USA > New Jersey > Documents relating to the colonial history of the state of New Jersey, Vol. XII > Part 2
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1690, September 25 (Thursday)-Public Occurrences, at Boston, by Benjamin Harris.
This was the first newspaper printed in the Western hemisphere. But one number was issued, and the only copy known is in the Public Record Office, London, where it was discovered many years ago by the Rev. Dr. Joseph B. Felt. A complete transcript of it was published in the Histori- cal Magazine, I., 228, and again in Hudson's History of Journalism, 44. The title, etc., was thus arranged :
NUMB. I.
PUBLIC OCCURRENCES Both FORREIGN and DOMESTICK.
Boston, Thursday, Sept. 25th, 1690.
It was a small quarto, printed on three sides of a folded sheet, two columns to a page, and each page about 7 x II inches ; it was printed by Richard Pierce for Benjamin Harris ; Harris was a London bookseller, who after a brief experience as a printer in Boston, returned to London in 1694 and resumed the selling of books. His modest venture of a news- paper in Boston was frowned upon by the government :
"It was immediately noticed by the legislative authorities. Four days after it was edited, they spoke of it as a pamphlet, stated that it came out contrary to law, and contained 'reflections of a very high nature.' They strictly forbade 'anything in print without license, first obtained from those appointed by the government to grant the same."-Annals of Salem, by the Rev. J. B. Felt, 1849, II., 14.
Harris had his printing office at Cornhill or its neighborhood.
1704, April 17 (Monday)-The Boston News-Letter, at Boston, by John Campbell, proprietor. Imprint : Boston : "Printed by B. Green. Sold by Nicholas
9
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NEW JERSEY COLONIAL DOCUMENTS.
Boone, at his Shop near the Old Meeting-House." A half-sheet (two pages), about 12x8 inches in size, two columns to the page.
mumb. 1.
The Bofton News-Letter.
Publitheo bp Authority.
From Monday April 17. to Monday April 24. 1704.
This was the first newspaper established in North-America. From the only advertisement which the paper contains it is evident that the proprie- tor was John Campbell :-
"This News-Letter is to be continued Weekly ; and all Persons who have any Houses, Lands, Tenements, Farms, Ships, Vessels, Goods, Wares, or Merchandizes, &c. to be Sold, or Let ; or Servants Run-away, or Goods Stole or Lost ; may have the same inserted at a Reasonable Rate, from Twelve Pence, to Five Shillings and not to exceed : Who may agree with John Campbel Postmaster of Boston.
"All Persons in Town and Country may have said News-Letter every Week, Yearly, upon reasonable terms, agreeing with John Campbel, Post- master for the same."
From its commencement to November 3, 1707, the News-Letter was printed by Bartholomew Green. From that date to October 2, 17II, it was "Printed by John Allen in Pudding-Lane.1 And Sold at the Post- Office in Cornhill." At that time, the post-office and Allen's printing- office were destroyed by fire, and the paper was again printed by B. Green, "for John Campbell, Postmaster," till the end of the year 1722. John Campbell was a Scotchman, a book-seller, and postmaster in Boston. The contents of the News-Letter, during the whole of his proprietorship, are chiefly extracts from London papers. The little that has the appear- ance of having been written by the editor is clumsily composed, with no regard to punctuation or grammatical construction. His own advertise- ments concerning the business relations between him and his customers form the principal portion of all that may be considered as original mat- ter. It is evident, from Campbell's frequent and importunate calls upon the public, that the News-Letter had but feeble support, and limited cir- culation. The following advertisement is taken from the paper of May 12, 1707, more than three years after the publication was begun :-
"At the perswasion of Several Gentlemen, Merchants and others, both in this and the Neighbouring Provinces, who are sensible of the want of this Publick Letter of Intelligence for both Foreign and Domestic Occur-
1 Now Devonshire-street.
cxxxi
HISTORY OF AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS.
rences ; the Undertaker has once more attempted to Print the same in hopes that all Persons who love a Publick Good will one way or other put to their helping hand, to Promote and Support it, that the same may not only be carryed on a fourth year, but also continued for the future.
" And all Persons in Town and Country who have a mind to encourage the same, may have the said Letter of Intelligence every Week by the year upon reasonable Terms, agreeing with John Campbell Post-master of Boston.
"'Tis taken for granted that all such who had this Letter of Intelli- gence last year, and have not forbid the same, will be still willing to take it at the Price which others give : If any are of a contrary mind, let them signify it, and we will forbear sending it to them.
