and Young Brown Johns." How British his sympathies became, too, is shown by his journals. Whether his paper was still supervised by Serle cannot be known, but it certainly kept itself in accord with the authorities. The "rebels" were said to be suffering from “a running disorder" and in the issue. for December 16th the subscribers were told that, "The shattered Remains of the Rebel Army, 'tis said, are got over into the Jersies. Humanity cannot but pity a Set of poor misguided Men who are thus led on to Destruction, by despicable and desperate Leaders, against every Idea of Reason and Duty, and without the least Prospect of Success." But the most striking example of the thoroughgoing British control over the columns, or of Gaine's entire conversion, was shown in The Gazette's account of the battles at Trenton and Princeton, of which it gave the following version:

Several Skirmishes between the King's Troops, and the Rebels have lately happened in the Jersies. But the most distinguished Rencounter occurred on the 3rd Instant, near Princetown. The 17th Regiment, consisting of less than 300 Men fell in with the Rebel Army of between 5 and 6,000, whom they attacked with all the Ardor and Intrepidity of Britons. They received the Fire of the Rebels from behind a Fence, over which they immediately leaped upon their Enemies, who presently turned to the right about with such Precipitation as to leave their very Cannon behind them. The Soldiers instantly turned their Cannon, and fired at least 20 Rounds upon their Rear; and had they been assisted with another Regiment or two, the Rebels would have found it rather difficult to make good their Retreat. This has been one of the most splendid Actions of

1 New York Historical Society Collections, 1878. Page 407.

the whole Campaign, and has given a convincing Proof that British Valour has not declined from its antient Glory. Of Col. Mawhood, their gallant Commander, and of his Conduct in the Affairs, too many Encomiums cannot be said. The Loss was about Twenty killed and Eighty wounded of the Troops. Of the Rebels above 400 were killed and wounded. Among their Slain were eleven Officers. Mr. Mercer (one of the wounded Rebel-Officers, since dead) when he was taken up by our People, asked how many the Numbers were who had thus attacked him, and upon being told, he cried out with Astonishment: "My God; Is it possible?" "I have often heard of British Courage; but "never could have imagined to find such an Instance as "this!"

Another Account says, That the 17th Regiment just before they charged the Rebels, deliberately pulled off their Knapsacks, and gave three Cheers, then broke through the Rebels, faced about, attacked, and broke through them a second Time. Col. Mawhood then said, it would be prudent, as they were so few, to retire; upon which the Men one and all cried out, "No, No; Let us attack them again." And it was with great Difficulty their Colonel could induce them to retreat; which at length they performed in the utmost Order.'

On June 9, 1777, The Gazette asserted that "The Flower of Mr. Washington's Army is composed of the Gleanings of British Prisons, transported to the Southern Colonies."

Such statements, it is needless to say, quickly brought Gaine into bad repute with the Whigs, and the Pennsylvania Journal in a "New Catechism" inserted as part of it a question and answer: "Who is the greatest liar upon earth?-Hugh Gaine, of New York, printer, " and a little later advertised, as

1 The New York Gazette, No. 1316, January 13, 1777.

2 Pennsylvania Journal, February 19, 1777.

"Wanted for his Majesty's service, as an assistant to his Excellency General Howe and Hugh Gaine, printers and publishers of the New York Gazette, a gentleman who can lie with ingenuity. Enquire of Peter Numskull, collector and composer of lies for their Excellencies at New York. N. B.-A good hand will receive the honor of knighthood."

1

Pennsylvania Journal, April 30, 1777.

Another glimpse of the Whig dislike of Gaine is to be found in the proceedings reported in the Journal of the New York Provincial Congress (I., 780-1), as follows:

Die Martis, 10 bo. A. M., Jany. 21, 1777.

Ordered, That Samuel Loudon do attend the Representatives of this State when assembled at twelve o'clock to-morrow.

Die Mercurii, 10 ho. A. M., January 22, 1777.

