THE ECHO
SIR,—In this week's " Notebook " Janus refers to The Echo, that London halfpenny evening newspaper which appeared in t868 and dis- appeared in 1905 ; and he also refers to the brevity of tenure of its editors. That is no doubt explained by the fact that The Echo had numerous changes of proprietorship. Cobden's old friend, John Cassell, head of the firm of Cassell, Fetter and Galpin, was responsible for bringing out the paper on the eve of Mr. Gladstone's taking office as premier.
For many years The Echo was edited by Arthur Arnold, one of its principal writers being Frances Power Cobbe. Subsequently, The Echo underwent numerous changes of proprietorship, although it maintained its character as a vigorous Radical newspaper.
John Cassell never found it to be a profitable speculation ; and in 1874 it was sold to Albert Grant, who disposed of it to John Passmore Edwards. Andrew Carnegie was its next proprietor ; and he conceived the idea of publishing The Echo in various parts of the country. But that proposition did not mature ; and Passmore• Edwards again assumed control of the paper. Under his management The Echo flourished for some years, notwithstanding the advent of a halfpenny rival in 1881, The Evening News.
In its first issue (December 8th, 1868) The Echo stated " The nation has elected Mr. Gladstone to its highest office. . . . It will be our duty, as serving the nation at large, to criticise the action of the Government with impartiality. We hope for much from Mr. Gladstone ; we know how severely he will be tried."—Yours, &c., P. A. SHAW.
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