"The Undertaker has also been advised to carry on the Occurrences where they were left off, and 'tis hoped that fourteen days will retrieve the same."
At the close of the fourth year, Campbell repeated his appeal to the public in more importunate terms than before. "All Persons in Town and Country," who had not already paid for the fourth year, were desired "to pay or send it in : with their resolution if they would have it contin- ued in for a fifth year, (Life permitted :) though there has not as yet ap- peared a competent number to take it annually so as to enable the Under- taker to carry it on effectually ; yet he is still willing to proceed with it, if those gentlemen that have the last year lent their helping hand to support it, continue still of the same mind another year, in hopes that those who have been backward to promote such a Publick Good will at last set in with it."
In January, 1719, Campbell proposed publishing his paper on a whole sheet, "because," as he said, he found it impossible, "with half a sheet a week to carry on all the Publick News of Europe." The project does not seem to have fulfilled his expectations ; for, a few months afterwards, he again laid his grievances before the public, in language which could leave no doubt that he was suffering sore disappointment :-
"The Undertaker of this News-Letter, the 12th January last being the Second Week of this Current Years Intelligence gave then Intimation that after 14 (now upwards of 15) years experience, it was impossible with half a Sheet a Week to carry on all the Publick Occurrences of Europe, with those of this, our Neighboring Provinces, and the West Indies. To make up which Deficiency, and the News Newer and more acceptable, he has since Printed every other Week a Sheet, whereby that which seem'd Old in the former half Sheets, becomes New now by the Sheet, which is easy to be seen by any One who will be at the pains to trace back former years, and even this time 12 Months, we were then 13 Months behind with the Foreign News beyond Great Britain, and now less than Five Months, so that by the Sheet we have retrieved about 8 months since
cxxxii NEW JERSEY COLONIAL DOCUMENTS.
January last, and any One that has the News-Letter since that time, to January next (life permitted) will be accommodated with all the News of Europe, &c. contained in the Publick Prints of London that are needful for to be known in these Parts. And in regard the Undertaker had not suitable encouragement, even to Print half a Sheet Weekly, seeing that he cannot vend 300 at an impression, tho' some ignorantly concludes he Sells upwards of a Thousand ; far less is he able to Print a Sheet every other Week, without an addition of 4, 6, or 8 Shillings a Year, as every one thinks fit to give payable Quarterly, which will only help to pay for Press and Paper, giving his Labour for nothing. And considering the great Charge he is at for several Setts of Publick Prints, by sundry Vessels from London, with the Price of Press, Paper, Labour, carrying out the News Papers, and his own Trouble, in collecting and composing it, &c. It is afforded by the Year, or by the Piece or Paper, including the differ- ence of money far cheaper than in England, where they Sell several Hun- dreds nay Thousands of Copies to a very small number vended here. Such therefore as have not already paid for the half Year past the last Monday of June, are hereby desired to send or pay in the same to John Campbell at his House in Cornhill, Boston. August 10, 1719."
At the end of the year 1722 Campbell relinquished the paper to Green, the printer, who conducted it with much discretion for eleven years. His death is thus announced in the News-Letter of January 4, 1733 :
"On Thursday last, being Dec. 28th, deceased here, after a long and , painful languishment, of a sore that broke inwards, Mr. Bartholomew Green, one of the deacons of the South Church ; who has been the princi- pal Printer of this town and country near forty years. He died in the 67th year of his age; being born at Cambridge, Oct. 12, 1666; and was here very decently interred on the 2d current. His father was Capt. Samuel Green, the famous Printer of Cambridge; who arrived with Governor Winthrop in 1630. This Mr. Green, whose loss we deplore, first set up his press with his father in Cambridge, and afterwards removed to Boston, where, on Sept. 16, 1690, soon after he was first married, his press and letters, which were then esteemed the best that had been in the country, were consumed by a fire that began in the neighborhood ; upon which he returned to Cambridge, and there continued till the winter 1692, 3; when he came back to Boston; where he has been Printer to the Governor and Council for near forty years, and of the Boston News-Letter (except- ing a small intermission) from its beginning; and for his particular char- acter-as the author of the Weekly Journal has very justly observed, "He was a person generally known and esteemed among us, as a very humble and exemplary Christian, one who had much of that primitive Christianity in him, which has always been the distinguishing glory of New-England." We may further remember his eminency for a strict observing the Sab- bath ; his household piety ; his keeping close and diligent to the work of
HISTORY OF AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS. cxxxiii
his calling ; his meek and peaceable spirit ; his caution of publishing any- thing offensive, light, or hurtful ; and his tender sympathy to the poor and afflicted. He began to be pious in the days of his youth ; and he would always speak of the wonderful spirit. of piety that then prevailed in the land, with a singular pleasure."
