ButthemostremarkablefeatureofTheTimesthatwhichemphaticallycommendedittopublicsupportandensureditscommercialsuccess——wasitsdepartmentofforeignintelligence。
AtthetimethatWalterundertookthemanagementofthejournal，Europewasavasttheatreofwar；andintheconductofcommercialaffairs——nottospeakofpoliticalmovements——itwasofthemostvitalimportancethatearlyinformationshouldbeobtainedofaffairsontheContinent。TheEditorresolvedtobecomehimselfthepurveyorofforeignintelligence，andatgreatexpensehedespatchedhisagentsinalldirections，eveninthetrackofarmies；whileotherswereemployed，undervariousdisguisesandbymeansofsundrypretexts，inmanypartsoftheContinent。Theseagentscollectedinformation，anddespatchedittoLondon，oftenatconsiderablerisks，forpublicationinTheTimes，whereitusuallyappearedlonginadvanceofthegovernmentdespatches。
ThelateMr。Pryme，inhis’AutobiographicRecollections，’
mentionsavisitwhichhepaidtoMr。WalterathisseatatBearwood。“Hedescribedtome，“saysMr。Pryme，“thecauseofthelargeextensioninthecirculationofTheTimes。Hewasthefirsttoestablishaforeigncorrespondent。ThiswasHenryCrabbRobinson，atasalaryof300L。ayear……Mr。Walteralsoestablishedlocalreporters，insteadofcopyingfromthecountrypapers。Hisfatherdoubtedthewisdomofsuchalargeexpenditure，butthesonprophesiedagradualandcertainsuccess，whichhasactuallybeenrealised。“
Mr。RobinsonhasdescribedinhisDiarythemannerinwhichhebecameconnectedwiththeforeigncorrespondence。“InJanuary，1807，“hesays，“Ireceived，throughmyfriendJ。D。Collier，aproposalfromMr。WalterthatIshouldtakeupmyresidenceatAltona，andbecomeTheTimescorrespondent。Iwastoreceivefromtheeditorofthe’HamburgerCorrespondenten’allthepublicdocumentsathisdisposal，andwastohavethebenefitalsoofamassofinformation，ofwhichtherestraintsoftheGermanPressdidnotpermithimtoavailhimself。ThehonorariumIwastoreceivewasamplewithmyhabitsoflife。Igladlyacceptedtheoffer，andneverrepentedhavingdoneso。MyacquaintancewithMr。Walterripenedintofriendship，andlastedaslongashelived。“[1]
Mr。RobinsonwasforcedtoleaveGermanybytheBattleofFriedlandandtheTreatyofTilsit，whichresultedinthenavalcoalitionagainstEngland。ReturningtoLondon，hebecameforeigneditorofTheTimesuntilthefollowingyear，whenheproceededtoSpainasforeigncorrespondent。Mr。WalterhadalsoanagentinthetrackofthearmyintheunfortunateWalcherenexpedition；andTheTimesannouncedthecapitulationofFlushingforty-eighthoursbeforethenewshadarrivedbyanyotherchannel。Bythispromptmethodofcommunicatingpublicintelligence，thepractice，whichhadpreviouslyexisted，ofsystematicallyretardingthepublicationofforeignnewsbyofficialsattheGeneralPostOffice，whomadegainbysellingthemtotheLombardStreetbrokers，waseffectuallyextinguished。
Thiscircumstance，aswellastheindependentcoursewhichMr。
Walteradoptedinthediscussionofforeignpolitics，explainsinsomemeasuretheoppositionwhichhehadtoencounterinthetransmissionofhisdespatches。Asearlyastheyear1805，whenhehadcomeintocollisionwiththeGovernmentandlosttheCustomsprinting，TheTimesdespatcheswereregularlystoppedattheoutports，whilstthosefortheMinisterialjournalswereallowedtoproceed。Thismighthavecrushedaweakerman，butitdidnotcrushWalter。Ofcourseheexpostulated。HewasinformedattheHomeSecretary’sofficethathemightbepermittedtoreceivehisforeignpapersasafavour。Butasthisimpliedtheexpectationofafavourfromhiminreturn，theproposalwasrejected；and，determinednottobebaffled，heemployedspecialcouriers，atgreatcost，forthepurposeofobtainingtheearliesttransmissionofforeignintelligence。
Theseimportantqualities——enterprise，energy，businesstact，andpublicspirit——sufficientlyaccountforhisremarkablesuccess。
Tothese，however，mustbeaddedanotherofnosmallimportance——
discernmentandknowledgeofcharacter。Thoughhimselftheheadandfrontofhisenterprise，itwasnecessarythatheshouldsecuretheservicesandco-operationofmenoffirst-rateability；andintheselectionofsuchmenhisjudgmentwasalmostunerring。Byhisdiscernmentandmunificence，hecollectedroundhimsomeoftheablestwritersoftheage。Thesewerefrequentlyrevealedtohiminthecommunicationsofcorrespondents——theauthoroftheletterssigned“Vetus“beingthusselectedtowriteintheleadingcolumnsofthePaper。ButWalterhimselfwasthesoulofTheTimes。Itwashewhogavethetonetoitsarticles，directeditsinfluence，andsuperintendeditsentireconductwithunremittingvigilance。
