SCOTLAND.
The fourth centenary of the invention of printing was celebrated at Edinburgh, on Wednesday week, by an entertainment in the Theatre. The pit was boarded over; the stage tastefully decorated with flags. The upper boxes and the two-shilling gallery were appropriated to the ladies, a considerable number of whom graced the meeting with their Presence, In the sides of the upper gallery were a number of indivi- duals who eould not find accommodation below ; and in the front seat the band of the Seventy-ninth Regiment wits stationed ; while in auother gallery, at the stage end of the theatre, was a number of the
members of the Choral Society. By both of • nese bands various fine pieces of music were executed in the course of the evening.
Thomas Campbell the poet took the chair, at six o'clock ; Mr. D. Stevenson, Mr. Constable, and Mr. Andrew Shortrede acted as croupiers. After the usual routine toasts, the peculiar toast of the day, " Honour to the sacred invention of printing, and may the art long flourish in purity and freedom "—was proposed, in a characteristic speech, by Mr. Campbell the chairman—, " The subject is an ample one, and it may fitly be divided into three clauses; the first being honour to the inventors of the blessed art of printing—the pal- ladium of liberty—the bulwark of civilization—the rock on which knowledge stands, and on which all error is shipwrecked. That this sentiment of the acknowledged blessing of the press should he unanimously received in an as- sembly so large as this is, necessarily containing individuals not only of varied but of opposite opinions, is of itself no sorry to mean triumph. On the con- trary, it is a triumph of the most important kind ; for it enables us to rejoice in the common blessing we possess of being a portion of the civilized world, and more especially in belonging to that pottion of it called Great Britain, which has taught more freedom to nations than any other nation in the world. If you could for a moment doubt of the blessing which the art of printing has been to Great Britain, I would only advise you to transfer for a moment your loyalty from your youthful Queen Vietoria to the Emperor Nicholas of Russia, and to transfer the scene of your festival from the Theatre Roval, Edinburgh, to the Imperial Theatre of St. Petersburg. What would the Autocrat of all the Ititssias—the imperial kidnapper of the children of Poland—what would he as if he could catch you in the act of I•elelirating such a festival as the present ? I will tell you what he would say—' Gentlemen and ladies'—for lie would not except even the ladies—' prepare yourselves instantly to have your heads shaved, and set out tomorrow morning for the remotest parts if my dominions.' He would say furdwr—for tyrants never speak mischief but they do it in the language of hIttsphetny—' What could possess you to celebrate the art of print- ing as a blessing of heaven ? The blessing of heaven ! the very traditions of your nursery might have taught you that it had come from an opposite quarter of the universe—that it was a curse brought on the earth by Dr. Faust, under a compact with the Devil. A curse which DiSitSirOlIS twilight sheds
On half the nations. and, with fear of change, re,itieses monarchs.'
So, ladies and gentlemen,' he would continue, ' go and refresh your principles in the cool and retired regions of Siberia.' I shall come now to the second clause of the toast—M ty the press Sourish in ;miry. There are many pro- prietors of the press here present ; and if it were just, fair, or reasonable, I would make bold to read them a uteri , lecture on the impurities of the press. But the impurities of the press are not clialgeable on their profession ; those who are to be blamed are us, the authors—bad authors—evil authors—and those who pay, encourage, and compliment those authors. When I gave the first clause of the freedom of the press I hope you will believe that I gave it not with my eves shut to the lamentable u e abuses to which such freedoin is ex- posed. But f. will say, that there is scarcely an instance in which the freedom of the press can be restricted, without intuit ring a greater evil than you propose to remedy. Remark, that you are not invited, and still less challenged, per- sonally to approve of this opinion of mine. I give it as my own humble indi- vidual opinion. In giving the toast of the fieethon of the press I desire that every man will interpret it accordiog to his own judgment ; I only give this as my own opinion, that it isnot possible to restrict the press, without incurring an evil worse than the remedy. If there is any exception to the rule, I would say, that the press ought to be restricted in what may be called, strictly speak- ing, personal vituperation. As for the convicted slanderer who gloats over the innocent individual whom he sacrifices to his malice—take him where )ou will — do with him what you like : as for me, I hate him too much to be able to give a calm judgment respecting his punislitnent. But as to other restric- tions, which many well-meaning people are inclined to lay on the liberty ot the press, I recur to my former general proposition. As to literary defamation, no doubt it inflicts many grievous and undeserved pangs in the minds of authors; but how are you to interfere with regard to the literary character of men of letters or science? I ask you if arty of the chase of authors, from the blazing fame of Shakspeare down to the most glitninering scintillation of the prevent day, would thank you for telling him that his fame stands in need of the aria of the law to defend it."
Mr. Campbell next entered on what he felt to he delicate ground — what restrictions should be imposed on the press in discussing ques- tions of religion-
,. I give you my answer, that all indecency in regard to religion ought to be put down, as any other species of indecettey. If jt.0 ask me what ought to be done with the discussion of religious matters; while treated with the reverence and solemnity which they deseive, I say that to whatever conclusion they may lead, no human petson has a right to interfere with the free judgments of men, when spoken with reverence, either from the press or the pulpit. All gross outrages on morality ought ceitainly to lie punished as such ; but there is more delicacy in interfering with works of fiction, some of which no strict man can approve of, though his opinion may be that works of fiction are good for the human heart. For instance, the Odyssey of limner contains some objection- able passages ; but still no one will deny that the Odyssey of Homer is a grand romance, well fitted to ono dire and to humanize the mind. The danger of re- stricting the liberty if the press is that it ma) leul to greater grievances. As to the political grievances of the press, I beg to remind those who, no doubt from the best intentions, would wish to check political feelings, that there was more than enough of such outbreaks before the invention of the art of printing; and that if the liberty of the press were restrained, it would, instead of the press being a stafety-valve for political excitement, only give ri-e to fee!ingv, which would foul a much worse vent. Upon the whole, notwithstanding all it, drawbachs, the press is a glorious thing. No doubt, objections apply to it as well as to every other blessing untler heaven. We must abolish the sun for fear that it blister us, get quit of the rivers for fear that they drown us, and have no mere dews for fear we catch cold ! Upon the positive blessings of the press I shall not dilate, because I should only be detaining you from other speakers more aide than myself to do the subject justice. I shall conclude by repeating my conviction, that loon the time when God said, Let there be light, and there was light,' even till now, there has not dawned on the human race a more blessed invention than printing."
Among the other toasts, were " the memory of Sir Walter Scott," the " memory of Frailklin," the " memory of Lord Stanhope," and "the newspaper press."
Much distress still exists in the manufacturing districts, especially in Paisley. There are upwards of seven thousand persons living upon charity in that place.
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