University of Virginia Library

PENNSYLVANIA.

Before the year 1719, only one newspaper was printed
in the British North American colonies. It was published
at Boston; and, on the 21st of December, in that year, the
second American journal appeared at the same place. [1] On
the following day the third paper was brought forward in
the capital of this province.

PHILADELPHIA.

In 1760, there were only three newspapers published in
that city, viz: two in English, and one in the German language.
In 1762, two English and two German papers existed;
one of the latter was afterwards discontinued; and
from that time until the year 1773, only three papers, two
English and one German, were printed in Philadelphia.

The first newspaper in Pennsylvania was entitled,

It was printed on a half sheet of pot. Imprint, "Philadelphia:
Printed by Andrew Bradford, and Sold by him
and John Copson." May 25, 1721, [2] Copson's name was

omitted in the imprint, which was altered thus—"Philadelphia:
Printed and Sold by Andrew Bradford, at the
BIBLE in Second Street; and also by William Bradford in
New York, where Advertisements are taken in." William
Bradford's name as a vender of the Mercury in New York,
was omitted in December, 1725. In January, 1730, an
addition was made to the imprint, viz. "Price 10s. per
Annum. All sorts of Printing Work done cheap, and old
Books neatly bound." In 1738, it was printed in "Front
Street," to which he transferred his sign of the Bible.

The Mercury occasionally appeared on a whole sheet of
pot, from types of various sizes, as small pica, pica and
english. It was published weekly, generally on Tuesday,
but the day of publication was varied. In January, 174 2/3,
the day of the week is omitted; and it is dated from January
18 to January 27; after that time it was conducted
with more stability.

In No. 22, two cuts, coarsely engraven, were introduced,
one on the right, and the other on the left of the title; the
one on the left, was a small figure of Mercury, bearing his
caduceus; he is represented walking, with extended wings;
the other is a postman riding full speed. The cuts were
sometimes shifted, and Mercury and the postman exchanged
places.

The Mercury of December 13, 1739, was "Printed by
Andrew and William Bradford," and on September 11,
1740, it had a new head, with three figures, well executed;
on the left was Mercury; in the centre a town, intended, I
suppose, to represent Philadelphia; and, on the right, the
postman on horseback; the whole formed a parrallelogram,
and extended across the page from margin to margin.
This partnership continued only eleven months, when
the Mercury was again printed by Andrew Bradford alone.
The typography of the Mercury was equal to that of Franklin's
Gazette.

Andrew Bradford died November 23, 1742, and the next
Mercury, dated December 2, appeared in mourning. The
paper was suspended one week, on account of the death of
Bradford; therefore the first paper, "published by the
widow Bradford,"[3] contained an extra half sheet. The
tokens of mourning were continued six weeks.

The widow entered into partnership with Isaiah Warner,
and the Mercury of March 1, 174 2/3, bears this imprint,
"Printed by Isaiah Warner and Cornelia Bradford."
Warner, in an introductory advertisement, informed the
public, that the paper would be conducted by him.

Cornelia Bradford resumed the publication, October 18,
1744, and carried it on in her own name till the end of
1746. It was, I believe, soon after discontinued. The
Mercury was well printed on a good type, during the whole
time she had the management of it.

This was the second newspaper established in the province;
it has been continued under the title of the Pennsylvania
Gazette to the present time, and is now (1810),
the oldest newspaper in the United States.

No. 1 was published December 24, 1728, by Samuel
Keimer, on a small sheet, pot size, folio. In No. 2 the
publisher adopted the style of the quakers, and dated it,
"The 2d of the 11th mo. 1728." The first and second
pages of each sheet were generally occupied with extracts
from Chambers's Dictionary; this practice was continued
until the 25th of the 7th mo., 1729, in which the article Air
concludes the extracts.

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 174 7/8 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.[4] 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.

After this event, it was printed by William and David Hall,
and in 1810, published by William Hall, Jr., and George
Pierce, every Wednesday.[5] William Hall, Jr., died in
1813, and George Pierce in 1814.

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 "J O U R N A L" 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

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.

