Applegath and Cowper, and the clang of its engine to the peaceful
purlieus of Printing-house Square. Yet these are interesting items in
the advancement of science, and in the history of mankind; for whether
taken mechanically or morally, the _Times_ is, without exception, the
newspaper of all newspapers, "the observed of all _observers_" and
altogether, the most extraordinary production of this or any other
age.

But we are more anxious to reach what may be called the philosophy of
a newspaper--that broad volume of human life, in which "the follies,
vices, and consequent miseries of multitudes are displayed." To prove
this, only let the reader glance over the twenty-four columns of a
Times newspaper, and attempt a calculation of the many thousand events
that spring from and are connected with their contents. Yet this sheet
is but as it were a day in the life of man--a mere thread of the
mingled yarn of his existence--and 313 such sheets, or 1,252 such
folios make but a year of his history. The subject is too vast and
comprehensive for continued contemplation, for it is like all other
wheels of vicissitude; we become giddy by looking too steadfastly on
its twinings.

Let us take one side of any recent _Times _newspaper--say that of
_Thursday last_--and attempt something like an abstract of its
_memorabilia_. This may appear for us a toilsome task, but if the
reader be not fatigued also, our time will not be misspent. Begin "at
the beginning" with the old English title, broken by the royal
arms--like a blocking-course; and the No. and date in a sort of
typographical entablature. The first side is filled by 188
advertisements, for the most part, classed according to their objects.