When the paper had been published nine months, the printer had not procured one hundred subscribers.

Franklin, soon after he began business, formed the design of publishing a newspaper, but was prevented by the sudden appearance of this Gazette; he was greatly disappointed; and, as he observes, used his endeavors to bring it into contempt. He was successful, and the publisher, being obliged to relinquish it, for a trifling consideration resigned it to Franklin. At this time, Franklin was in partnership with Hugh Meredith; they began printing this paper with No. 40, and published it a few weeks on Mondays and Thursdays, on a whole or half sheet, pot, as occasion 'required. The price "ten shillings per annum.' The first part of the title they expunged, and called their paper The Pennsylvania Gazette. "Containing the freshest Advices Foreign and Domestick." The Gazette, under their management, gained reputation, but until Franklin obtained the appointment of post-master, Bradford's Mercury had the largest circulation; after this event, the Gazette had a full proportion of subscribers and of advertising custom, and it became very profitable.

Meredith and Franklin separated in May, 1732. Franklin continued the Gazette, but published it only once a week. In 1733, he printed it on a crown half sheet, in quarto. Imprint, " Philadelphia: Printed by B. Franklin, Post-Master, at the New Printing-Office near the Market. Price 10s. a year. Where Advertisements are taken in, and Book-Binding is done reasonably in the best manner." In 1741, he enlarged the size to a demy quarto, half sheet, and added a cut of the Pennsylvania arms in the title. In 1745, he returned to foolscap, folio. In 1743 the Gazette was published "By B. Franklin, Postmaster, and D. Hall;" it was enlarged to a whole sheet, crown, folio; and afterwards, by a great increase of advertisements, to a sheet, and often to a sheet and a half, demy. On the 9th of May,

1754, the device of a snake, divided into parts, with the motto, "Join or die," I believe, first appeared in this paper. It accompanied an account of the French and Indians having killed and scalped many of the inhabitants in the frontier counties of Virginia and Pennsylvania. The account was published with this device, with a view to rouse the British colonies, and cause them to unite in effectual measures for their defence and security against the common enemy. The snake was divided into eight parts, to represent, first, New England; second, New York; third, New Jersey; fourth, Pennsylvania; fifth, Maryland; sixth, Virginia; seventh, North Carolina; and eighth, South Carolina. The account and the figures appeared in several other papers, and had a good effect.

The Gazette was put into mourning October 31, 1765, on account of the stamp act, passed by the British parliament, which was to take effect the next day. From that time until the 21st of November following, the publication of it was suspended. In the interim, large handbills, as substitutes, were published, headed "Remarkable Occurrences," "No Stamped paper to be had," &c. When revived, it was published without an imprint until February 6, 1766; it then appeared with the name of David Hall only, who now became the proprietor and the printer of it.' In May following, it was published by Hall & Sellers, who continued it until 1772, when Hall died, but was succeeded by his sons; and the firm of Hall & Sellers continued, and the Gazette was published until 1777, when, on the approach of the British army, the publishers retired from Philadelphia, and the publication was suspended while the British possessed the city. On the evacuation of Philadelphia the Gazette was again revived, and published once a week until the death of Sellers, in 1804.

1 See account of Franklin and Hall, vol. 1, p. 235.

After this event, it was printed by William and David Hall, and in 1810, published by William Hall, Jr., and George Pier, every Wednesday.' William Hall, Jr., died in 1813, and George Pierce in 1814.

The Pennsylvania Journal and the Weekly Adver

tiser.

This paper was first published on Tuesday, December 2, 1742. It was printed on a foolscap sheet. The day of publication was changed to Wednesday. Imprint, "Philadelphia: Printed by William Bradford, on the West side of Second Street, between Market and Chesnut Streets." But soon after, "at the Corner of Black-Horse-alley."

