Part 6

It is said that the first newspaper ever issued was at Venice in 1583,[7] called "The Gazette,"--and this was in manuscript,--unless (as has been reported) there was an older paper of some kind issued at Hong-Kong. The oldest printed newspaper, "The English Mercury," was issued in England in 1588,[8] but, it is believed, was not regularly published. In the next century, from 1624 onward, newspapers multiplied; and among them were "The Parliament Kite," and "The Secret Owl," and some other curious names. Towards the close of this century, the first American newspaper appeared; and possibly this had been preceded by what represented a newspaper, in manuscript, as was the case afterwards in Boston in 1704, when "The News-Letter" first appeared. The first American newspaper was issued in Boston in 1690,--only fifty or sixty years after newspapers became common in England,--if the statements which we have quoted are reliable. But at this time, as might be reasonably supposed, the people who came to this country in order to improve their liberties, were not prepared for a free press, or, one might almost say, for any thing that did not tally with their religious notions and vague superstitions; so that, after the first issue, Sept. 25, 1690, the paper was suppressed, as said, by the "legislative authorities." Still it was a newspaper, intended to be such, and intended to be regularly issued once a month, or oftener, if occasion required.

It was entitled as follows:--

"Numb. 1. PUBLICK OCCURRENCES, _Both Foreign and Domestic_. BOSTON, _Thursday, Sept. 25, 1690_."

It was "printed by R. Pierce, for Benjamin Harris, at the London Coffee House, 1690." And it would seem that most of the copies were destroyed, though probably not many were printed, as only one copy has ever been found, and that by some unknown chance got into the colonial state-paper office, in London. It is a small sheet of paper doubled, printed on three pages, two columns to each; and some years ago, after a good deal of trouble to find the copy in the London office, the contents of the whole sheet were copied by Dr. Samuel A. Green, of Boston, and have since been once or twice reprinted.

It is said that it was stopped by the "legislative authorities," who described it as a "pamphlet," and as containing "reflections of a very high nature;" and the order of the Court, passed in 1662 forbade "any thing in print without license first obtained from those appointed by the government to grant the same:" so that it would seem that there was a law against printing any thing without a license, and that this sheet, called a pamphlet, came within its provisions. "In 1644, It is ordered that the Printers shall have leave to print the Election Sermon with Mr. Mather's consent, and the Artillery's with Mr. Norton's consent." This, of course, meant without their undergoing any inspection.

With respect to the contents of this first newspaper, the introductory paragraph is as follows:--

"_It is designed that the countrey shall be furnished once a month_ (_or if any Glut of_ Occurrences _happen oftener_,) _with an Account of such considerable things as have arrived unto our Notice._"

The editor, it is said, will take pains to get a faithful relation of things, and hopes observers will communicate of such matters as fall under their notice; and then states what is proposed in an editorial way: first, that memorable occurrences may not be neglected or forgotten: second, that people may better understand public affairs; and third, "_that something may be done towards the_ Curing, _or at least the_ Charming _of that_ Spirit of Lying, which prevails among us," &c. This, probably, is one of the passages referred to by the authorities as "reflections of a very high nature." And, in addition to what has been said, "the Publisher of these Occurrences" proposes to correct false reports, and expose the "First Raiser" of them, and thinks "_none will dislike this Proposal, but such as intend to be guilty of so villainous a Crime_."

Then follows the news, or "Occurrences." Mention is made of a thanksgiving appointed by the Christian Indians of Plymouth; the husbandmen find no want of hands, "which is looked upon as a merciful Providence," being a favorable season; the Indians have stolen two children, aged nine and eleven years, from Chelmsford; an old man of Watertown hung himself in his cow-house, having lately lost his wife, and thereupon "the devil took advantage of the melancholy which he thereupon fell into." Epidemical fevers and agues and small-pox are next spoken of: of small-pox, three hundred and twenty had died in Boston, and "children were born full of the distemper." A large fire is spoken of near the Mill Creek,--twenty houses burned; and on the 16th and 17th of this instant (September, 1690), a fire broke out near the South Meeting-house, which consumed five or six houses; a young man perished in the flames, and one of the best printing-presses was lost. Report of a vessel bound to Virginia, put into Penobscot, where the Indians and French butchered the master and most of the crew.