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 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;[6] it then became a daily paper,

and was published by John Dunlap and David C. Claypoole,
and called the Pennsylvania Packet and Daily Advertiser.
It was continued till the end of the year 1790 without
alteration. In January, 1791, its size was enlarged; it was
printed with new type, on a super royal sheet, five columns
in a page, and published by John Dunlap. In December,
1793, it was again printed and published by John Dunlap
& David C. Claypoole. In January, 1796, it is called
Claypoole's American Daily Advertiser; and printed by David
C. and Septimus Claypoole. In 1799, it is by D. C. Claypoole
only, as proprietor; and October 1, 1800, Claypoole
sold his right in the paper to Zachariah Poulson; who
continued its publication with great reputation.[7] This was
the first daily paper published in the United States.

[See forward, under Booksellers, Philadelphia.]

This Ledger was first published January 28, 1775. It
had a cut of the king's arms in the title. It was printed on
a demy sheet, folio, with new types; the workmanship was
neat and correct, and it appeared on Saturdays. Imprint,
"☞Philadelphia: Printed by James Humphreys, Jun.,

in Front-Street, at the Corner of Black-horse Alley;—
where Subscriptions are taken in for this Paper, at Ten
Shillings per Year."

The publisher announced his intention to conduct his
paper with political impartiality; and, perhaps, in times
more tranquil than those in which it appeared, he might
have succeeded in his plan. He had, as has been stated,
taken the oath of allegiance to the king of England; he
pleaded the obligations of his oath, and refused to bear arms
against the British government;[8] in consequence of which,
he was deemed a tory, and his paper denounced as being
under corrupt influence. The impartiality of the Ledger
did not comport with the temper of the times; and, in November,
1776, Humphreys was obliged to discontinue it,
and leave the city.

A few weeks before the British troops took possession of
Philadelphia, in September, 1777, Humphreys returned,
remained in the city whilst it was in their possession, and
renewed the publication of the Ledger; but, when the
royal army evacuated the place, it was again discontinued,

and never afterwards revived. Whilst the British remained
in Philadelphia, the Ledger was published twice a week,
on Wednesday and Saturday, market days, and was called
The Public Ledger and Market Day Advertiser. The last
number was published May 23, 1778, and the British army
quitted the city about the middle of the following month.

Was first published January 24, 1775, by Benjamin
Towne. It was well printed on half a sheet of crown
paper, in quarto, and published three times in a week, viz;
on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday evenings; "Price
two pennies each paper, or three Shillings the quarter."
This was the third evening paper which made its appearance
in the colonies; the first was The Boston Evening Post,
and the second The New York Evening Post. The Rev.
Dr. Witherspoon, member of congress, and some other distinguished
personages of thatday, it has been said, furnished
the Evening-Post occasionally, with intelligence and essays.
Although the printer of the paper had been the agent of
Galloway and Wharton, he was on the side of the country
until the British army entered the city in 1777. He remained
in Philadelphia after that event, and continued the
Evening Post under the auspices of the British general,
until the city was evacuated. Towne was proscribed by a
law of the state of Pennsylvania; he did not, however, leave
Philadelphia, but again changed his ground; and, without
molestation, continued his paper until 1782, about which
time the publication of it terminated. After this he occasionally
published handbills, headed "All the News, for
two coppers." These were hawked in the streets by himself.[9]

The Mercury first came before the public, in April, 1775;
and was published weekly, on Friday, printed on a demy
sheet, folio, with types said to be manufactured in the country.
A large cut decorated the title; Britain and America
were represented by two figures, facing each other, and in
the act of shaking hands; underneath the figures was this
motto: "Affection and Interest dictate the Union." Imprint,
"Philadelphia; Printed by Story and Humphreys,
in Norris's-Alley, near Front-Street, where Subscriptions,
(at Ten Shillings per Annum), Advertisements, Articles
and Letters of Intelligence, &c. are gratefully received."

The Mercury was short lived. The printing house
whence it was issued, and all the printing materials therein
contained, were destroyed by fire in December, 1775; and,
in consequence of that event, the paper was discontinued.

This was the last attempt to establish a newspaper in the
city before the American revolution. At the conclusion
of the war another paper by the same title was published
by Humphreys, handsomely and correctly executed, and
was continued for several years.