About the year 1766, the imprint was, "Philadelphia : Printed and sold by William and Thomas Bradford, at the corner of Front and Market-Streets, where all persons may be supplied with this Paper at Ten Shillings a year.— And where Advertisements are taken in." In 1774, it had in the title, a large cut, the device, an open volume, on which the word “JOURNAL" is very conspicuous; underneath the volume appears a ship under sail, inclosed in an ornamental border; the volume is supported by two large figures; the one on the right represents Fame, that on the left, one of the aborigines properly equipped. This device remained as long as the Journal was published, excepting from July 1774 to October 1775, during which time the device of the divided snake, with the motto, "UNITE OR DIE," was substituted in its room.

This paper was devoted to the cause of the country; but it was suspended during the period that the British

1

1 There is a complete file of this paper from 1728 to 1804, in the collection of the Library Company of Philadelphia. Its publication was suspended for a short time in 1815; but it was resumed, and survived until 1823 or 1824, when it was the oldest paper in the country.- M.

army was in possession of Philadelphia. About the year 1788, it was published semi-weekly; but its title was not altered. It continued to be headed The Pennsylvania Journal and Weekly Advertiser. William Bradford died in 1791; the Journal was published by the surviving partner, until 1797, when it was finally discontinued, and the True American, a daily paper, was published in its stead.

The Pennsylvania Chronicle, and Universal Adver

tiser.

Containing the freshest Advices both Foreign and Domestick; with a Variety of other matters, useful, inftructive and entertaining.

"Rara Temporum Felicitas, ubi sentire quæ velis, et quæ sentias dicere licet !"—Tacitus

In the middle of the title was placed a handsome cut of the king's arms. The Chronicle was published weekly, on Monday. The first number appeared January 6, 1767, well printed from a new bourgeois type, on a large medium sheet, folio. Imprint, "Philadelphia: Printed by William Goddard, at the New-Printing Office, in Market-Street, near the Post-Office. Price Ten Shillings per Annum."

This was the fourth newspaper in the English language established in Philadelphia, and the first with four columns to a page, printed in the northern colonies. The second and third years the Chronicle was printed in quarto, and the fourth year again in folio, but on a smaller sheet. It was ably edited; in all respects well executed; and it soon gained an extensive circulation. Joseph Galloway, a celebrated character at the commencement of the American revolution, and a delegate to the continental congress from Pennsylvania, before the declaration of independence, and Thomas Wharton, a wealthy merchant, but neither of them in the whig interest, were silent partners with Goddard. The Chronicle was established under their influence, and

subject to their control, until 1770. Benjamin Towne, afterwards printer of The Pennsylvania Evening Post, was also, for a short time, a partner in the Chronicle establishment; he was introduced to this concern by Galloway and Wharton, who sold him their right in it. In 1770, Goddard separated from his partners, and the politics of the Chronicle became somewhat more in favor of the country. A portion of it was, however, for a long time, devoted by Goddard to the management of a literary warfare which took place between him and his late partners.

The Chronicle was published until February, 1773. It was then discontinued, and the publisher of it removed to Baltimore.

The Pennsylvania Packet, or the General Adver

tiser.

The Packet was first issued from the press in November, 1771. It was well printed on a sheet of demy, by John Dunlap, in Market street, Philadelphia. The day of publication was Monday. A well executed cut of a ship divided the title.

From September, 1777, to July 1778, when the British army was in possession of Philadelphia, the Packet was printed in Lancaster. On the return of the proprietor to Philadelphia, it was published three times in a week; but it was again reduced to twice a week, in 1780. In 1783, and until September 1784, it was published three times a week by D. C. Claypoole; it then became a daily paper,

1 Mr. Claypoole was a gentleman of the old school, supposed to have been a descendant from Oliver Cromwell, whom he is said to have resembled in feature. The debates in congress, from 1783 to 1799, were printed in his paper. He also published the first edition of Washington's Farewell Address, and had permission to preserve the manuscript, which was sold Feb. 15, 1850, by auction, and purchased by Mr. James Lenox, of New