The next is a longer article in relation to the expedition to Canada under Gen. Winthrop, its failure, and a variety of Indian complications. The editor says, "'Tis possible we have not so exactly related the Circumstances of this business, but the Account is as near exactness as any that could be had, in the midst of many various reports about it."

Then follows an account of the massacre of a body of French Indians in the "East Country." Two English captives escaped at Passamaquoddy, and got into Portsmouth. There was terrible butchery among the French, Indians, and English at this time. Following this is some news from Portsmouth by an arrival from Barbadoes; a report that the city of Cork had proclaimed King William, and turned their French landlords out of doors, &c.; more Indian troubles at Plymouth, Saco, &c., &c. Then follows the imprint at the end, as already quoted.

Such was the nature, character, and contents of the first paper ever published in America; and we doubt if the first paper printed in England, more than a hundred years before, exceeded this in manner and matter. The judgment of the present day would be that it was a very good paper for the time, both in its news and editorial matter, and we fail to see any ground of offence either against law or religion. Many of the early papers published in this country, after the failure of this attempt, are not half as good as this first copy of "Publick Occurrences." It is creditable to Benjamin Harris, and its discontinuance not so creditable to the "legislative authorities," who either made or perverted a law for its suppression. But the idea of establishing a newspaper "that something may be done towards the Curing, or at least the Charming of that Spirit of Lying, which prevails among us," is very peculiar.

In all newspaper nomenclature it is hardly possible to find a more appropriate name than that selected for this first newspaper of America. We now have Heralds, Couriers, and Messengers; Records, Chronicles, and Registers; then all sorts of party names; Banner, and Standard; Crayon, Scalpel, and Broadaxe; Age, Epoch, Era, Crisis, Times; and finally Sun, Star, Comet, Planet, Aurora, Galaxy, &c., but among these and thousands of other names, not one more truthful and expressive than that of "Publick Occurrences."

THE BOSTON NEWS-LETTER.

The first Boston newspaper which gained a permanency, was published in 1704, and was continued for more than seventy years. It was equally fortunate in the selection of an appropriate and significant name, the "Boston News-Letter," and this was possibly suggested by the fact that it was preceded by the issue of a news-letter in manuscript which was as strictly, as the newspaper which followed it, a "News-Letter." Naturally enough too, considering the times, it was originated by the postmaster, who came in contact in his business, not only with the people of Boston, but generally with those of the whole colony, as we think, there were then but few post-offices in the colony: the need of a News-Letter for everybody would, as we have intimated, naturally suggest itself to him, and be also, as in fact it was, an important aid to his business, though it is said he did not make much out of it, and soon after lost his position as postmaster.

New England.

_The_ BOSTON News-Letter.

From Monday April 17, to Monday April 24, 1704.

"Boston: Printed by B. Green, and sold by Nicholas Boone, at his shop near the old meeting-house."

John Campbell, a Scotchman, bookseller and postmaster, was the proprietor of the paper. It was printed on a half-sheet, pot paper, and was to be continued weekly, "Published by authority." Among the contents was an article from the "London Flying Post," containing news from Scotland, "concerning the present danger of the kingdom and the Protestant Religion," "Papists swarm the nation," &c.; also extracts from the London papers, and four paragraphs of marine news. Advertisements inserted "at a reasonable rate from twopence to five shillings." On the same day that the paper was issued Judge Sewall notes in his diary that he went over to Cambridge, and gave Mr. Willard, president of the College, "the first News-Letter that was ever carried over the river."

The second issue of the paper, No. 2, was on a whole sheet of pot paper, the last page blank.

In the fifth number Boone's name was left out, and the paper was sold at the post-office. To No. 192, the paper was printed on a half-sheet, excepting the second issue.

