VIRGINIA.

Only two newspapers were published in Virginia before 1775. They were both printed at Williamsburg. The first, which was under the influence of the governor, commenced August, 1736. The second in 1766.1

The first public journal printed in the colony was entitled,

The Virginia Gazette.

It appeared as early as the year 1736, on a half sheet foolscap, and, occasionally, on a whole sheet, printed by William Parks, who continued it until he died, in 1750. Some months after his death the paper was discontinued.

The Virginia Gazette.

With the fresheft Advices Foreign and Domestick.

This in fact was but a renewal of the first Gazette, which had been a short time suspended, but it commenced with No. 1. It was published weekly, on Monday, on a crown sheet, folio, neatly printed, and had a cut of the Virginia arms in the title. The first number was published in February, 1751. Imprint," Williamsburg: Printed by William

1 See note on page 331, et seq., volume 1.

Hunter, at the Post-Office, by whom persons may be supplied with this paper. Advertisements of a moderate length for Three shillings the first week, and Two shillings each week after." In this Gazette were published, in 1757, many well written essays, under the signature of The Virginia Centinel.

Hunter died in 1761. The Gazette was enlarged to a demy size, and published by Joseph Royle; after whose death it was carried on by Purdie and Dixon; who continued it until the commencement of the war; and Purdie alone published it several years during the revolutionary

contest.

The Virginia Gazette.

Published by Authority.

Open to all Parties, but influenced by none.

This paper was first published in May, 1766, and continued weekly, on Thursday. A cut of the arms of the colony was in the title. It was well printed with new types, on a demy sheet, folio. Imprint," Williamsburgh: Printed by William Rind, at the New Printing-Office, on the Main Street. All Persons may be supplied with this Gazette at 12/6. per Year." At the end of the first year, "Published by Authority" was omitted in the head of the Gazette.

This paper was published by Rind until his death, which happened on the 19th of August, 1773. Clementina Rind, who was his widow, continued it after he died; and to her succeeded John Pinckney, who also died soon after, and the Gazette was discontinued.

Virginia Gazette.

This Gazette was first published in April, 1775, and continued weekly, on Saturday, by John Clarkson and Augustine Davis, at Williamsburg, several years.

Note.- A paper was printed at Norfolk in 1775, by John Hunter Holt, whose press was carried off by a British force landed from war ships, in the harbor, Sept. 30. See 4 Force's Archives, 111, 847, 923, 1031.—M.

NORTH CAROLINA.

The establishment of three newspapers had been attempted in North Carolina before the revolution. One of these, after the first trial, was discontinued for several years, and then revived. Another was published only three years, between 1763 and 1768, and dropped. The third was begun about 1770, and this, as well as the first, was published when the war commenced."

NEWBERN.

The first paper published in the colony was printed at Newbern, under the title of

The North Carolina Gazette.

With the freshest Advices, Foreign and Domestick.

No. 1 appeared in December, 1755, printed on a sheet of pot size, folio, but often on half a sheet. It was published

1 In Lossing's Field Book of the Revolution, II, 360, ed. of 1860, we read that James Davis brought the first press into this state from Virginia, in 1749, and printed the first edition of the acts of the assembly; that the first periodical paper was called the North Carolina Magazine, or Universal Intelligencer, which was printed on a demy sheet, in quarto pages, and was filled with long extracts from theological works and British magazines. Mr. Lossing's account of early printing in this state differs materially from that of Mr. Thomas.-- M.

weekly, on Thursday. Imprint, "Newbern: Printed by James Davis, at the Printing-Office in Front-Street; where all persons may be supplied with this paper at Sixteen Shillings per Annum: And where Advertisements of a moderate length are inserted for Three Shillings the first Week, and Two Shillings for every week after. And where also Book-Binding is done reasonably."

This paper was published about six years, after which it was discontinued.

On the 27th of May, 1768, it again appeared, numbered one, and enlarged to a crown sheet, folio; the imprint, after the title, was: "Printed by James Davis, at the PostOffice in Newbern." The price of Advertisements, and the paper per annum, the same as in 1755. It was continued after the commencement of the war.

WILMINGTON.

A newspaper was published in this place about the year 1764. I am not certain respecting the title of it, but if I recollect aright, it was

The Cape-Fear Gazette and Wilmington Advertiser.1

A small cut of the king's arms was in the title. This Gazette was printed on 'a sheet of pot, on pica and long primer types, by Andrew Steuart, who styled himself "Printer to the King's Most Excellent Majesty." It was discontinued before or during the year 1767.

1 Mr. Lossing says it was called the North Carolina Gazette and Weekly Post Boy; that the first number was printed in September, 1764.— M.