Mr. Loudon attended, according to the order of yesterday, and being called in, was asked by the President whether he had not been informed that exceptions were taken at his publishing certain extracts from Gaine's paper, those extracts pointed out to him, and he requested to stop any further publication from that paper. To which he answered, that he did receive such message, and immediately stopped the press and hung up the wet papers to dry, that he published those extracts through inadvertency, and with no evil design, but merely to satisfy the curiosity of those who might wish to see what stuff was published at New-York. Being asked whether he was not requested to suppress that paper, he saith, that he did endeavour to suppress it, but that two or three were taken out while he was down-stairs, and two were taken from him by the Albany Post, who wanted two or three dozen. Being asked if he did not deliver a number of them, he saith that he did not, but had already sent some to Peekskill, and a few to Hartford, and did endeavour to suppress it immediately; that he was in a great straight, for that he was afraid if the suppression of it was known, it would do mischief, and therefore told those that wanted his paper, that a few were printed and sent off. Being asked whether he was requested not to publish the said paper, he saith that he does not remember that he was.

Mr. Loudon withdrew.

The Committee then determined that he be again called in, and that he be reprimanded by the Chairman in the following words, to wit:

"Mr. Loudon, I am directed to inform you, that by publishing your paper, after an express order of this House to the contrary, you have been guilty of a great insult to their authority. That so long as you receive a pension from this House you are their servant, and therefore guilty of great ingratitude, in presuming to disobey their commands. The House do not mean to lay any restrictions upon the liberties of the press, but they are determined not to employ any person who shall do things inimical to the cause of American freedom. The House upon your submission have pardoned this offence.

Mr. Loudon being called in, and accordingly reprimanded, asked pardon and withdrew.

Yet clearly Gaine was not trusted by the royalists, for when in September, 1777, Rivington returned to New York, and began the publication of his Gazette, it at once became the mouthpiece of the King's party. Rivington was quickly appointed "Printer to the King's Most Excellent Majesty" and was so far favored that Gaine was even forbidden to

print especially interesting news. As a consequence the Whig writers for the most part ceased abusing Gaine and turned their vituperations upon Rivington.'

ter.

During these years of war, Gaine's press printed little aside from his newspaper, almanacs, and regisBefore his return from Newark there was issued from his office O'Beirne's "Sermon, preached in St. Paul's Church, New York, Before the Right Hon. Lord and General Howe . Upon the first Sunday after the attempt to burn New York.” 1777 he printed sermons by Inglis, Moore and Seabury, the "Rules and Articles for the better Government of his Majesty's Horse and Foot Guards,” and Donkins' "Military Collections and Remarks -a book made infamous by a foot-note at page 190, advising the British to

In

1 That Gaine remained strongly royalist to the very end is shown by a comment of his upon a letter captured in the "Rebel Mail," which he printed in the New York Gazette of June 18, 1781 (No. 1548), as below:

Capt. Howell.

New-Windsor, May 30, 1781.

I expect we shall move soon, a great number of waggons are expected on from the Eastward; I am to be supplied with two, and suppose we shall steer southward. Reports prevail here that the enemy are about to leave New York, entirely. I wish it were true.*

James Johnston.

*Fascinating phrase; yet Mr. James Johnston accompanies the idea with a diffidence seldom visible to Rebel correspondence. . . . We may venture once for all, to assure our enemies that this City is and ever will be as much an object of his Majesty's favor and protection, as is the security of Great Britain's capital, the City of London, the pride and envy of the universe

Dip arrows in matter of small pox, and twang them at the American rebels, in order to innoculate them; This would sooner disband these stubborn, ignorant enthusiastic savages, than any other compulsive measures. Such is their dread and fear of that disorder!"

In all but two known copies the foot-note containing this piece of advice is cut out, but whether by the author or printer cannot be known. In 1778 Gaine published the "Narrative or Journal of Capt. John Ferdinand Dalziel Smith," and in 1779, Inglis' "Letters of Papinian," having first printed both in his newspaper; in 1780 a poem styled "Conflagration," written shortly after the burning of New York; in 1781 Bayley's "Cases of Angina Trachealis," and the "Charter of the Marine Society," and in 1782 "The Rules and Orders to be Observed by the Hand in Hand Fire Company." In addition he reprinted a few English books, and imported many more, which he offered, together with various other commodities, for sale "At the Bible and Crown."

It has been frequently stated that at the end of the war Gaine sought to make his peace with the Whigs by petitioning the New York Assembly for permission to remain in the state. The Journal of that body contains no mention of such a document, nor is there any other evidence of his having written it, save the pretended burlesque of it, by Philip Freneau, printed in the Appendix. While this seemingly paraphrases such a memorial, it does not positively prove that such a memorial was ever written. All that is certain is that with the British evacuation of New York he discontinued printing The New York