Green printed the paper for Campbell, until Nov. 3, 1707, after which it was printed by John Allen, in Pudding Lane, near the post-office, and there to be sold; and Allen printed it four years to No. 390. On the day that number was published, Oct. 2, 1711, the post-office and printing-office were burnt; and the following week it was again printed by Green, in Newbury Street, and he continued to print it until October, 1715. In 1719, Mr. Campbell tried the experiment of printing a whole sheet, instead of a half sheet, every other week, but this did not pay very well; and in addition to this difficulty, he lost the office of postmaster in December of that year. The new postmaster also printed a paper (Gazette) and this led to the first newspaper war in the country, but which did not last long, and terminated without much damage.

In 1721, Campbell got a new idea and printed some copies of the "News-Letter" on a sheet of writing paper, leaving one page blank, so that his subscribers could write their letters on that, and send the paper abroad without extra postage. In the next year, after he had published the paper eighteen years, he sold to his printer, Bartholomew Green. "Published by authority" had been omitted by Campbell for two years, and in 1725 Green restored it. In December, 1726, the title was changed to "The Weekly News-Letter," and subsequently, in 1730, to "The Boston Weekly News-Letter," and the numberings of the previous issues were added together, and the total reached 1,396, in October, 1730. No other alteration took place until the death of Green, when in Jan. 4, 1733, John Draper, his son-in-law, succeeded him. Draper printed the "News-Letter" for thirty years, and died November, 1762. His son, Richard Draper, continued the paper and enlarged the title to "The Boston Weekly News-Letter and New England Chronicle." In about a year the title was again altered to "The Massachusetts Gazette and Boston Weekly News-Letter," and was decorated with the King's Arms. Richard took a kinsman as partner, and the paper now bore this imprint: "Published by Richard Draper, Printer to the Governor and Council, and by Samuel Draper, at the printing-office, in Newbury Street." Richard Draper continued the paper, and in May, 1768, a singular arrangement took place between the "Massachusetts Gazette" (or News-Letter) and the "Boston Post Boy and Advertiser," and both papers were "Published by authority," in other words as government papers. Each paper was one-half "The Massachusetts Gazette, published by authority," and the other half bore its own proper name; and Draper called it the "Adam and Eve paper." This plan continued until September, 1769, and then its title "The Massachusetts Gazette and Boston Weekly News-Letter," was resumed. In May, 1774, Draper took a partner, and the next month he died, and his widow, Margaret Draper, continued the paper in the interest of the loyalists or tories, until the evacuation of Boston, and then it ceased. She went to Halifax and then to England, and there obtained a pension. The "News-Letter" was published seventy-two years. It is a curious fact that the first newspaper established in Boston should have got into the hands of the tories, and in the last year of its existence, in the trying times of the revolutionary war, should have been conducted by a woman.

* * * * *

"The New England Chronicle, or The Evening Gazette," published at Cambridge, Sept. 28, 1775, speaks of "Mrs. Draper's Paper," in the following paragraph:--

"The miserable Tools of Tyranny in Boston appear now to be somewhat conscious of their infamy in Burning Charlestown, and are, with the assistance of the Father of Liars, devising Methods for clearing up their characters. One of them, in Mrs. Draper's paper, asserts that the Provincials, on the 17th of June, after firing out of Houses upon the King's troops, set the Buildings on Fire. This doubtless, is as true as that the Provincials fired first upon the King's Troops at Lexington. Both of them are equally false, and well known to be as palpable Lies as ever were uttered. The propagation of them are, however, perfectly consistent with the Perfidy, Cowardice, and Barbarity of Gage and his detestable understrappers."

Some other paragraphs are copied from "Mrs. Draper's last Boston Paper," of which the following is one:--

"We hear a certain Person of Weight among the Rebels hath offered to return to his Allegiance on Condition of being pardoned and provided for: What encouragement he has received remains a secret."

* * * * *

John L. DeWolf, Esq., of Boston, has complete files of "The Boston Weekly News-Letter," for the years 1744 and 1745; and we are indebted to him for the use of them. The following are specimens of some of the advertisements of the time:--

"To be sold, a likely Negro boy about 12 years old: enquire of the printer."

"To be sold by the Province Treasurer: Good Winter Rye, which may be seen at the Granary, on the Common" [Park street].

