Analytics Consent

We use analytics to understand better how people are using this site.

Permit Google Analytics?

Yes No
Skip to main content
Read page text
page 1
THE ILLUSTRATED No. 450.-VOL. XVII.] FOR THE WEEK ENDING SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1850. THE ANONYMOUS IN PUBLIC WRITING. [SIXPENCE. these to change their opinion, and to be contented with the practice that, in such a case, the printer, and not John Smith or CONSIDERABLE interest is at this moment excited in France and in England by the difficulties into which the French Government has plunged in its attempts toabolish the practice of anonymous writing. The majority of the French Legislative Chamber-jealous of the powers exercised by the journals of the capital, and never reflecting that this power was but the concentration of public opinion, in accordance with, although possibly in advance of it-made a blind effort to destroy the influence of the press, by passing a law that every article in a newspaper should be signed with the name of its writer. Hence their present difficulty, which we, on this side of the Channel, are happily in a position both to be amused at and to profit by. The question of the anonymous in public writing has often been mooted in this country-and there are not wanting many persons who, with a jealousy akin to that of the French Assembly, or a sensitiveness which cannot tolerate adverse criticism upon their acts or character, would willingly insist that every article in a newspaper should be signed with the name of its writer. The consideration of what has occurred in France will possibly induce many of which time and the common-sense of the people of this country have established amongst us. One of two things, or perhaps both combined, must or may be sought by those who desire a responsible name at the foot of every paragraph or article in a journal. The first is the protection of private character against the slanders of anonymous assailants; the second is the protection of public men from adverse criticism. If it be the first of these two objects, there is no necessity, at least in this country, and none that we are aware of, in France, for the name of the writer. The newspaper in every country has a responsible printer or proprietor, who may be punished for any attack upon private character. In England, where the anonymous in public writing is the rule, attacks upon private character are exceedingly rare; and, when committed, are tried by the ordinary tribunals of the country. We cannot see that the name of John Snooks" or John Smith," appended to articles in the Times or Morning Chronicle, would be a better security that in those articles no man's character was maligned, than the highly respectable names which appear every day as their responsible printers and proprietors. Indeed, it is more than likely John Snooks, would be the person whom the aggrieved party would prefer as defendant in any action at law that he might institute in defence of his outraged honour or reputation. Plaintiffs in such actions prefer men of tangible substance and property to men of straw. If so-and we presume there can be no doubt upon the subject-we may well ask those who wish the names of Smith or Jones to be continually thrust before us, Cui bono If, on the other hand, the object be not the protection of private character-already sufficiently protected-but the prevention ofadverse criticism upon the acts of public men, and the general affairs of the Government, we must first of all enquire whether it could by any possibility answer the end in view and if it could, whether it would be for the public interest and the interests of civilisation, SO intimately bound up with the rights of free discussion, that such should be the result ? It is by this time tolerably well known, that an enlightened public will not tolerate an unenlightened press. The mind of the journalist must keep pace with the mind of the public, or be in advance of it, which it most commonly is or the literary wares which he offers to his readers will not suit. His journal will not GREAT EXHIBITION OF 1851.-PROGRESS OF THE BUILDING IN HYDE PARK. THE progress of the Crystal Palace for the Great Exhibition, next year, is sufficiently advanced to enable us to commence a series of Illustrations by which we hope to inform our readers of the general character and details of the structure, and also of the various ingenious modes and contrivances adopted by the contractors for executing the works with the greatest certainty and rapidity. Our View exhibits the commencement of the erection of the central avenue, which will present a corridor, uninterrupted, 1848 feet in length, extending from the east to the west end of the building. The most difficult and complicated part of the work is that which is to cover in the old elm trees, more than 90 feet high and the contractors have wisely determined to execute this part in the first in- stance. Our View is close to this spot. Semicircular ribs, which will cover the trees, will rest upon columns placed in three tiers, one above the other. The View represents the first series of these tiers, connected together by light cast-iron girders, making squares of 24 feet, or an area of 576 superficial feet. These girders will also support a gallery extending down the whole length of the building, on both sides of the central passage. Underneath this gallery, the squares will form excellent spaces for the exhibition of decorated ceilings of all kinds; and we understand that the Executive Committee are about to announce that these spaces will be placed at the disposal of decorators who may wish to use them for this purpose. On a future occasion we shall give views both of the ingenious hydraulic press by which the strength of every one of these girders is tested as soon as it reaches the ground, and of the enormous ribs, 72 feet in span-all of which will be completed and ready for [COUNTRY EDITION.] fitting this week. There will be sixteen of them, and the last was being finished when we visited the ground. The foundations of the columns are made of concrete, formed of Dorking lime, and the gravel which is obtained in digging them. Upon the concrete is laid the base of the column, and forming part of it; the lower portion is a hollow pipe, purposed to carry off the rainwater, which will flow down through the columns themselves. Nearly the whole of these foundation vases, to the number of about 1500, will be fixed in their places this week and thus one of the most important operations will have been safely and conveniently performed in fine and dry weather. Considerably more than half of the whole materials are already on the ground, and every description of the various portions of the building are actively constructing. Upwards of 500 men may be seen busily at work; and, as more castings are supplied, the numbers will be considerably increased.

