62 The Newspaper World, matter of surprise that London letters are widely diver- gent in character and quality, and, like many other depart- ments of press industry, owe much to the enterprise and ability of the particular London correspondent who is responsible for them. There are many kinds of London correspondents. The representatives of the great pro- vincial morning newspapers may be described first, because both in seniority and merit they take the pre- cedence in this branch of journalistic work. The London correspondents of a dozen morning newspapers that could be named are men of much experience, of energy and ability, whose daily contribution to their newspaper of from a column to two columns comprises information, specially acquired, at no little expense and labor. When Parliament is sitting, the London correspondent is a regular attendant in the Lobby and in the Gallery of the House of Commons. Have the local members any items of information likely to be interesting to their corjsdtuents ? The London correspondent will, after a short conversation with the member, relate what the hon. gentleman desires to be made known in the most effective way in the London letter. Is the debate of unusual interest ? The London correspondent betakes himself to the Gallery, and gives a descriptive sketch of it in his letter. In SelPs " The World's Press" for 1890 the London correspondent in the Gallery and his work is thus succinctly described by Mr Bernard F. Bussy : — Another person in the Gallery whose work should be mentioned, as it differs in some respects from that of most Gallery men, is the " London Correspondent." Every important daily provincial paper has its London correspondent, whose work, in many cases, is con- fined to sending to his paper by telegraph each evening a column or more of mingled news, comment, criticism, political gossip, and so on ; but who, in some cases, has also to attend the proceedings of Parliament, and to write a description of such incidents, speeches, and scenes as come under his notice in the House. This is a com- paratively modern journalistic development, but its growth seems to be extending, and there are at least a dozen members of the Gallery who are employed in this way.
