officers, under various signatures, appeared in this paper; and while conducted by Richard Draper, its collection of news was not inferior to that of any public journal in

Boston.

John Campbell, the first proprietor, lived about five years after he resigned his right to Green. His death is thus mentioned in the News Letter of March 7, 1728. "On Monday Evening last, the 4th Currant, about 8 a Clock, died here John Campbell, Esq, Aged 75 Years, formerly Post Master in this Place, Publisher of the Boston News Letter for many Years, and One of his Majesties Justices of the Peace for the County of Suffolk."

From Monday December 14, to Monday December 21, 1719.

This newspaper was first published for William Brooker, who succeeded Campbell as postmaster. It was the second which made its appearance in British America.

No. 1 was issued from the press on Monday, December 21, 1719, on a half sheet of printing foolscap, on a small pica type, folio; and it was continued on a half sheet of that size of paper for several years, excepting occasionally a whole sheet, and then one page was often left blank. It had a cut of a ship on the left, and one of a postman on the right of the title, and was "Published by Authority." Its imprint was, "Boston: Printed by J. Franklin, and may be had at the Post Office, where advertisements are taken in." This paper also began the year with March the first year, but the following with January.

The appearance of the Gazette1 occasioned some altercation between its publisher and the publisher of the NewsLetter. In No. 3, we have the following advertisement.

"Post Office, January 4th. The Approbation this Paper has already met with from the better Part of the Town, deserves a suitable Acknowledgment from this office, with repeated assurances, that it shall be carried on in such a manner as to render it both beneficial and entertaining."

The proprietor, printer and publisher of the Gazette, were soon changed. Philip Musgrave succeeded Brooker as postmaster a few weeks after the Gazette was published. No. 36, is printed by S. Kneeland; and the imprint of No. 41, is, "Boston Printed by S. Kneeland, for Philip Musgrave, Post Master, at his Office in Corn-Hill, where Advertisements are taken in, and all Gentlemen and others, may be Accommodated with this Paper.'

The Gazette was printed by Kneeland for Musgrave until 1726, and that year it was printed by Kneeland for Thomas Lewis, postmaster.

In 1727, Henry Marshall was postmaster, and the Gazette had another printer, Bartholomew Green, son of the printer of the News-Letter. It was printed for Marshall till May, 1732, when he died, and the Gazette was after his death published by John Boydell, who succeeded ́ Marshall, and was again printed by Kneeland and his partner. In 1734, Ellis Huske, being appointed postmaster, began the publication of another paper, The Post-Boy; but Boydell continued to publish the Gazette till he died in December, 1739;2 and, it then was printed for his heirs

1 There were three Boston Gazettes in succession before the revolution. This was the first of them.

2

From the Boston Gazette, of December 17, 1739. 'On Tuesday last died here in the 49th year of his age, John Boydell, Esq.; late Publisher of this Paper, and some time Deputy Post-Master within this and the three neighboring Governments; than whom none ever lived in this Province more generally esteem'd and beloved, as an honest worthy man, by Per

until October, 1741, when Kneeland & Green became the proprietors of it. Four postmasters in succession had conducted The Boston Gazette, before it was owned by Kneeland & Green. When this paper became their property, they incorporated it with The New England Weekly Journal, which they had printed on their own account for nearly fifteen years. The title was altered to The Boston Gazette and Weekly Journal, to show that the Journal wast combined with the Gazette. Kneeland & Green continued to publish the Gazette in this altered form until 1752. This paper then, after having been published thirty-three years, was succeeded by another with the same title, which I shall mention in its place.

When Kneeland & Green began to publish the Gazette and Journal conjointly, on their own account, they printed it on a half sheet of paper of the size of foolscap, in quarto, and introduced new devices. "Published by Authority," had been omitted in the title many years.

While the Gazette was printed for Boydell, its size was altered to a half sheet crown, in quarto; and, after he quitted the postoffice, the cut of a postman on horseback, on the right of the title, was exchanged for a pine tree. When Kneeland & Green began to publish it for themselves, the cut of a ship was placed on the right of the

sons of all Ranks, Perswasions and Parties, or was more lamented as such at his Death. He first came over from England into this Country in the year 1716, Secretary to the late worthy Governor Shute, and Register of the Court of Vice Admiralty for this Province, New-Hampshire and Rhode Island; after which he was appointed Register of the Court of Probate of Wills, &c., for the County of Suffolk, and Naval officer for the Port of Boston; all which offices he discharged with such singular diligence, integrity and goodness, that this community never lost a more useful and valuable member, than he was in his degree and station."

The Boston Gazette, of the same date, contains the following advertise

ment:

"This is to acquaint the Publick, That this Paper will be carried on as usual for the Benefit of the Family of the late Publisher Mr. John Boydell, deceased."

title; the pine tree was omitted, and the cut of a newscarrier, holding a Gazette in his hand, was introduced on the left. After printing it several years in quarto, they again printed it on a half sheet foolscap, folio; but occasionally in quarto. This paper was discontinued in 1752, on account of the dissolution of the partnership of its publishers.

The New-England COURANT.

This was the third newspaper which made its appearance in Boston. It was first printed and published Monday, August 17, 1721, by James Franklin, on a hal sheet of crown size printing paper, on a small pica type, occasionally on long primer, but after two years generally on pica. It was printed on Saturdays during the latter years of its publication. Imprint-"Boston: Printed by James Franklin, in Queen Street, where Advertisements are taken in."

Among the reasons which induced Franklin to publish the Courant, probably one, which was not the least considerable, was grounded on the circumstance of the publisher of the Gazette having taken the printing of it from him, and given it to another printer. He warmly attacked Musgrave, the publisher of the Gazette, in some of the first numbers of the Courant, and endeavored to have him turned out of office.

The Courant contained very little news, and very few advertisements. More than half of the paper was, with few exceptions, filled weekly with essays, in which men in office, the clergy, and the prevailing religious opinions of the day, were attacked. Inoculation for the small pox, then newly introduced, was warmly, if not rudely, opposed. A society of gentlemen furnished these essays. By moder

ate people this society was called a set of "Free Thinkers; " by others, it was denominated the "Hell Fire Club." The essays of this society were at times opposed in the Gazette, and in the News Letter; and these papers in turn were warmly attacked in the Courant, but rather by satire than argument. Some of the essays in the Courant were evidently written by men of talent.

A periodical paper with these animating features was a novelty in Boston; and of course attracted general notice, and soon had warm advocates and zealous opposers. It roused the attention of the government, and excited clerical

resentment.

The reverend Doctor Increase Mather was one of the first who openly denounced the Courant, by an address to the public, inserted in the Boston Gazette, January 29, 1721. This address may afford entertainment to many who are acquainted with the present management of the press. It is as follows:

"Advice to the Publick from Dr. Increase Mather. Whereas a wicked Libel called the New England Courant, has represented me as one among the Supporters of it; I do hereby declare, that altho' I had paid for two or three of them, I then, (before the last Courant was published) sent him word I was extremely offended with it! In special, because in one of his Vile Courants he insinuates, that if the Ministers of God approve of a thing, it is a Sign it is of the Devil; which is a horrid thing to be related! And altho' in one of the Courants it is declared, that the London Mercury Sept. 16, 1721, affirms that Great Numbers of Persons in the City and Suburbs are under the Inoculation of the Small Pox; In his next Courant he asserts, that it was some Busy Inoculator, that imposed on the Publick in saying so; Whereas I myself saw and read those words in the London Mercury: And he doth frequently abuse the Ministers of Religion, and many other worthy Persons in a manner, which is intolerable. For these and such like Reasons