The Glasgow Courier

[SarahND]

Thanks, Annette
I'll be interested to see if they have it too.
Regards,
Sarah

[Currie]

A search for “Glasgow Courier in the combined 17-18C Burney and 19C newspapers brings up over 3000 hits, from 1791 to the occasional mention late in the 19th Century. Many of these would be articles copied from the GC and attributed to them.

Here’s the Glasgow Courier from Go to Whoa.


Star (London, England), Friday, August 26, 1791

SKETCH of a NEWSPAPER,
Intended to be published, in folio, at GLASGOW, Every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, from New Types, cast by Dr. Wilson and Sons, under the Title of
THE GLASGOW COURIER.
At a time when Scotland in general, and the City of Glasgow in particular, is increasing in Population, in Commerce, and in Manufactures, with a rapidity far exceeding the progress of any former period, an additional Glasgow Newspaper will not, it is hoped, be deemed a presumptuous offering to the Public. Such publications, from the peculiar government of this country, and from their tendency to promote a love of liberty, and a veneration for the constitution, have always been, and ever must be, read with avidity; they are, indeed, the literature of the bulk of the people; and, in proportion to the diffusion of knowledge and of letters—to the extension of general commerce—and, to the increasing wealth and population of the Country, their importance and circulation must necessarily increase and extend.
The peculiar circumstances of the present time, too, afford an apology for this offering. Besides Domestic Occurrences; the Politics of France, and of the other Continenta1 Powers, whether considered abstractedly, or as affecting the Politics of this Country, and, consequently, as influencing the proceedings of Parliament, add much to the importance of the public transactions of this period. To the Inhabitants, therefore, of the western part of Scotland in general, and to those of the opulent and populous towns on the Clyde in particular, an account of such occurrences as may affect the general system of European Politics, and produce new arrangements in the connexion of the different Powers, one with another, cannot surely be uninteresting. Of these, it shall be the particular, province of the COURIER, to furnish so accurate and concise, yet comprehensive a detail, as shall enable the reader to form a pretty correct judgment of the Politics of the times.
Productions of genius, on subjects of Literature and Science, whether original, or selected from books of distinguished merit; Remarks on Life and Manners; Biographical Sketches, Anecdotes, and Poetry, may also be reckoned within the range of a Newspaper, and shall occasionally, find a place in the COURIER; but, the tale of infamy, the oblique insinuation, and the whisper of suspicion, shall always meet the contempt they deserve.
The Editor will not presume to bespeak the favour of the Public by a detail of the many advantages which must result from the publication of a Newspaper, three times a week, in this part of the country; he cannot, however, but observe, that, from the frequency of its publication, the COURIER will not only contain a more complete account of Public Occurrences than any other GLASGOW Newspaper; but, from the early arrival of the Mail, must precede the EDINBURGH Newspapers, at least one post, in priority of intelligence from England.
The necessary preparations for the prosecution of this Work, being now in such forwardness as to enable the Editor to publish the first Number, in the beginning of September next, he entreats those who are disposed to encourage it, to signify their intention to Messrs. DUNLOP and WILSON, A. MACAULAY, BRASH and REID, Booksellers and Stationers or to WILLIAM REID, and Company, Printers, Glasgow.
GLASGOW, 1st August, 1791.


Glasgow Herald (Glasgow, Scotland), Friday, February 9, 1866

THE LAST OF THE GLASGOW COURIER.
It may be interesting to mention that yesterday saw the last issue of the Courier— a journal which at one time occupied an honourable and a prominent position in Glasgow, but which for some years has almost passed out of sight. The Courier was established as a tri-weekly paper in 1791—the original partners being the Rev. Dr. Taylor (the Principal of the University), Mr. Alex. Brown, Mr. James M'Nayr, and Mr. Wm. Reid, printer. Mr. Reid managed the business as well as edited the paper, with the assistance latterly of Mr. Matthew Taylor, writer, son of Principal Taylor. The work of editor was, however, in these days a very easy one—the contents being principally selected from the London journals, with a local paragraph now and then. The size of the paper, then published at 6d. or 7d. per copy, was about a fourth of that of many daily journals now published at a penny. Reporting was unknown, and weeks often passed without anything in the form of what is called a leading article. In 1822 Mr. James M’Queen, a well-known West India merchant, assumed as a partner and responsible editor, and about this period Principal Taylor died. During Mr. M’Queen’s editorship the literary character of the Courier was much improved. It was a staunch supporter of Tory principles, and was regarded as the principal organ of the West India interest. On Mr. Reid's death in 1829 Mr. M’Queen assumed as partners Mr. John Alexander, Mr. James Browne (afterwards Dean of Guild), Captain Andrew Hamilton, Mr. John Smith, [??] and Mr. William Motherwell (the poet). At this period Mr. M’Queen found it necessary to devote his whole time to his mercantile pursuits, when Mr. Motherwell became editor, and Mr. Alexander chief manager. Under the auspices of the new editor the Courier became a political organ of great value its party. Motherwell's writings were characterised by great ability and energy; and though often pungent, satirical, and personal, he was in private life a most kindly and genial being, and his sudden demise on 1st November, 1836, was lamented by men of all parties. In fact, in his time the Courier may be said to have thrashed the Whig party all round, and it was a sore thorn in the flesh of the Radicals of the day. In room of Mr. Motherwell, Mr. James M’Conechy was assumed as a partner and appointed editor; and although he took a more moderate tone than his predecessor, he brought a creditable amount of talent and learning to his work, and for long the paper improved in position, its respectability was sustained, and its circulation advanced. In the course of Mr. M`Conechy's editorship, which continued for upwards of twenty years, the other partners, viz., Mr. Browne, Mr. Smith, and Captain Hamilton, died, and the whole property finally became vested in Mr. Alexander. During the closing years of Mr. M’Conechy’s rule, the paper fell off a good deal, not from any lack of merit on the part of the editor, but from that rigid Toryism, of which the paper was the exponent, having, to a great extent, died out, and also from the lack of that energy and expenditure which had become necessary to meet the journalistic wants of the time. Mr. M'Conechy, obtaining a more remunerative appointment in another line of life, retired, when his place was taken by Mr. David Marshall Lang, who discharged the duties very creditably till 1860, when he was appointed to a bank agency in British Columbia. By this time the existence of the daily penny papers had brought about a complete revolution in newspaper property, and Mr. Alexander saw that the only chance for the Courier was that it should also be extended into a daily journal; but he prudently considered that for him to undertake the work, and risk the vast expense single-handed, would be injudicious. Overtures were accordingly made to the leaders of the Conservative party; but these were unsuccessful, and Mr. Alexander accordingly disposed of the copy[???] and plant to a publisher in Berwick, by whom the Courier was reduced from a tri-weekly to a weekly paper—one portion being printed in Glasgow and another in the Border town. From this time it drooped sadly, and thousands who are now informed that it expired only on Thursday, have been under the impression that it had long since ceased to exist. The deceased journal as once a veritable power in Glasgow and the West of Scotland, and many of our older citizens will hold it in respectful remembrance. Of the original editors Mr. M’Queen still survives, although verging on 90 years of age, and resides in the vicinity of London; and Mr. M'Conechy, who is, we believe, fully 70 years of age, still lives in Glasgow.

Alan

[SarahND]

Thanks, Alan! An interesting story of the rise and fall of a newspaper. With any luck it will contain some local news as well as furnishing "so accurate and concise, yet comprehensive a detail, as shall enable the reader to form a pretty correct judgment of the Politics of the times." Too bad about the lack of " the tale of infamy, the oblique insinuation, and the whisper of suspicion," but you can't have everything.
Cheers,
Sarah