 (Southern). It was regarded as
Palmerston's organ.
(8) The Morning Chronicle. Very small circulation in the 'sixties
(neutral).
(B) Weekly Papers.--No approximate circulation figures are available,
but these papers are placed by Grant in supposed order of subscribers.
(1) Reynolds' Weekly. Circulation upwards of 350,000. A penny
paper, extreme Liberal in politics, and very popular in the manufacturing
districts (Northern).
(2) John Bull (Southern). "The country squire's paper."
(3) The Spectator (Northern).
(4) The Saturday Review (Southern).
(5) The Economist (Neutral).
(6) The Press and St. James' Chronicle. Small circulation (Southern).
In addition to British newspapers listed above as Northern in sentiment
The Liberator names for Great Britain as a whole Westminster
Review, Nonconformist, British Standard, Birmingham Post, Manchester
Examiner, Newcastle Chronicle, Caledonian Mercury, Belfast Whig, and some
few others of lesser importance. (Liberator, June 30, 1863.)
The attitude of the Manchester Guardian seemed to The Liberator to
be like that of the Times.
[1223] The Index, April 14, 1864, p. 231.
[1224] August 8, 1864.
[1225] Sept. 3, 1864.
[1226] Sept. 20 and 22, 1864.