University of Virginia Library

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.