The same paper contains the advertisement of John Draper, the son-in- law of Green, informing the public that the News-Letter would be carried on and sent out every week on Thursday morning, as usual ;- that care would be constantly taken to insert therein all the most remarkable occur- rences, both foreign and domestic, that came to hand well attested ,-that all communications from the reverend ministers, or other gentlemen, would be thankfully received ;- and that it would be his endeavor to ren- der the paper as informing and entertaining as possible, to the satisfaction of all who might encourage it. Under the hands of Draper, the News- Letter maintained the respectable character it had acquired while in the care of Green. Draper published the News-Letter till near the close of the year 1762. The paper of December 2, announces that, on the Monday preceding, he died after a slow and hectic disorder; having just entered the 6Ist year of his age. The notice adds :- "By his industry, fidelity, and prudence in his business, he rendered himself very agreeable to the public. His charity and benevolence ; his pleasant and sociable turn of mind ; his tender affection as a husband and parent ; his piety and devo- tion to his Maker, has made his death as sensibly felt by his friends and relations, as his life is worthy of imitation."
The same paper informs the public that the business of the late pub- lisher devolved upon Richard Draper, son of the deceased. The title was changed to The Boston Weekly News-Letter and New-England Chroni- cle. The next year it was again changed to The Massachusetts Gazette and Boston News-Letter. The proprietor took into partnership a kinsman, - Samuel Draper,-and the imprint announced that the paper was "Pub- lished by Richard Draper, Printer to the Governor and Council, and by Samuel Draper, at their Printing-Office in Newbury-street." Samuel Draper died, March, 1769, and the paper was again conducted by Richard Draper alone.
In May, 1768, the News-Letter and a paper published by Green & Rus- sell, called the Boston Post Boy and Advertiser, were united, as official organs of the government, under the title of the Massachusetts Gazette. The business was so arranged, that each paper was still a separate publi- cation, belonging exclusively to its proprietor. The News· Letter was pub- lished on Thursday and the Post-Boy on Monday. Each paper was equally divided into two parts,-one half bearing its proper title, and the other half of both papers was called the Massachusetts Gazette, "published by authority." This half of both papers contained the acts and proceed- ings of government, and the matter was nearly identical in both; while
₾xxxiv NEW JERSEY COLONIAL DOCUMENTS.
the contents of the other half were varied according to the fancy and in. terest of the respective proprietors. This mode of publication was dis- continued in September, 1769, and Draper resumed the former title, - Massachusetts Gazette and Boston News-Letter.
After the discontinuance of this "Adam and Eve paper," as Draper called it, he published the News-Letter alone, till May, 1774. During this period, it was well supplied with communications by able writers, who ad- hered to the administration, and opposed the Whigs with the best argu- ments they could produce, -not unfrequently in sober earnest, but as often by effusions of wanton ridicule or cold-hearted bitterness.
Richard Draper continued the sole proprietor and conductor of the News-Letter till May, 1774, and devoted it to the maintenance of the Brit- ish sovereignty, and the defence of all the proceedings of the British troops in Boston. In that month, he took in John Boyle as a partner. Boyle was a native of Marblehead, and served an apprenticeship to the printing busi- ness under Green & Russell. . This partnership was of short duration. Draper died on the sixth of June following. Margaret, his widow, in part- nership with Boyle, carried on the business for a few months, when Boyle, finding his connection with a Tory newspaper not quite pleasant to himself nor agreeable to his friends, left the concern. His place in the firm was supplied by the admission of John Howe, as a partner, by whom the paper was conducted, till the town was evacuated by the British troops, in March, 1776. With the termination of the siege, the News- Letter was discontinued and never after revived. It was the only paper printed in Boston during the siege. It was published, without interruption, for a period of seventy-two years.
Before he became connected with Draper, Boyle had a printing-office of his own. He began business, as a printer and bookseller, and pub- lished a few books. When he retired from the partnership, he resumed the business of printing and book-selling, but soon after sold his printing materials, and confined himself entirely to the selling of books and sta- tionery. He kept, from the commencement of his business on his own account to the close of his life, in Marlboro'-street, a few doors north of Bromfield-street. He died in 1819.
