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Compelled by this loss to return to his trade； he succeeded in
obtaining the publication of 'Lloyd's List；' as well as the
printing of the Board of Customs。 He also established himself as
a publisher and bookseller at No。 8； Charing Cross。 But his
principal achievement was in founding The Times newspaper。
The Daily Universal Register was started on the 1st of January；
1785； and was described in the heading as 〃printed
logographically。〃 The type had still to be composed； letter by
letter； each placed alongside of its predecessor by human
fingers。 Mr。 Walter's invention consisted in using stereotyped
words and parts of words instead of separate metal letters； by
which a certain saving of time and labour was effected。 The name
of the 'Register' did not suit； there being many other
publications bearing a similar title。 Accordingly； it was
re…named The Times； and the first number was issued from Printing
House Square on the 1st of January； 1788。
The Times was at first a very meagre publication。 It was not
much bigger than a number of the old 'Penny Magazine；' containing
a single short leader on some current topic； without any
pretensions to excellence； some driblets of news spread out in
large type； half a column of foreign intelligence； with a column
of facetious paragraphs under the heading of 〃The Cuckoo；〃 while
the rest of each number consisted of advertisements。
Notwithstanding the comparative innocence of the contents of the
early numbers of the paper； certain passages which appeared in it
on two occasions subjected the publisher to imprisonment in
Newgate。 The extent of the offence； on one occasion； consisted
in the publication of a short paragraph intimating that their
Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales and the Duke of York had 〃so
demeaned themselves as to incur the just disapprobation of his
Majesty！〃 For such slight offences were printers sent to gaol in
those days。
Although the first Mr。 Walter was a man of considerable business
ability； his exertions were probably too much divided amongst a
variety of pursuits to enable him to devote that exclusive
attention to The Times which was necessary to ensure its success。
He possibly regarded it； as other publishers of newspapers then
did； mainly as a means of obtaining a profitable business in
job…printing。 Hence； in the elder Walter's hands； the paper was
not only unprofitable in itself； but its maintenance became a
source of gradually increasing expenditure； and the proprietor
seriously contemplated its discontinuance。
At this juncture； John Walter； junior； who had been taken into
the business as a partner； entreated his father to entrust him
with the sole conduct of the paper； and to give it 〃one more
trial。〃 This was at the beginning of 1803。 The new editor and
conductor was then only twenty…seven years of age。 He had been
trained to the manual work of a printer 〃at case；〃 and passed
through nearly every department in the office； literary and
mechanical。 But in the first place； he had received a very
liberal education； first at Merchant Taylors' School； and
afterwards at Trinity College； Oxford； where he pursued his
classical studies with much success。 He was thus a man of
well…cultured mind； he had been thoroughly disciplined to work；
he was； moreover； a man of tact and energy； full of expedients；
and possessed by a passion for business。 His father； urged by
the young man's entreaties； at length consented； although not
without misgivings； to resign into his hands the entire future
control of The Times。
Young Walter proceeded forthwith to remodel the establishment；
and to introduce improvements into every department； as far as
the scanty capital at his command would admit。 Before he assumed
the direction； The Times did not seek to guide opinion or to
exercise political influence。 It was a scanty newspapernothing
more； Any political matters referred to were usually introduced
in 〃Letters to the Editor；〃 in the form in which Junius's Letters
first appeared in the Public Advertiser。 The comments on
political affairs by the Editor were meagre and brief； and
confined to a mere statement of supposed facts。
Mr。 Walter； very much to the dismay of his father； struck out an
entirely new course。 He boldly stated his views on public
affairs； bringing his strong and original judgment to bear upon
the political and social topics of the day。 He carefully watched
and closely studied public opinion； and discussed general
questions in all their bearings。 He thus invented the modern
Leading Article。 The adoption of an independent line of politics
necessarily led him to canvass freely； and occasionally to
condemn； the measures of the Government。 Thus； he had only been
about a year in office as editor； when the Sidmouth
Administration was succeeded by that of Mr。 Pitt； under whom Lord
Melville undertook the unfortunate Catamaran expedition。 His
Lordship's malpractices in the Navy Department had also been
brought to light by the Commissioners of Naval Inquiry。 On both
these topics Mr。 Walter spoke out freely in terms of reprobation；
and the result was； that the printing for the Customs and the
Government advertisements were at once removed from The Times
office。
Two years later Mr。 Pitt died； and an Administration succeeded
which contained a portion of the political chiefs whom the editor
had formerly supported on his undertaking the management of the
paper。 He was invited by one of them to state the injustice
which had been done to him by the loss of the Customs printing；
and a memorial to the Treasury was submitted for his signature；
with a view to its recovery。 But believing that the reparation
of the injury in this manner was likely to be considered as a
favour； entitling those who granted it to a certain degree of
influence over the politics of the journal； Walter refused to
sign it； or to have any concern in presenting the memorial。 He
did more； he wrote to those from whom the restoration of the
employment was expected to come； disavowing all connection with
the proceeding。 The matter then dropped； and the Customs
printing was never restored to the office。
This course was so unprecedented； and； as his father thought； was
so very wrong…headed； that young Walter had for some time
considerable difficulty in holding his ground and maintaining the
independent position he had assumed。 But with great tenacity of
purpose he held on his course undismayed。 He was a man who
looked far ahead；not so much taking into account the results at
the end of each day or of each year； but how the plan he had laid
down for conducting the paper would work out in the long run。
And events proved that the high…minded course he had pursued with
so much firmness of purpose was the wisest course after all。
Another feature in the management which showed clear…sightedness
and business acuteness； was the pains which