Eveninconductingthemechanicalarrangementsofthepaper——abusinessofnosmalldifficulty——hehadoftenoccasiontoexercisepromptnessandboldnessofdecisionincasesofemergency。Printersinthosedayswerearatherrefractoryclassofworkmen，andnotunfrequentlytookadvantageoftheirpositiontoimposehardtermsontheiremployers，especiallyinthedailypress，whereeverythingmustbepromptlydonewithinaverylimitedtime。Thusononeoccasion，in1810，thepressmenmadeasuddendemandupontheproprietorforanincreaseofwages，andinsisteduponauniformratebeingpaidtoallhands，whethergoodorbad。Walterwasatfirstdisposedtomakeconcessionstothemen；buthavingbeenprivatelyinformedthatacombinationwasalreadyenteredintobythecompositors，aswellasbythepressmen，toleavehisemploymentsuddenly，undercircumstancesthatwouldhavestoppedthepublicationofthepaper，andinflictedonhimthemostseriousinjury，hedeterminedtorunallrisks，ratherthansubmittowhatnowappearedtohiminthelightofanextortion。
ThestriketookplaceonaSaturdaymorning，whensuddenly，andwithoutnotice，allthehandsturnedout。Mr。Walterhadonlyafewhours’noticeofit，buthehadalreadyresolveduponhiscourse。Hecollectedapprenticesfromhalfadozendifferentquarters，andafewinferiorworkmen，whoweregladtoobtainemploymentonanyterms。Hehimselfstripttohisshirt-sleeves，andwenttoworkwiththerest；andforthenextsix-and-thirtyhourshewasincessantlyemployedatcaseandatpress。OntheMondaymorning，theconspirators，whohadassembledtotriumphoverhisruin，totheirinexpressibleamazementsawTheTimesissuefromthepublishingofficeattheusualhour，affordingamemorableexampleofwhatoneman’sresoluteenergymayaccomplishinamomentofdifficulty。
Thejournalcontinuedtoappearwithregularity，thoughtheprintersemployedattheofficelivedinastateofdailyperil。
Theconspirators，findingthemselvesbaffled，resolvedupontryinganothergame。TheycontrivedtohavetwoofthemenemployedbyWalterascompositorsapprehendedasdesertersfromtheRoyalNavy。Themenweretakenbeforethemagistrate；butthechargewasonlysustainedbythetestimonyofclumsy，perjuredwitnesses，andfelltotheground。Theturn-outsnextproceededtoassaultthenewhands，whenMr。Walterresolvedtothrowaroundthemtheprotectionofthelaw。Bytheadviceofcounsel，hehadtwenty-oneoftheconspiratorsapprehendedandtried，andnineteenofthemwerefoundguiltyandcondemnedtovariousperiodsofimprisonment。FromthatmomentcombinationwasatanendinPrintingHouseSquare。
Mr。Walter’sgreatestachievementwashissuccessfulapplicationofsteampowertonewspaperprinting。Althoughhehadgreatlyimprovedthemechanicalarrangementsafterhetookcommandofthepaper，therateatwhichthecopiescouldbeprintedoffremainedalmoststationary。Ittookaverylongtimeindeedtothrowoff，bythehand-labourofpressmen，thethreeorfourthousandcopieswhichthenconstitutedtheordinarycirculationofTheTimes。Ontheoccasionofanyeventofgreatpublicinterestbeingreportedinthepaper，itwasfoundalmostimpossibletomeetthedemandforcopies。Onlyabout300copiescouldbeprintedinthehour，withonemantoinkthetypesandanothertoworkthepress，whilethelabourwasverysevere。Thusittookalongtimetogetoutthedailyimpression，andveryoftentheeveningpaperswereoutbeforeTheTimeshadhalfsuppliedthedemand。
Mr。Waltercouldnotbrookthetediumofthisirksomeandlaboriousprocess。Toincreasethenumberofimpressions，heresortedtovariousexpedients。Thetypewassetupinduplicate，andevenintriplicate；severalStanhopepresseswerekeptconstantlyatwork；andstilltheinsatiabledemandsofthenewsmenoncertainoccasionscouldnotbemet。Thusthequestionwasearlyforceduponhisconsideration，whetherhecouldnotdevisemachineryforthepurposeofexpeditingtheproductionofnewspapers。Insteadof300impressionsanhour，hewantedfrom1500to2000。Althoughsuchaspeedasthisseemedquiteaschimericalaspropellingashipthroughthewateragainstwindandtideatfifteenmilesanhour，orrunningalocomotiveonarailwayatfifty，yetMr。Walterwasimpressedwiththeconvictionthatamuchmorerapidprintingofnewspaperswasfeasiblethanbytheslowhand-labourprocess；andheendeavouredtoinduceseveralingeniousmechanicalcontriverstotakeupandworkouthisidea。