John Howe was a native of Boston, and there served an apprenticeship to a printer. His father was a tradesman, and kept in Marshall's-lane. He was quite a young man, when he connected himself with the News- Letter. He, with his partner, Mrs. Draper, left Boston with the British troops, and went with them to Halifax, where he printed a newspaper, and was printer to the government. He also had an office of some emolu- ment, and was connected with the colonial administration. He died about the year 1820.
Margaret Draper remained but a short time in Halifax. She went thence to England, and received a pension from the British government,
CXXXV
HISTORY OF AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS.
and enjoyed it till her death, about the year 1800 .- Buckingham, I., 4-43 ; Thomas (Ist ed.), II., 191-210.
Trumbull, in his McFingal, calls her "Mother Draper."
Richard Draper was a man of feeble health, and was remarkable for the delicacy of his mind and the gentleness of his manners. No stain rested upon his character. He was attentive to his affairs, and was es- teemed the best compiler of news of his day .- Sabine, I., 387.
Only three copies of the first number of this first American newspaper are known to exist. No complete file is known. The New York Historical Society has an almost perfect file of the first four years of the paper, lack- ing only Nos. 27, 138, 139, 140, 141. This priceless volume was presented to the Society in 1805, by George Bruce, the eminent type-founder. The Massachusetts Historical Society has about half the numbers from 1704 to 1720, bound in two volumes.
1719, December 21 (Monday)-The Boston Gazette, pub- lished by Authority.
Printed on a half sheet, folio, sometimes on a full sheet, one page being then left blank. Small pica type. The head was decorated with two cuts, one on the left representing a ship under full sail, and the other represent- ing a postman on horse-back, sounding his horn. The publisher was William Brooker, who had been recently appointed Post-master at Boston, succeeding John Campbell. A notice on the first page of the paper, dated at the Post Office, says : "The publishing of this paper has been in com- pliance with the desires of several merchants and others of this town, as also at the repeated instances of those people that live remote from home, who have been prevented from having their News Paper sent them by the Post ever since Mr. Campbell was removed from being Post-Master." While the Gazette was in the possession of Brooker, it was printed by James Franklin. A few weeks after its first publication, however, Philip Musgrave was appointed Postmaster, and acquired the Gazette. He em- ployed Samuel Kneeland as his printer. In 1726, Thomas Lewis secured the post office and the newspaper, and the next year the office and the paper passed into the hands of Henry Marshall, who employed Bartliolo- mew Green, Jun., as the printer. Marshall died in May, 1732, and was succeeded in the post office by John Boydell, who carried on the Gazette until he died, in December, 1739, when his heirs carried on the paper, Kneeland & Green (Samuel Kneeland and Bartholomew Green, Jun.) printing the paper for Boydell and his heirs, until October, 1741, when they purchased the paper and incorporated it with the New England Weekly Journal.
1721, August 17 (Monday)-The New England Courant, by James Franklin.
¿xxxvi
NEW JERSEY COLONIAL DOCUMENTS.
Printed on a half sheet, crown size, two columns to the page, small pica type, generally.
THE New-England Courant.
[N 140
From MONDAY March 30, to MONDAY April 6. 1 7 2 4.
Seire bolunt omnes, mercedem folvere nemo. in Profe } underftand all Sorts of Poetry, from Eight Juv. and Six to Six and Eight, and fo onward, till they come K·lick Numbers
Janus's Temple vil 1. 374
BOSTON: Printed and fold by BENJAMIN FRANKLIN in Oneen Street, where, Advertifements and Letters are taken in.i Price 4 d. Single, or 12 s. a Year.
The Government of the Province and its principal agents, the clergy, and various individuals, were attacked in the Courant by the editor and his correspondents without much regard to personal or public character. Such attacks were replied to in the News Letter and in the Gazette. The Mathers, father and son, were lampooned by the writers in the Courant in language which was not always decent, and which would not be tolerated in the present day. It was reported by some of Franklin's opponents that his paper "was carried on by a Hell Fire Club, with a Non-Juror at the head of them," an assertion which provoked a violent controversy between the Courant and the Gazette, which was kept up for several. weeks. Thomas says that one of Franklin's reasons for publishing the Courant was because the publisher of the Gazette had taken the printing of the lat- ter paper from him and given it to another printer. In January, 1722-3, some of Franklin's irreverent allusions to Governor Shute provoked the General Court to decide "that James Franklin, the printer and publisher thereof, be strictly forbidden by this Court to print or publish the New England Courant or any other pamphlet or paper of a like nature except it be first supervised by the Secretary of this Province." As Franklin was not willing to subject his paper to licensers of the press, and was not will- ing to stop the publication of it, the Courant of February It, was issued in the name of his younger brother, Benjamin Franklin, and was continued in his name for more than three years, although his own connection with the paper was severed soon after. The Courant ceased early in 1727.