GERMAN NEWSPAPERS,
PRINTED IN PHILADELPHIA PREVIOUSLY TO THE YEAR
1775.

A newspaper in the German language was published
weekly, in Philadelphia, as early as May, 1743. The printer

of it was Joseph Crellius, who first lived in Market street,
but during the year removed to Arch street, where the
paper was probably printed and published several years.
In November, 1743, Crellius advertised in the Pennsylvania
Journal, that he had opened his "Winter Evening
German School, and continued to print his Weekly German
Newspaper," the title of which, I am informed, was
The High Dutch Pennsylvania Journal. I have not been able
to procure a copy of this newspaper, but I believe it was
the first that was printed in Philadelphia in the German
language.

In February, 1748, Godhart Armbruster commenced the
publication, once in a fortnight, of a newspaper in the
German language. His printing house was then in Race
street.

By an advertisement in The Pennsylvania Gazette of September,
1751, I find there was at that time, "A Dutch and
English Gazette, containing the freshest Advices, foreign
and domestick, with other entertaining and useful Matters
in both Languages, adapted to the Convenience of such as
incline to learn either," printed "at the German Printing-Office,
in Arch-street; price five shillings per annum."
"At the same place Copper-plate Printing was performed
in the best Manner." The title of the newspaper was Die
Beitung. The name of the publisher of this paper is not
mentioned; but it is ascertained to have been Godhart
Armbruster, who, in 1747, went to Europe. He returned
in 1748, and brought with him a copper plate printer by
the name of Behm, and a supply of new German types.
This Gazette was probably that which he first published in
1748. It is mentioned in his Almanac for 1749, and was
then published weekly, at ten shillings per annum. In
1751 it was printed only once in a fortnight, as at first.

A press for the German language had been established
in that city, for some years, at the expense of a society in

London, formed for the benevolent purpose of "promoting
religious knowledge among the German emigrants in
Pennsylvania," School books, and religious tracts in the
German language, were printed at this press; and, in order
to convey, with the greater facility, political and other information
to the German citizens, a newspaper was published
at the establishment. The title of the paper I have
not been able to ascertain. It was printed by Anthony
Armbruster;[10] with whom, at that time, Franklin was a
silent copartner.

The Rev. Dr. William Smith, provost of the college at
Philadelphia, was agent for the English society, and had
the direction of the press, and of the newspaper.

Formal complaints having been made to the house of
assembly respecting the official conduct of William Moore,
president of the court of common pleas for the county of
Chester, the assembly applied to the governor to remove
him from office. Moore, in his vindication, presented "a
humble address "to the governor, which was expressed in
terms that proved offensive to the assembly. It was published
both in the Gazette and in the Journal; and application
was made to Dr. Smith to publish a German
translation of it in the German newspaper, with which he
complied. The house of assembly considered this address
as a high reflection on the proceedings of their body, and
resolved that "it was a libel."

The assembly were desirous of discovering the author of
the German translation. They were suspicious of Dr.
Smith. The three printers of newspapers, and several other
persons, were summoned to give their testimony before the
assembly. Hall and Bradford, printers of the English
newspapers, knew nothing of the German translation, and

were dismissed. Armbruster was interrogated, and committed
to the custody of the sergeant at arms, for a contempt
to the house in prevaricating in his testimony, and refusing
to answer a question put to him; but he was the next day
discharged, on his asking pardon, giving direct answers,
and paying fees.

The Rev. Dr. Smith, the editor of the German paper, and
Judge Moore, were on the 6th of January, 1758, apprehended
and brought before the house. Moore was charged by the assembly
with mal-administration in his office as a magistrate,
and with writing and publishing the address. In respect
to the first charge, he denied the jurisdiction of the house;
at the same time declaring his desire to obtain an impartial
hearing before the governor, the usual tribunal in such
cases; or, before a court of justice, where he could be acquitted
or condemned by his peers. To the second charge
he acknowledged that he wrote and published the address
to the governor, arid claimed a right to do it. He was
imprisoned for refusing to acknowledge the jurisdiction of
the house, and for writing the address. Dr. Smith was
also committed for printing and publishing the address,
although he pleaded "that the same thing had been done
four weeks before by Franklin & Hall, printers to the
house, in the Pennsylvania Gazette; and, afterwards, by
Bradford, printer of the Pennsylvania Journal; neither of
whom had been molested."