Page Text

View plaintext

THE ILLUSTRATED

No. 450.-VOL. XVII.]

FOR THE WEEK ENDING SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1850.

THE ANONYMOUS IN PUBLIC WRITING.

[SIXPENCE.

these to change their opinion, and to be contented with the practice that, in such a case, the printer, and not John Smith or

CONSIDERABLE interest is at this moment excited in France and in England by the difficulties into which the French Government has plunged in its attempts toabolish the practice of anonymous writing. The majority of the French Legislative Chamber-jealous of the powers exercised by the journals of the capital, and never reflecting that this power was but the concentration of public opinion, in ac- cordance with, although possibly in advance of it-made a blind effort to destroy the influence of the press, by passing a law that every article in a newspaper should be signed with the name of its writer. Hence their present difficulty, which we, on this side of the Channel, are happily in a position both to be amused at and to profit by.

The question of the anonymous in public writing has often been mooted in this country-and there are not wanting many persons who, with a jealousy akin to that of the French Assembly, or a sen- sitiveness which cannot tolerate adverse criticism upon their acts or character, would willingly insist that every article in a news- paper should be signed with the name of its writer. The consider- ation of what has occurred in France will possibly induce many of which time and the common-sense of the people of this country have established amongst us.

One of two things, or perhaps both combined, must or may be sought by those who desire a responsible name at the foot of every paragraph or article in a journal. The first is the protection of pri- vate character against the slanders of anonymous assailants; the second is the protection of public men from adverse criticism. If it be the first of these two objects, there is no necessity, at least in this country, and none that we are aware of, in France, for the name of the writer. The newspaper in every country has a re- sponsible printer or proprietor, who may be punished for any attack upon private character. In England, where the anonymous in public writing is the rule, attacks upon private character are ex- ceedingly rare; and, when committed, are tried by the ordinary tribunals of the country. We cannot see that the name of John Snooks" or John Smith," appended to articles in the Times or Morning Chronicle, would be a better security that in those articles no man's character was maligned, than the highly re- spectable names which appear every day as their responsible printers and proprietors. Indeed, it is more than likely

John Snooks, would be the person whom the aggrieved party would prefer as defendant in any action at law that he might insti- tute in defence of his outraged honour or reputation. Plaintiffs in such actions prefer men of tangible substance and property to men of straw. If so-and we presume there can be no doubt upon the subject-we may well ask those who wish the names of Smith or Jones to be continually thrust before us, Cui bono

If, on the other hand, the object be not the protection of private character-already sufficiently protected-but the prevention ofad- verse criticism upon the acts of public men, and the general affairs of the Government, we must first of all enquire whether it could by any possibility answer the end in view and if it could, whether it would be for the public interest and the interests of civilisation, SO intimately bound up with the rights of free discussion, that such should be the result ?

It is by this time tolerably well known, that an enlightened pub- lic will not tolerate an unenlightened press. The mind of the journalist must keep pace with the mind of the public, or be in ad- vance of it, which it most commonly is or the literary wares which he offers to his readers will not suit. His journal will not

GREAT EXHIBITION OF 1851.-PROGRESS OF THE BUILDING IN HYDE PARK.

THE progress of the Crystal Palace for the Great Exhibition, next year, is sufficiently advanced to enable us to commence a series of Illustrations by which we hope to inform our readers of the general character and details of the structure, and also of the various inge- nious modes and contrivances adopted by the contractors for exe- cuting the works with the greatest certainty and rapidity.

Our View exhibits the commencement of the erection of the central avenue, which will present a corridor, uninterrupted, 1848 feet in length, extending from the east to the west end of the building. The most difficult and complicated part of the work is that which is to cover in the old elm trees, more than 90 feet high and the con- tractors have wisely determined to execute this part in the first in- stance. Our View is close to this spot. Semicircular ribs, which will cover the trees, will rest upon columns placed in three tiers, one above the other. The View represents the first series of these tiers, con- nected together by light cast-iron girders, making squares of 24 feet, or an area of 576 superficial feet. These girders will also support a gallery extending down the whole length of the building, on both sides of the central passage. Underneath this gallery, the squares will form excellent spaces for the exhibition of decorated ceilings of all kinds; and we understand that the Executive Committee are about to announce that these spaces will be placed at the disposal of decorators who may wish to use them for this purpose.

On a future occasion we shall give views both of the ingenious hydraulic press by which the strength of every one of these girders is tested as soon as it reaches the ground, and of the enormous ribs, 72 feet in span-all of which will be completed and ready for fitting this week. There will be sixteen of them, and the last was being finished when we visited the ground.

The foundations of the columns are made of concrete, formed of Dorking lime, and the gravel which is obtained in digging them. Upon the concrete is laid the base of the column, and forming part of it; the lower portion is a hollow pipe, purposed to carry off the rain- water, which will flow down through the columns themselves. Nearly the whole of these foundation vases, to the number of about 1500, will be fixed in their places this week and thus one of the most im- portant operations will have been safely and conveniently performed in fine and dry weather. Considerably more than half of the whole materials are already on the ground, and every description of the various portions of the building are actively constructing. Upwards of 500 men may be seen busily at work; and, as more castings are supplied, the numbers will be considerably increased.

Read next page

My Bookmarks

Buy this Book
Skip to main content