1727, March 20 (Monday)-The New-England Weekly Fournal. Imprint ; "Boston : Printed by S. Knee- land, at the Printing-House in Queen-Street, where Advertisements are taken in."
HISTORY OF AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS. cxxxvii
B
NUMB. LV.
The NEW-ENGLAND Weekly FOURNAL
Containing the moft Remarkable Occurrences Foreign & Domeflick.
Monday April 8. 1728.
. There are Measures concerting for rendring Jamaica I. His Excellency ROBERT HUNTER EGG: this Paper. yet more univefully efecmed, and . .Captain-Genera-, &&c. Hts Declaration in Council thesefhof January. 1727-8.
ufaful ir - 4 apanopid. the. Publick will
It was printed on a half sheet of foolscap, two pages, two columns to the page, printed chiefly in brevier type. The opening address of the publisher was set in pica italic, beginning with a four-line letter, and read thus :
" It would be needless to mention here the particular Reasons for Publishing this Paper ; and will be sufficient to say, That the Design of it is, with Fidelity and Method to Entertain the Publick every Monday with a Collection of the most Remarkable Occur- rences of Europe, with a particular Regard from time to time to the present Circumstances of the Public Affairs, whether of Church or State. And to render this Paper more Accept- able to its Readers, immediate care will be taken (and a considerable progress is herein already made) to settle a Correspondence with the most knowing and ingenious Gentle- men in the several noted Towns in this and the Neighbour-Provinces, who may take par- ticular Care seasonably to Collect and send what may be remarkable in their Town or Towns adjacent worthy of the Publick View ; whether of Remarkable Judgments, or Sin- gular Mercies, more private or public ; Preservations & Deliverances by Sea or Land : to- gether with some other Pieces of History of our own, &c. that may be profitable & enter- taining both to the Christian and Historian. It is likewise intended to insert in this Paper a Weekly Account of the Number of Persons Buried, & Baptiz'd, in the Town of Boston : With several other Things that at present can only be thought of, that may be of Service to the Publick : And special care will be taken that nothing contrary thereto shall be in- serted.
Those Gentlemen therefore whether in Town or Country, who are inclined to Encour- age and take this Paper, may have it left at their Houses in the Town of Boston or Charlestown, or seal'd up, Directed and Convey'd as they shall Order, giving Notice at the Printing-House in Queen-Street Boston.
The Price of this Paper to those that live in Town, will be Sixteen Shillings per year, and Twenty Shillings if Seal'd, &c. and to be paid Quarterly.
This may serve as a Notification, that a Select number of Gentlemen, who have had the happiness of a liberal Education, and some of them considerably improv'd by their Travels into distant Countries ; are now concerting some regular Schemes for the Enter- tainment of the ingenious Reader, and the Encouragement of Wit and Politeness : and may in a very short time, open upon the Public in a variety of pleasing and profitable Speculations."
This sheet was issued as a specimen number. The next sheet was issued March 27, being "No. I." the numbers then following in regular order. The third number, April Io, was printed on a whole sheet of four pages folio. The paper was distinguished by the publication of a series of essays, hymns and poems, which attracted wide attention for their su- perior ability. In 1729, eighteen essays were published, which were sup-
cxxxviii NEW JERSEY COLONIAL DOCUMENTS.
posed by some to have been written by Governor Burnet. The Rev. Mather Byles was one of the most prolific writers for the Journal. One of his letters, addressed to Alexander Pope, and enclosing a copy of his own poems, elicited from Pope an answer composed in terms of extrava- gant compliment. Among other ironical expressions, Pope said it had long been supposed that the Muses had deserted the British empire, but the reception of this book of Poems had relieved him of his sorrow, for it was evident they had only emigrated to the colonies. The Rev. Thomas Prince is supposed to have been a contributor to the Journal, and to have given efficient aid to the publisher by enlightened and friendly counsel. The paper was incorporated in 1741 with the Gazette, and in 1752 it was discontinued. In the heading, preceding the title, a capital letter was in- serted weekly, like a signature, first A, with an Arabic numeral added, then B, etc. The meaning of this letter has not been explained.
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