The house, by two resolves, fixed the nature of the crime,
and their own authority to try it. Smith, before he left
the house, offered to appeal to the king in council; but this
was not taken notice of by the assembly. It was intimated
to Smith, that he could escape confinement only by making
satisfactory acknowledgement to the house; to this he replied,
"that he thought it his duty to keep the Dutch press
as free as any other press in the province; and, as he was
conscious of no offence against the house, his lips should

never give his heart the lie; there being no punishment,
which they could inflict, half so terrible to him as the
thought of forfeiting his veracity and good name with the
world." He spoke more to the same purpose, which was
so highly approved by a large audience that on that occasion
had crowded into the hall of the assembly, as to produce
a burst of applause. Some gentlemen who gave this
token of their approbation, were taken into custody, examined,
reprimanded and discharged. Smith and Moore
determined to petition the king for redress.[11]

This German paper was published about the year 1759,
by Weiss and Miller, conveyancers. It was printed for
them about two years by Armbruster.

In 1762, Anthony Armbruster printed this German
paper on his own account, and, in 1764, published it weekly
in Arch street.

H. Miller's German paper was commenced also in 1762;
and for some time there were two German and two English
newspapers published in Philadelphia.

This newspaper was first published in the German language
at Philadelphia, in January, 1762; printed by Henry
Miller, with German types, very similar to, though handsomer
than English blacks. It was, as occasion required,
printed on a whole or half sheet of foolscap; the size of the
paper was afterwards enlarged to a crown sheet. The day
of publication, at first, was Monday, but it was frequently
changed.

In 1775, the paper was enlarged to a demy size, and published
twice a week, on Tuesday and Friday; in 1776,
only once a week, on Tuesdays, at 6s. per annum. In

1765, a cut of a postman on horseback, was introduced into
the title; the postman was on a gallop, and held in his left
hand a newspaper, on which appeared the word Novœ. In
1768, the title was altered to Pennsnlvanische Staatfbote.
In 1775, the cut was omitted, and the paper entitled Genrich
Miller's Pennshlvanischer Staatfbote With this alteration
in the title, it was printed until the British army
took possession of the city in 1777; the publication of it
was then suspended, but was revived soon after that army
evacuated Philadelphia, and continued till May, 1779, when
the publisher retired from business, and his paper was continued
by Steiner & Cist, for a few months, and then by
Steiner only, until 1794; and after that time by H. & J.
Kammerer, and others, until 1812, when it was discontinued.

[See Philadelphia—Henry Miller.]

James Robertson, who before 1775 printed at Albany,
and afterwards at Norwich and New York, published in
Philadelphia, whilst the British army occupied the city, a
paper entitled The Royal Gazette.

Note.—There were 14 newspapers printed in the state of Pennsylvania
in 1790, and it was supposed about five times that number in the whole
country. The first stage between New York and Philadelphia commenced
running in 1756, and occupied three days in the transit. Newspapers were
carried in the mail free of charge, until 1758, when, by reason of their
great increase, they were charged with postage at 9d. a year for fifty miles,
and 18d. for 100 miles.—M.

MAGAZINES, &c.,
PUBLISHED IN PHILADELPHIA BEFORE THE REVOLUTION.

This was published monthly. No. 1 appeared in January,
1741. It has for a frontispiece, the prince of "Wales's coronet
and feather, with the motto, Ich Dien. It was published
only six months. Imprint, "Philadelphia: Printed and
sold by Benjamin Franklin." 12s. per annum. 12mo.

First published January, 1741. Foolscap 8vo., forty-eight
pages. 12s. per annum. Imprint, "Philadelphia:
Printed and sold by Andrew Bradford."

This work was edited by, and published for, John
Webbe, who having issued the prospectus from the
American Mercury of November 6, 1740, gave offence to
Benjamin Franklin, and produced a short, but smart paper
war between Franklin, Webbe, and Bradford. Webbe
had employed Bradford to print the work. Franklin
asserted that it had previously been engaged to him.
This was contradicted by Webbe; but he acknowledged
that he had conversed with Franklin on the subject, who
had given to him, in writing, the terms on which he would
print and publish it. The consequence was, that Franklin
began the magazine above mentioned, and published it a
month sooner than Webbe could bring his forward. I
cannot find that Bradford and Webbe printed more than
two numbers of this work.

