736
HISTORY OF PRINTING.
its perpetual vi|;ilance, its luuelaxiiig acdvi^. The newspapei is a daily and a sleepless watch- man, that reports every danger which menaces the institutions of our country, and its interests at home or abroad.* The newspaper informs
- The following obsemUoni upon newapapen OMj not
be anwortl>7 of nottce : —
A netapaper is the hlstorr of the world for one day. It to the hWory of thtt world in which we now live, and with it we are consequently more concerned than witib those which have paned away, and exist only in remembrance ) fboD^li to dieck a* in oar too fond love of it, we may consider, that the present likewise will soon be passed, and take its place in the repositories of the dead.— fionw.
Newspapers are a more important instrument than is generally imagined. They are a part of the reading of all i they are the whole of the reading of the ter greater num- ber. — Bdmtind Burke.
In taarben' shops and publie-honses a fellow will get op ■nd spell out a paragraph, which he communicates as some discovery. Another follows with hit selection. So the entire Journal transpires at length by piecemeal. Newspapers always ezdte curiosity. No one ever lays one down without a feeling of disappointment. — C. Lami.
Pleased with each part, and grieved to find an end. — Ret. George Crabbe.
The newspapers furnish by far the best vehicles (tar disseminating Important tmths and useftal information. Other works are repulsive to ignorant men ; therefore they are closed books to those who stand most in need of being Instructed. Books, how cheap soever, and however po- pularly written, are not likely to be read by the uninform- ad. To buy, or to get, and to begin reading a volume. Indicates a certain progress in improvement to have been already made. But all men will read the nntuj and even peasants, fkrm servants, country day labourers, will look at, nay pore over, the paper that chronicles the occurren- ces of the nelghboaring market town. Here then is a chaimel through which, along with political intelligence, suul the occuirenoes of the day, the friends of human im- provement, the Judidons promoters of general education, may dUnise the best inf(»mation, and may easily allure all classes, even the homblest, into the paths of general knowledge.— £iiMiir;gA Beview.
A newspaper, by giving line upon line, and precept upon precept, here a little, and there a little, carries knowledge uto every comer, that particular species of information which is required for the service of the day. So that if we could command but a free circulation of newspapers. If we conld have the tags which make the p^>er untaxed, and get the paper out of the hands of the manufacturer without the withering mark of the exciseman— if we could get the newspapers without the red marks on its comer, and conld also drcnlate our advertisements, by which the series of knowledge might be communicated to those who read them, without being so grievously burthened by tax- ation, it is quite impossible t£at in this place and the ad- Joining counties, those outrages which have been com- mitted, should have occurred. — Dr.Birkbeek.
The newspaper is the familiar bond that binds together man and man— no matter what may be the distance or cli- mate, or the difference of race. Here it is that we have learned to sympathize with the slave — ^how to battle for his rights — how to wrest the scourge ttom his taskmaster. Over land and over sea, the voice of outraged humanity has reached the great heart of England, and raised up a host of fkeemen as the liberators <rf the enslaved and tor- tured negro ! Yes ; it is in the humble and familiar news- paper, that dvilization has united many of the best re- sources that enlighten, soften, guide, and warm mankind. It is a law-book for the indolent, a sermon for the thought- less, a library for the poor; it may stimulate the most IndUftrent — it may instruct tiie most profound. Such are the real advantages, the substantial utility, of the news- paper press. These, in spite of all its abuses, have made it the boast of liberty, the glory of dvilization.— Btifwer.
The periodical press of Great Britain is Jostly the boast Of Englishmen, and the envy and admiration of foreigners. It is toe most powerful moral machine in the world, and exercises a greater infiuenoe over the manners and opinions of dvilized society than the united eloquence of the bar, the senate, and the polpit. The press has undoubtedly within itself the seeds of Indestractlbillty ; but it is, never theless, difficult to determine how arduous and protracted mav be the contest which it has yet to wage with the prcjadiced and despotic rulers of the continent of Europe, before its powers or its liberty be recognized.— fitfi^ info the State of PuiUe Jvurtutie, London, ISM.
legislation of public opinion, and it informs the people of the acts of legislation; thus keeping up that constant sympathy, that good understanding between people and legislators, which conduces to the maintenance of order, and prevents the stern necessity for revolution.
1771, Sept. 8. Died, John Peele, a considerable bookseller, in Paternoster-row, London.
1771. Sept. 30. Died, John Hughs, one of the most eminent printers of this century; and who, by talent, diligence, and probity, raised himself from a comparative humble rank to affluence and honour. He was born at Thame, Oxfordshire, in 1703. His father was a dissenting clergyman. He received a liberal education at Eton college, and served a regular apprenticeship to a stationer and printer in London. He first entered into business about the year 1730, in Holborn, near the Green Gate, and removed from thence to a house in Whetstone Park, near Great Turnstile, facing the east side of Lincon's-inn Fields, and ranked for many years very high in his profession. From his press issued ahnost the whole of the numerous and valuable publications of the Dodsley's. In 1740, Mr. Hughs incurred the displeasure of the house of commons, by having printed, Considerations on the Embargo on Proeisions of Victual. The usual proceedings took place—he was ordered to the bar of the honourable house—declared guilty of "a breach of privilege"—committed to the custody of the serjeant at arms—reprimanded on his knees—and discharged.
About the year 1763, he obtained, through the interest of lord North, who had been his school- fellow at Eton, the appointment as printer of ibe parliamentary papers and journals of the home of commons ; by nim was thus laid the founda- tion of a business since brought to a high degree of prosperity. He continued to reside in the house before mentioned, near Great Turnstile; the office extending backwards in the rear of the houses in Tuinstile, and forming one side <^ Tichbome-court. He married a Miss Dampiet, whose brother. Dr. Dampier, was suoceEsiTeiv dean of Durham, bishop of Rochester, aad bishop of Ely. His half-brother was the kie sir Heniy Dampier, knight, one of the barons nl the exchequer ; who was esteemed an admirable scholar, and stood, perhaps, unrivalled as aa ecclesiastical lawyer. After a life of singular in- dustry, integrity, and benevolence, Mr. Hushs died at the age of sixty-eight ; leaving a wi£ni with manners as placid as his own, who survived him many years ; and an only son, who, after following the laudable example which had beea set him, retired from the fatigues of business.
1771. Nov. 1. John Eyre, esq. supposed to be worth 30,000, but of an avaricious di^weiliaii, was sentenced to transportation for stealing a few quires of paper. He died on his passage oat, and the captain of the vessel found on his person two thousand one hundred guineas sewed ia tbe lining of his coat and breeches, and which snm he deposited in the bank upon his return. — QiMry. To whom did this money belong ?
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