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 ATTACK OX SEBASTOPOL. 233 widows and Mntlemen who were the depositories chat. XIV of a power destined to exercise a great sway over '_ the conduct of the war. Their ways were peace- Js^ctruinh.g ful, and they were not perhaps more turned i','g thT'"' towards politics than other widows and country uiTcouiury gentlemen; but by force of deeds and testaments, )uinds°ofa'* by force of births, deaths, and marriages, they had *^°"'i"y- become the members of an ancient firm or Com- pany which made it its business to collect and disseminate news. They had so much good sense of the worldly sort, that, instead of struggling with one another for the control of their powerful engine, they remained quietly at their homes, and engaged some active and gifted men to manage the concern for them in London. The practice of the Company was to issue a paper daily, con- taining an account of what was going on in the world, together with letters from men of all sorts and conditions who were seeking to bring their favourite subjects imder the eye of the public, and also a few short essays upon the topics of the day. Likewise, upon paying the sum required by the Company, any person could cause what- ever he chose to be inserted in the paper as an ' advertisement ; ' and the sheet containing these four descriptions of matter was sold to the public at a low rate. Extraordinary enterprise was shown by the Company in the gathering of intelligence ; aud during the wars following the French Revolution they caused their despatches from the Continent to reach them so early that they were able to