University of Virginia Library

BRITISH COLONIES,
ON THE CONTINENT.

NOVA SCOTIA.

This colony continues to be a part of British America.
The settlement of the chief town of the colony, Halifax,
commenced in 1749, at the expense of the British government.
The first press established in the province was
in 1750.

HALIFAX.

Soon after the commencement of the settlement of this
town, printing was introduced, and a newspaper published
with the title of

It first appeared in January, 1752, and was printed
weekly, on half a sheet of foolscap paper, by John Bushell,
from Boston. The circulation of the Gazette was in a
great measure confined to the town, which was then a
mere garrison. After a trial of some months the publication
of it was for a long time suspended; at length it was

revived, but not issued at regular periods till about the
autumn of 1760; which was soon after Bushell died.

Anthony Henry commenced the republication of this
Gazette in 1761. His first paper was marked No. 1, and
a cut was placed at each end of the title; the one on the
right appeared to be designed for a fowler pursuing game;
that on the left was a ship. He continued to print it
weekly, on Thursday, in a very indifferent manner, and
with few customers, until 1765, when the British stamp
act was enforced in the colony.[1] It was then printed on
stamped paper. Not more than seventy copies were issued
weekly from the press. The subscribers did not amount
to that number. The Gazette had been printed on a half
sheet; but after the stamp act went into operation, it appeared
on a whole one, because there was only one stamp
on a sheet. Not more than six or eight reams of stamped
paper, of the sort appropriated to newspapers, had been
sent from England for the colony; the whole of which
came into the possession of Henry, and in a few weeks it
was expended; or rather the stamps were, unknown to him,
by the assistance of a binder's press and plough, cut from the
paper; and the Gazette appeared without the obnoxious
stamp, and was again reduced to half a sheet. The imprint
when printed on a stamped sheet, was—"Halifax,
(in Nova-Scotia); Printed and Sold by A. Henry, at his
Printing-Office in Sackville-Street, where all persons may
be supplied with a whole Sheet Gazette, at Eighteen Shillings
[three dollars and sixty cents] a year, until the publisher
has 150 Subscribers, when it will be no more than
Twelve Shillings, Advertisements are taken in and inserted
as cheap as the Stamp-Act will allow."

In 1766, another newspaper was published in the place,
handsomely printed and well edited; but Henry, after a
short suspension, continued his Gazette. In 1770, the
other paper was discontinued; and, in consequence thereof,
Henry obtained an accession of customers. He placed the
king's arms in the title of the Gazette, which he altered to
The Nova Scotia Gazette and the Weekly Chronicle. The size
of the paper was enlarged, and the typography was much
improved. The publication ceased in 1800, on the death
of the printer.

This paper was first published August 15, 1766. It was
handsomely printed, weekly, on a crown sheet, folio, on a
new long primer type. The day of publication was Thursday.
Imprint, "Halifax: Printed by Robert Fletcher,
and Sold by him at his Shop near the Parade; where all
Sorts of Printing is executed neatly, correctly and expeditiously.
Subscriptions received at Twelve Shillings[2] a
Year, or Three Pence a Paper. Advertisements of a
moderate Length inserted at Three Shillings[3] each."

This Gazette was printed until 1770, when the publisher
who came from England, returned to that country, and the
paper was discontinued.

No other newspaper was published in Nova Scotia till
after the war commenced.

CANADA.

Only one newspaper was published in Canada before
1775. In 1791, this territory was divided, and another
province formed, distinguished by the name of Upper
Canada. There are now (1810) several newspapers printed
in that part which is called Lower Canada, and one or
more in the new province.

QUEBEC.

Was first published in January, 1765, printed in English
and French, on a sheet of foolscap, folio, but afterwards
enlarged to a crown size, two columns to a page,
the first in English, the second, containing the same matter,
in French. A very handsome cut of the king's arms
appeared in the title. It was published weekly, on Thursday.
Imprint, "Quebec; Printed by Brown & Gilmore,
at the Printing-Office in Parlour-Street, in the Upper
Town, a little above the Bishop's Palace. Advertisements
of a moderate Length (in one Language) inserted at five
Shillings, Halifax, the first Week, and one Shilling each
Week after; if in both Languages, Seven Shillings and
Six Pence, Halifax,[4] the first Week, and half a Dollar each
Week after." Then followed an imprint in French of the
same import.

The Gazette was discontinued a short time on account
of the stamp act, in 1765.

In 1774, this paper was published by William Brown
only, the senior partner, at his printing house "behind the
Cathedral Church." After the death of Brown, it was
continued by his nephew Samuel Neilson, who died, and
was succeeded by John Neilson, "in Mountain-street,"
who now (1810), continues the Gazette.

MONTREAL.

A newspaper in the French language entitled Gazette du
Commerce et Litteraire, Pour la Ville et District de Montreal,
was first published in that city, June 3, 1778, by Fleury
Mesplet & Charles Berger. It was printed on half a sheet
of crown, quarto, with a new bourgeois type. Imprint,
" Montreal, Chas. F. Mesplet & C. Berger, Imprimeurs et
Libraires." The partnership did not long exist; in September
following, the title was altered to "Gazette Litteraire,
pour la Ville, &c.," and published by Mesplet only,
who continued it until he died. Le Roi succeeded Mesplet,
and published the paper a short time. Edward Edwards,
after the death of Le Roi, conducted it until the
year 1808, when it was discontinued.

Other newspapers have been published since 1775, in
Quebec and in Montreal; some of which have attained a
permanent establishment.

A Gazette has lately been established at York, in
Upper Canada.[5]

NEW BRUNSWICK.

Newspapers were not printed in this province until the
year 1783; two or three then issued from the presses of
those printers who, during the war, were with the British
army in New York, &c., but who, when peace was established,
left the United States and settled at St. John, the
chief town of New Brunswick. I do not know of more
than one Gazette now (1810) published in the province.