"A fine negro male child to be given away." [There are numerous advertisements of slaves and negroes.]

"To be sold, a Good Dwelling-House, situate near the Green Dragon, in the Main street, with a large tract of Land for a Garden, a good Well in the Cellar and other conveniences. Enquire of Daniel Johonnot, Distiller."

Elizabeth Macneal advertises "a likely young negro girl;" "also some Household goods to be sold."

Josiah Jones advertises his man servant, 19 years of age as a runaway, "having on an old ragged Coat, a good Check'd Shirt and Trowsers, a Pair of Black Callamanco Breeches, a pair of Gray Yarn Stockings, and a new Pair of Shoes."

"The Gentleman who borrowed a Blue Great Coat at the White Swan, about three weeks past, is desir'd to return the same forthwith: the Person whom he borrow'd it of, thinking he has had it long enough."

"This is to inform the Publick, That the Cold-Bath in the Bath-Garden, at the West End of Boston is in Beautiful Order for use. It is a living Spring of Water, which the coldest Season in Winter never affects or freezes," &c.

"This is to inform the Publick that Edmond Lewis of Boston, watch-maker, never bought a Watch of, nor ever sold one to any Slave whatever; and the malicious Report of his having dealt with some negroes is scandalously false."

"Choice Carolina Pork and Beef, to be sold at the Warehouse on the South side of the Town Dock, adjoining the Impost office."

"A negro woman to be sold by the Printer of this paper; the very best negro woman in town; who has had the small-pox and measles; is as hearty as a horse, as brisk as a bird, and will work like a Beaver."

IX.

CURIOUS BOSTON LECTURES.

BOSTONIAN EBENEZER.

There was published in Boston, in 1698, a very small thin volume of 82 pages, 3 × 5 inches, entitled "The Bostonian Ebenezer." "Some Historical Remarks on the State of BOSTON, the _Chief Town of New England_ and of the _English_ AMERICA, with some _agreeable methods_ for Preserving and Promoting, the _Good State_ of THAT, as well as any _other Town_, in the like circumstances." "Humbly offered by a native of Boston." Ezk. 48, 35, "The Name of the City from that day, shall be THE LORD IS THERE." Boston: printed by B. Green and F. Allen, for Samuel Phillips, at the Brick Shop, 1698.

This singular little volume contains two lectures. Preceding the first lecture at the top of the page are these lines:--

"THE HISTORY OF BOSTON, Related and Improved. At _Boston_ Lecture 7_d._ 2_m._ 1698." [April 7, 1698.]

The remainder of the page is occupied with this preface:--

"Remarkable and memorable, was the Time, when an _Army_ of Terrible _Destroyers_ was coming against one of the _Chief Towns_ in the Land of Israel. God Rescued the _Town_ from the Irresistible Fury and Approach of those Destroyers, by an Immediate Hand of Heaven upon them. Upon that miraculous Rescue of the _Town_, and of the whole Country whose Fate was much enwrapped in it, there follow'd that Action of the Prophet, SAMUEL, which is this Day, to be, with some Imitation Repeated, in the midst of thee, O, BOSTON, _Thou helped of the Lord_."

At the head of the next page we have the text,--

I SAM. VII. 12.

"Then SAMUEL took a Stone and Set it up, ... and called the Name of it EBENEZER, saying, Hitherto the Lord hath Helped us."

Then follows the exordium, in which the preacher says the Thankful Servants of God have used sometimes to erect monuments of stone as durable tokens of their thankfulness:--

"Jacob did so; Joshua did so; and Samuel did so." "The Stone erected by Samuel, with the name of Ebenezer, which is as much as to say, _A Stone of Help_. I know not whether any thing might be _Writt_ upon it; but I am sure, there is one thing to be now _Read_ upon it, by ourselves, in the Text where we find it: Namely, this much,

"_That a People whom the God of Heaven hath Remarkably Helped, in their Distresses ought Greatly and Gratefully to acknowledge, what_ =help= _of Heaven they have Received._