This Magazine was first published in October, 1757.
Imprint, "Philadelphia: Printed by William Bradford."
Price 12s. per annum. It was discontinued soon after the
appearance of The New American Magazine, printed in
January, 1758, by Parker, and edited by Nevil, at Woodbridge.
I cannot find that Bradford published more than
three numbers.

This was a small work of a few pages 12 mo. published
for a short time by Benjamin Mecom, in 1769. I have
not seen a copy of it. His design was to print it weekly;
but it came from the press in an irregular manner.

Was published monthly, through the year 1769, for its
author Lewis Nicola; each number contained forty-eight
pages. To this magazine were subjoined the transactions
of the American Philosophical Society, of which Nicola
was a member. The work was begun and ended with the
year. It was printed in octavo, price 13s. per annum.

Nicola was born at Rochelle, in France, and educated in
Ireland. He had some appointment in the British army,
but quitted it. He was the author of one or more small
military treatises, written about the commencement of our
revolution, to which he was friendly. He obtained military
rank in Pennsylvania, and eventually became a
general officer in the militia.

This work was begun in 1771, and published monthly,
for a few months only, by John MacGibbons, in Front
street, between Arch and Race streets.

This Magazine was first published in January, 1775, by
Robert Aitken. The celebrated Thomas Paine, author of
Common Sense,[12] &c., was one of the principal compilers
and writers of the Museum. It was a work of merit;
each number contained forty-eight pages, octavo, with an
engraving. The war put an end to it.

Aitken contracted with Paine to furnish, monthly, for
this work, a certain quantity of original matter; but he
often found it difficult to prevail on Paine to comply with
his engagement. On one of the occasions, when Paine
had neglected to supply the materials for the Magazine,
within a short time of the day of publication, Aitken
went to his lodgings, and complained of his neglecting to
fulfil his contract. Paine heard him patiently, and coolly
answered, "You shall have them in time." Aitken expressed
some doubts on the subject, and insisted on Paine's
accompanying him and proceeding immediately to business,
as the workmen were waiting for copy. He accordingly
went home with Aitken, and was soon seated at the
table with the necessary apparatus, which always included
a glass, and a decanter of brandy. Aitken remarked, "he

would never write without that." The first glass put him
in a train of thinking; Aitken feared the second would
disqualify him, or render him untractable; but it only
illuminated his intellectual system; and when he had swallowed
the third glass, he wrote with great rapidity, intelligence,
and precision; and his ideas appeared to flow
faster than he could commit them to paper. What he
penned from the inspiration of the brandy, was perfectly
fit for the press without any alteration, or correction.[13]

GERMANTOWN.

A public journal was printed in the German language
at Germantown, as early as the summer of 1739, by Christopher
Sower.[14] The title of it in English, was,

At first this paper was printed quarterly, at three shillings
per annum; it was afterward published monthly, and continued

for several years. This was, undoubtedly, the first
newspaper printed in the German language in America.

This Gazette was printed by Christopher Sower, jun.,
and, probably, as a substitute for the Germantown Recorder,
which had been published by his father. It was a weekly
paper, and commenced about 1744. As an appendage to
it, Sower for some time published, every fortnight, a small
magazine of eight 8vo. pages, containing, chiefly, moral and
religious essays; with which, it is said, he, for some time,
supplied his newspaper customers gratis. It was entitled
Sin Seistliches Magazin.[16] The Zeitung was continued until
the troubles occasioned by the revolutionary war obliged
the publisher to drop it. It had an extensive circulation
among the Germans settled in Pennsylvania. Its publication
was continued till 1748.

LANCASTER.

A newspaper in the English and German languages was
published in Lancaster, by Miller and Holland, in January,
1751. What the title of it was I cannot learn, nor the
time at which it was discontinued.

Francis Bailey, it is said, published a paper in English
soon after the beginning of the war, but this fact is doubted
by some. He afterwards removed to Philadelphia, in 1778,
and there published the Freeman's Journal.