THE EDINBURGH PERIODICAL PRESS.
The Edinburgh Periodical Press. By W. J. Couper, M.A. Vol. I. (Eneas Mackay, Stirling. 5s.)—There is much that is interesting to the antiquarian in the whole of Mr. Couper's volume ; nor will the general reader fail to find from time to time something that
will appeal to him. We should recommend, however, any one who does not possess any special acquaintance with the subject to begin with chap. 7, "The Censorship of the Scottish Press." The Northern kingdom was, on the whole, behind the Southern in point of liberty, even down into the nineteenth century. The censorship was more galling than it was here, and in Edinburgh it was aggravated by the system of monopoly. Charles II. granted such a monopoly to one Andrew Anderson in 1671 for forty-one years. His widow claimed that no one should print any news except by her authority. This was in 1699, but by that time things were not a little changed. The next chapter, " Liberty of the Press," with its notices of some great trials, will also be found interesting. Boswell's interference in the Douglas case is a curious example of what was considered legitimate comment in those days. A catalogue of Scottish periodicals is given in the " Miscellany."
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