JOHN MURRAY AND JOURNALISAM.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 187, 2 May 1908, Page 12

JOHN MURRAY AND JOURNALISAM.

Tho brief account given by Mr. Lucy in his "Memories of Eight Parliaments'' of Mr. John Murray's disastrous attempt to. become tho publisher of a daily newspaper seems tc require somo little correction. It may be true,'as Mr. Lucy says, that Murray determined to put down "Tho Times" ; but all that his coadjutor hoped for was to be fully equal to "The Times." But Disraeli was not, as Mr. Lucy assorts, "tho founder and editor of a newspaper." He-was indeed a persouago: of the most bustling importance in the negotiations which led to tho foundation oi tho "Representative"; , lie even invented its title; but when tho time camo for providing his share of the capital necessary for publication, ho suddenly dropped out of sight, and nothing more is heard of lrim in connection with tho business. Under tho partnership memorandum drawn up in Asigust, 1825, Murray was to have'one-half slianj in the property, and Disraeli and his friend Pbwles, a membor of a financial firm in the City, each a quarter share, expense, .capital, and risk being allocated in these proportions.But Powles also failed to pay his share, and, Murray was left with tho solo proprietorship'of the paper, the six months' career of which cost him £26,000. Had Disraeli, oven, though still a minor— ."in|law- an infant and in years a boy," as Byron has it-poccupied tho : editorial chair this failure might have been averted, for it was editorial weakness that killed the venture.. John Gibson Lockliart had been invited to take tho post, but'ho declined, and an "obscure and uninfluential person" named Tyndalo was appointed, soon to bo succeeded by "others who were no better," and Murray found "inexpressible relief" when after a troubled career of oxactly six months the "Representative" came to an end. Much tho most interesting part of tho story is tho.record, in his own letters,- of Disraeli's embassy to 'Scotland in scorch of an editor. Scott's assistance in tho projection of the "Quarterly Review" was gratefully remembered by Murray, and his advico was. sought on the new scheme.' Tho mission was undertaken by Disraeli, who arrived in Edinburgh in September, 1825, and a day or two later sot out for Cniefswood; Loekhart's homo near Melrose. His reception' was' a '.little cold, for Lockliart- had expected Isaac, tho father, and not Benjamin; the mere staipling, and in Loekhart he found, in addition to his natural reserve, "ail evident disappointment atseeing me." . But in a'few liours tlioy were upon the most intimate .terms. . Thus early had Disraeli developed the persuasiveness which helped,him so much ih.later life. And his. grandiloquence had also reached a full fruition, for he tells Murray that Lock-liart-must be assured that ; lie- "is, coming to London, not to be an editor of a newspaper, but the director-general of an immense organ, and at the head of a band o£ high-bred gentlemen and important interests" —phraseology which , suggests at once tho Johnsonian description of Thralo's browery. planit and the famous prospectus'of Pondennis's "Pall Mall Gazette." - But Lockliart wns riot to be persuaded into newspaper editorshijp, and to this'.oxtent Disraeli's mission was a. failure. Lockhart-s reason for doclining the editorreason: in which *lie> was! supported by his father-in-law in l a lotter to Murray — shows, in a curious way tho mean estimation in which newspaper men'• were'then hold. Disraeli, writes' that while. Loekhart thought tho scheme magnificent and excellent, "two points immediately occurred: first ; the difficulty of his leaving Edinburgh- without any ostensible purpose; and, secondly, tho losing casto by sq doing. Ho is fully awp.ro that lie may end'' by: making 'bis -situation as important, as any in. itho Empire, ' b'aii , tho primary diffionlty is insurmountabio. 1 ' Scott, .while stating that ho would, regrot severance from his son-in-law, would riot desire him to remain in Scotland if ho. were to, bettor his fortunes in London, but . I. cannot conceivo it /advisable that , lie '.'should leave Scotland.on the speculation of becoming editor of' a newspaper. It. is '• very. true, that: thi?. 'department may and ':i ought to ■ bq., rendered- 'more-respectable than, it, is. at'.present; but I think this is a reformation more to bo wished than hoped for,' and should think it rash for any young man, of'whatever talent, to : sacrifice, nominally at a considerable portion ■.'.'.of his'respectability in society in hopes of v. {being submitted'as an- exception to a:rule which is at present 'pretty'general. This ; might open the door to love of money,' but it would effectually, shut it against ambi- ' tion. - Happily, the London nowspaper editor of today, if somewhat weak in security: of tenure,' is' strong in' the esteem of every class of society. . i" —"Glasgoijv. Herald."