reading aloud from the manuscript, while the
other corrected the press. I had seen a boy
carefully collect the pieces of Mr. Wiseman's
manuscript in the composing-room, and put
them into a basket hung in a corner. We
now found them again in the hands of a reader.
I saw that the monotonous loud tone of the
reader jarred somewhat upon the nerves of Mr.
Wiseman, who would doubtless have enjoyed
a style of elocution susceptible of more
emphasis, sympathy, and perhaps pathos: but
he could now afford to let this pass, and even
to make allowances on account of this kind of
work being certainly as onerous as any that
was going forward on the premises. Not
only is the work far from being merely
mechanical; but, as the hero of the night
observed, much of it must be frivolous, and
in every way uninteresting; as, for instance,
the report of a cause about a patent, upon
which the second pair of readers were
engaged.

One remarkable apartment remained to be
visited—a large room, in which the advertisements
are ranged in type; those which are
ordered for insertion so many times a week
for a year, being deposited in long lines
across the whole width of the room. One
advertiser, we were told, pays to this office
alone eight shillings and sixpence a day
for every week-day of the year. Here we
saw the standing title of the paper engraved
on brass; and this was, as far as I remember,
the last peculiarity of the establishment. We
looked into the boiler-room under the engine,
and saw the engine and printing presses; but
there was nothing very peculiar about them,
and they were not at work. The first batch
of newspapers must be ready, as I said, for
the morning trains, at a quarter before five;
and another for the mails at seven, after an
interval which permits the insertion of any
fresh news. The types then stand till the
afternoon; the evening version of the paper
being printed off at three, and the whole
type broken up at five.

When we were about to leave the
establishment, and were once more admiring
the fresh and cheerful appearance of the
corps, it suddenly occurred to us, that
though we now, at midnight, too sensibly
felt that the end of our day was come,
that of the compositors was only half over.
They did not rise till four in the afternoon.
When their work was done, those who live
in the suburbs (which some of them do)
would not reach home till eight, when they
would go straight to bed for seven or eight
hours' sleep; thus hardly ever seeing
daylight in midwinter. Mr. Wiseman's great
work had been done the night before. He
knew something about vigils for the benefit
of mankind; and now, he might go home,
and taste of the sleep of the successful
benefactor of mankind.

So we believed; and such sleep he enjoyed;
and I am glad he did, as it enabled him the
better to sustain the shock of the next morning.
I was with him when the newspaper
was brought in, and I caught his smile of
triumph when his first glance assured him
that his leader was there. But the second
glance! To my latest day, I shall never lose
the impression of that moment. Mr. Wiseman's
statement of some social evils was
preserved; that is, in a manner, with some
omissions and changes of phrase: but the
main part—all that contained Mr. Wiseman's
"view"—was cut out! Not one syllable was
left that could convey the slightest idea of
the real object of the article. In fact the
remnant—for it was a mere remnant—
occupied little more than half a column!

As soon as I had satisfied myself that Mr.
Wiseman could sustain the shock, and might
be left alone with his heroism, I snatched
my hat and repaired to the editor's residence.
He was not up; and his wife was evidently
annoyed at the vehemence of my knock and
pull at the bell. There was no use in waiting,
as he would not rise for two or three
hours. Late in the afternoon, I caught him
at one of the clubs. His explanation was
given with all courtesy; but it was inexpressibly
vexatious. I have already mentioned a
mistake in the name, when his introduction
to Mr. Wiseman took place. It appears, that
supposing the leader to be written by the
gentleman for whom he had mistaken Mr.
Wiseman in the first instance, he had sent it
to the composing room before reading it. The
"view" was one which, he said, could not be
reconciled with the principles of his journal:
yet he had virtually promised its admission.
There was therefore but one thing for him
to do; to use the part which was, as he
expressed it, " harmless," and to omit the rest.
One thing more he did. He referred me to
the cashier of the journal for a cheque to the
amount usually paid for a leader; and with
this I returned to my friend.

I found him deriving, as usual, consolation
from his own indomitable energies. He was
stooping over some maps, exploring the route
to the Great Salt Lake. He is so persuaded
that, of all existing societies, the Mormons
are the most likely to appreciate his " view,"
that he has nearly made up his mind to go
among them and ascertain the real amount of
their intelligence. The only doubt indeed is
(as he assured me, after contemptuously
flinging the cheque into the fire) whether to
make trial first of the Mormons, or of the
new Chinese Christians. The reformation
now going forward in China appears to afford
a fine opening. My advice on the whole
however is—as Mr. Wiseman does me the
honour to desire my opinion—to begin with
the Mormons. In case of failure there—
which is however not rationally to be
anticipated—the route to China by California will
be practicable enough; and in California
itself, perhaps—But I am apt to preach
against the indulgence of a too sanguine