Theprincipleofproducingimpressionsbymeansofacylinder，andofinkingthetypesbymeansofaroller，wasnotnew。Wehaveseen，intheprecedingmemoir，thatasearlyas1790WilliamNicholsonhadpatentedsuchamethod，buthisschemehadneverbeenbroughtintopracticaloperation。Mr。WalterendeavouredtoenlistMarcIsambardBrunel——oneofthecleverestinventorsoftheday——inhisproposedmethodofrapidprintingbymachinery；
butafterlabouringoveravarietyofplansforaconsiderabletime，Brunelfinallygaveuptheprintingmachine，unabletomakeanythingofit。Mr。WalternexttriedThomasMartyn，aningeniousyoungcompositor，whohadaschemeforaself-actingmachineforworkingtheprintingpress。Hewassuppliedwiththenecessaryfundstoenablehimtoprosecutehisidea；butMr。
Walter’sfatherwasopposedtothescheme，andwhenthefundsbecameexhausted，thisschemealsofelltotheground。
Asyearspassedon，andthecirculationofthepaperincreased，thenecessityforsomemoreexpeditiousmethodofprintingbecamestillmoreurgent。AlthoughMr。WalterhaddeclinedtoenterintoanarrangementwithBensleyin1809，beforeKoenighadcompletedhisinventionofprintingbycylinders，itwasdifferentfiveyearslater，whenKoenig’sprintingmachinewasactuallyatwork。Intheprecedingmemoir，thecircumstancesconnectedwiththeadoptionoftheinventionbyMr。Walterarefullyrelated；aswellastheannouncementmadeinTheTimesonthe29thofNovember，1814——thedayonwhichthefirstnewspaperprintedbysteamwasgiventotheworld。
ButKoenig’sprintingmachinewasbutthebeginningofagreatnewbranchofindustry。Afterhehadleftthiscountryindisgust，itremainedforotherstoperfecttheinvention；
althoughtheingeniousGermanwasentitledtothegreatestcreditforhavingmadethefirstsatisfactorybeginning。Greatinventionsarenotbroughtforthataheat。Theyarebegunbyoneman，improvedbyanother，andperfectedbyawholehostofmechanicalinventors。Numerouspatentsweretakenoutforthemechanicalimprovementofprinting。DonkinandBaconcontrivedamachinein1813，inwhichthetypeswereplacedonarevolvingprism。OneofthemwasmadefortheUniversityofCambridge，butitwasfoundtoocomplicated；theinkingwasdefective；andtheprojectwasabandoned。
In1816，Mr。CowperobtainedapatentNo。3974entitled，“A
MethodofPrintingPaperforPaperHangings，andOtherPurposes。“
Theprincipalfeatureofthisinventionconsistedinthecurvingorbendingofstereotypeplatesforthepurposeofbeingprintedinthatform。Anumberofmachinesforprintingintwocolours，inexactregister，wasmadefortheBankofEngland，andfourmillionsofOnePoundnoteswereprintedbeforetheBankDirectorsdeterminedtoabolishtheirfurtherissue。Theregularmodeofproducingstereotypeplates，fromplasterofParismoulds，tooksomuchtime，thattheycouldnotthenbeusedfornewspaperprinting。
Twoyearslater，in1818，Mr。CowperinventedandpatentedNo。
4194hisgreatimprovementsinprinting。Itmaybementionedthathewasthenhimselfaprinter，inpartnershipwithMr。
Applegath，hisbrother-in-law。Hisinventionconsistedintheperfectdistributionoftheink，bygivingendmotiontotherollers，soastogetadistributioncrossways，aswellaslengthways。Thisprincipleisattheveryfoundationofgoodprinting，andhasbeenadoptedineverymachinesincemade。Theveryfirstexperimentprovedthattheprinciplewasright。Mr。
CowperwasaskedbyMr。WaltertoalterKoenig’smachineatTheTimesoffice，soastoobtaingooddistribution。HeadoptedtwoofNicholson’ssinglecylindersandflatformesoftype。Two“drums“wereplacedbetwixtthecylinderstoensureaccuracyintheregister，——overandunderwhichthesheetwasconveyedinitsprogressfromonecylindertotheother，——thesheetbeingatalltimesfirmlyheldbetweentwotapes，whichboundittothecylindersanddrums。Thisiscommonlycalled，inthetrade，a“perfectingmachine；“thatis，itprintedthepaperonbothsidessimultaneously，andisstillmuchusedfor“book-work，“whilstsinglecylindermachinesareoftenusedforprovincialnewspapers。