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.
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