James Stuart’s influence as editor was significant (1822)
The influence of James Stuart as editor on the style of the News Letter was significant. He introduced a more expressive and colourful approach to his reports.
In the edition of May 14, 1822 under the heading “An Escape” Stuart reported an incident involving a hairdresser in his previous domicile – the town of Newry. The hairdresser who lived at Water Street had been enjoying a few drinks or as the university scholar Stuart put it “having made a libation to Bacchus” he imagined he was to be hanged for some unspecified crime and believing the police to be about to arrest him he fled in panic.
Stuart continued: “Under this strange impression he contrived to get on the roof of his habitation, along which he darted with the velocity of a hunted squirrel. From his own roof he was seen bounding like a terrified kangaroo over several other roofs, now and then pausing when he came to a chimney, an either peeping into the funnel like a magpie into a marrow-bone or listen into his imaginary pursuers, like a hare when she catches with cocked ears the tones of the distant beagles.” Mixing his animal metaphors well Stuart continued to describe the fugitive as resembling a sharp clawed cat or “a muscular orangutang”.
The hairdresser eventually was captured - to protect himself - and was lowered to the ground bound in ropes by his friends and neighbours.
Letter from ‘A Seaman’
The edition also carried an interesting letter from “A Seaman” appealing for someone to bring about an invention “the preservation of the lives of seamen from shipwrecked vessels.
The letter writer appealed: “On reading the numerous and melancholy shipwrecks, which it has been your painful duty to record, I am induced to apply to you, or to some of your respectable correspondents, to bring forward an invention for the preservation of the lives of seamen from shipwrecked vessels, or of those who may be exposed to dangers in small vessels or row-boats. It consists of an apparatus, which can be used at pleasure, that will prevent the possibility of the boat from either capsizing or sinking, unless dashed to pieces. It comprises the following advantages: 1st, the cost will not amount to more than 2l; 2nd, it can be constructed by any common workman; 3rd, it can be used, (that is made to act) in five seconds, and removed in the same time; 4th, by this means every fishing boat, ship's boat, or any other boat, may be made to have all the properties of a lifeboat, without any of the inconveniences attending those made for that purpose. Should any Gentleman connected with naval affairs; or any society who wishes the improvement of useful arts, publish their address in your useful paper, they will have a model and description sent to your Office, or to any place within 20 miles of Belfast, free of cost, as my motive is to have this invention brought forward from some respectable charter.”