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taught； and masters reared； by scores upon scores of thousands； colleges
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may thrive； churches may be crammed； temperance may be diffused； and
advancing knowledge in all other forms walk through the land with giant
strides； but while the newspaper press of America is in； or near； its present
abject state； high moral improvement in that country is hopeless。 Year by
year； it must and will go back； year by year； the tone of public opinion
must sink lower down； year by year； the Congress and the Senate must
become of less account before all decent men； and year by year； the
memory of the Great Fathers of the Revolution must be outraged more and
more； in the bad life of their degenerate child。
〃Among the herd of journals which are published in the States； there
are some； the reader scarcely need be told； of character and credit。 From
personal intercourse with accomplished gentlemen connected with
publications of this class； I have derived both pleasure and profit。 But the
name of these is Few； and of the others Legion； and the influence of the
good； is powerless to counteract the moral poison of the bad。
〃Among the gentry of America； among the well…informed and
moderate； in the learned professions； at the bar and on the bench； there is；
as there can be； but one opinion； in reference to the vicious character of
these infamous journals。 It is sometimes contendedI will not say
strangely； for it is natural to seek excuses for such a disgracethat their
influence is not so great as a visitor would suppose。 I must be pardoned
for saying that there is no warrant for this plea； and that every fact and
circumstance tends directly to the opposite conclusion。
〃When any man； of any grade of desert in intellect or character； can
climb to any public distinction； no matter what； in America； without first
grovelling down upon the earth； and bending the knee before this monster
of depravity； when any private excellence is safe from its attacks； when
any social confidence is left unbroken by it； or any tie of social decency
and honour is held in the least regard； when any man in that Free Country
has freedom of opinion； and presumes to think for himself； and speak for
himself； without humble reference to a censorship which； for its rampant
ignorance and base dishonesty； he utterly loaths and despises in his heart；
when those who most acutely feel its infamy and the reproach it casts
upon the nation； and who most denounce it to each other； dare to set their
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heels upon； and crush it openly； in the sight of all men： then； I will
believe that its influence is lessening； and men are returning to their manly
senses。 But while that Press has its evil eye in every house； and its black
hand in every appointment in the state； from a president to a postman；
while； with ribald slander for its only stock in trade； it is the standard
literature of an enormous class； who must find their reading in a
newspaper； or they will not read at all； so long must its odium be upon the
country's head； and so long must the evil it works； be plainly visible in the
Republic。〃
The foregoing was written in the year eighteen hundred and forty…
two。 It rests with the reader to decide whether it has received any
confirmation； or assumed any colour of truth； in or about the year eighteen
hundred and sixty…two。
AN ENLIGHTENED CLERGYMAN
At various places in Suffolk （as elsewhere） penny readings take place
〃for the instruction and amusement of the lower classes〃。 There is a little
town in Suffolk called Eye； where the subject of one of these readings was
a tale （by Mr。 Wilkie Collins） from the last Christmas Number of this
Journal； entitled 〃Picking up Waifs at Sea〃。 It appears that the Eye
gentility was shocked by the introduction of this rude piece among the
taste and musical glasses of that important town； on which the eyes of
Europe are notoriously always fixed。 In particular； the feelings of the
vicar's family were outraged； and a Local Organ （say； the Tattlesnivel
Bleater） consequently doomed the said piece to everlasting oblivion； as
being of an 〃injurious tendency！〃
When this fearful fact came to the knowledge of the unhappy writer of
the doomed tale in question； he covered his face with his robe； previous to
dying decently under the sharp steel of the ecclesiastical gentility of the
terrible town of Eye。 But the discovery that he was not alone in his
gloomy glory； revived him； and he still lives。
For； at Stowmarket； in the aforesaid county of Suffolk； at another of
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those penny readings； it was announced that a certain juvenile sketch；
culled from a volume of sketches （by Boz） and entitled 〃The Bloomsbury
Christening〃； would be read。 Hereupon； the clergyman of that place took
heart and pen； and addressed the following terrific epistle to a gentleman
bearing the very appropriate name of Gudgeon：
STOWMARKET VICARAGE； Feb。 25； 1861。
SIR；My attention has been directed to a piece called 〃The
Bloomsbury Christening〃 which you propose to read this evening。 Without
presuming to claim any interference in the arrangement of the readings； I
would suggest to you whether you have on this occasion sufficiently
considered the character of the composition you have selected。 I quite
appreciate the laudable motive of the promoters of the readings to raise the
moral tone amongst the working class of the town and to direct this taste
in a familiar and pleasant manner。 〃The Bloomsbury Christening〃 cannot
possibly do this。 It trifles with a sacred ordinance； and the language and
style； instead of improving the taste； has a direct tendency to lower it。
I appeal to your right feeling whether it is desirable to give publicity to
that which must shock several of your audience； and create a smile
amongst others； to be indulged in only by violating the conscientious
scruples of their neighbours。
The ordinance which is here exposed to ridicule is one which is much
misunderstood and neglected amongst many families belonging to the
Church of England； and the mode in which it is treated in this chapter
cannot fail to appear as giving a sanction to； or at least excusing； such
neglect。
Although you are pledged to the public to give this subject； yet I
cannot but believe that they would fully justify your substitution of it for
another did they know the circumstances。 An abridgment would only
lessen the evil in a degree； as it is not only the style of the writing but the
subject itself which is objectionable。
Excuse me for troubling you； but I felt that； in common with yourself；
I have a grave responsibility in the matter； and I am most truly yours；
T。 S。 COLES。 To Mr。 J。 Gudgeon。
It is really necessary to explain that this is not a bad joke。 It is
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simply a bad fact。
RATHER A STRONG DOSE
〃Doctor John Campbell； the minister of the Tabernacle Chapel；
Finsbury； and editor of the British Banner； etc。； with that massive vigour
which distinguishes his style；〃 did； we are informed by Mr。 Howitt；
〃deliver a verdict in the Banner； for November； 1852；〃 of great importance
and favour to the Table…rapping cause。 We are not informed whether the
Public； sitting in judgment on the questio