"Now, 'tis not my Design to lay the Scene of my Discourse, as far off as _Bethcar_, the place where Samuel set up his Ebenezer. I am immediately to Transfer it into the heart of _Boston_, a place where the _Remarkable Help Received from Heaven_, by the People, does loudly call for an Ebenezer. And I do not ask you, to change the Name of the Town, into that of =Help stone=, as there is a Town in _England_ of that Name, which may seem the English of =Ebenezer=; but my _Sermon_ shall be this Day your _Ebenezer_, if you will with a Favorable and Profitable Attention Entertain it. May the Lord Jesus Christ, accept me, and assist me now to _Glorify Him_, in the _Town_, where I drew my First Sinful Breath. A _Town_, whereto I am under Great Obligations, for the Precious Opportunities to _Glorify Him_, which I have quietly enjoy'd therein, for NEAR EIGHTEEN years together. _O my Lord God, Remember me, I pray thee_, and _strengthen me this once, to speak from thee_, unto thy People.

"And now, Sirs, That I may set up an EBENEZER among you, there are these Things to be inculcated."

"1. Let us Thankfully, and Agreeably, and Particularly, acknowledge what Help we have received from the God of Heaven, in the years that have rolled over us. While the Blessed Apostle Paul, was as it should seem, yet short of being _Threescore_ years old, how affectionately did he set an _Ebenezer_ with the Acknowledgment in Acts 26, 22. _Having obtained Help of God, I continue to this day._ Our Town is now _Threescore and Eight_ years old: and certainly 'tis Time for us, with all possible affection to set up our _Ebenezer_, saying, Having obtained Help from God, the Town is continued, until almost the Age of Man is passed over it. The Town hath indeed Three Elder Sisters in this Colony; but it hath wonderfully outgrown them all; and her Mother, old Boston, in England also; Yea, within a Few Years, after the first settlement it grew to be, _the Metropolis of the whole English America_. Little was _this_ expected, by them that first settled the town, when, for a while, Boston was proverbially called _Lost Town_, for the mean and sad circumstances of it. But, O Boston, it is because thou hast _Obtained help from God_." "There have been several years wherein the Terrible Famine hath Terribly Stared the Town in the Face. We have been brought sometimes unto the Last Meal in the Barrel! But the fear'd Famine has always been kept off."

The preacher proceeds,--

"A formidable French squadron hath not shot one Bomb into the midst of Thee;" our Streets have not run Blood and Gore; devouring-flames have not raged. "Boston, 'Tis a marvellous Thing, a Plague has not laid desolate!" "Boston, Thou hast been lifted up to Heaven; there is not a Town upon Earth, which, on some accounts, has more to answer for."

Secondly, we are to acknowledge whose help it is. "This is the voice of God from Heaven to Boston this day; Thy God hath helped thee!" "Old Boston, by name, was but Saint _Botolphs Town_. Whereas Thou, O Boston, shall have but one Protector in Heaven, and that is Our Lord Jesus Christ."

The preacher's third division is that the help Boston has already had should lead her people to Hope. "Hope in him for more help hereafter." "The motto upon all our Ebenezer's is Hope in God! Hope in God!" In the course of this part of his lecture, the preacher says,--

"The Town is at this day full of Widows and Orphans, and a multitude of them are very helpless creatures. I am astonished how they live! In that church, whereof I am the servant, I have counted. The Widows make about a sixth part of our communicants, and no doubt in the whole town, the proportion differs not very much. Now, stand still my Friends, and behold the will of God! _Were_ any of these ever starved yet? No, these widows are every one in some sort provided for."

Fourthly, "Let all that bear public office in the town contribute all the help they can that may continue the help of God in us!" First the ministers will help, and then he calls upon the Justices of the Courts, the constables, the school-masters and the townsmen to help: "Each of the sorts by themselves, may they come together to consider, What shall we do to save the town?"

Fifthly, "God help the town to manifest all that piety which a town so helped of Him, is obliged unto!" And then the town is warned against all sorts of iniquities: against fortune-tellers, bad houses, drinking houses, &c.

"Ah! Boston, Beware, Beware, lest the Sin of Sodom get Footing in thee!"