The United States oracle of the day — Portsmouth, N.H., 1801-02-28 00:00:00, page 1

APPENDIX.
The writer of the following appen
dix having taken considerable pains to
ascertain a few historical fads, relative
to the newspapers, which save been
printed, in Newhampfhire, Submits the ,
fruit of his researches to the public.
PORTSMOUTH,
The firft printing office, in this, date,
Was ereded for the use of Daniel Fowje.
It is Rill Handing and is at present im
proved as a dwellinghoufe. Mr. Fowle
c^hie to Portsmouth, in 1756, and pub
lished the firft number of the neW
HAMPSHIRE GAZETTE, On the 7 0&0-
ber. Samuel Hall, who is a printer
and bookfell/tr in Boston, was with mr.
Towle and executed the firft impres
sions in the Hate. From the 25 May,
1776, to the 31 May, 1777, the paper
was carried on under the fuperinten
denee of Benjamin Dearborn. It was
then called the freeman's journal.
This paper was at firft conduced by
Daniel Towle, arid then by Daniel and
Robert Fdwle. Daniel Fowle, how
ever, was ever the proprietor of the pa
per to the day of his death, which hap
pened, in 1787% For several years be
fore this period, John Melcher carried
it on for him. Upon his decease, mr.
Melcher became and has ever since con
tinued the proprietor of the paper.
Thishas ever been thd date gazette.
in this weftern world, shall we not just
ly merit the censure of our posterity if
we negled to transmit to them a hifto
ry of our day ?
On entering a new century there
seems to be a propriety in taking 1 view
of the times which are part.
A hiftory of the newspapers, from
the time of their establishment to the
close of the eighteenth century, would
form one interesting chapter in this re
trofpedive view.
The writer of this address, therefore
takes the liberty to invite you, gentle
men, to form a concise historical ac
count of your refpedive papers, and
also, so far as ynay comport with your
convenience, of those, which have, at
any period previous to the close of the
eighteenth century, been publiffied in
your towns, or cities, arid afe at pre
sent difeontinued.
The subjoined account of the newl
papers, printed in the State of New-
Hampshire, is offered as a model and
a beginning of the work. The writer
of this address wou/d propose as an im
provement upon the plan of the fub'-
joined account, that you should add the
price per annum, in dollars and cents,
of your refpeftive papers and the num
ber issued at c^h time of publication;
If the proposal in this address meet
your approbation, it is presumed that
you will, in course of a few months;
have furnifhed.materials for a complete
but compendious hiftory of flit the
newspapers ever published in the Unit
ed States..
A very large proportion of you re
ceive the United States Oracle
of the Day published by Mr. Charles
Peirce, of Portsmouth, New-Hamp
shire, and fend to him your refpedive
papers as a matter of course. It is re
quested that others, who may fee fit to
colled and publish the proDofed infor
mation would be so kind As to trans
mit to Mr. PEIRCE a fopy of the paper
containing, such account, that if it
should be found advisable, a complete
hiftory of the newspapers, as above
suggested, may be colle&ed from such
data, and appear in a volume.
The following account is copied from
the APPENDIX TO A CENTURY
SERMON deliveredby the Rev. Tim
othy Ain't^jr. at the fouth, church
in Portsmouth) and recently published.
fflifcellanp.
For tie United states' Oracle of tie Day.
AN ADDRESS TO THE PUB
LISHERS of NEWSPAPERS
THROUGHOUT THE
UNITED STATES.
GENTLEMEN,
EVERY thing, which relates,to
the hiftory of our country is im
portant. The newspaper establishments
in various parts of the United States,
are one evidence of our rapid growth.
To these all classes of citizens are in
debted, for the communication of
much ufetul knowledge on every fubjeft.
It has been remarked, that the qarly
hiftory of no country is so well under
flood as that of the United States of
America. If we feel grateful to our
fathers for having been careful'to pre
serve and hand down to us a minute
account of their settlement and welfare
Ab ERICAN INDEPENDENCE, TWENTY-FIFTH YEAR. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, TWELFTHVE^
Che Wted ^tat^ ^» Oracle of the Bap;
PORTSMOUTH, N.H. Printed and Published every SATURDAY Morning, by CHARLES PEIRCE, Printer of the Laws &c. of
the United States, , in New-Hampshire.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, ißoi. n/laMzi. PRICE 1 DOLLAR 50 CE^TS Per An^n .
OF ALL THE DISPOSITIONS AND HABITS WHICH LEAD TO POLITICAL PROSPERITY, RELIGION AND MORALITY ARE IN DISPEN SI BLE SUPPORTS.
Was begun, in September, 1799, by
George Jerry Osborne, jr. who deteafed
last ftimmer. It is now conduced by
Nutting and Whitelock, It is publish
ed every Tuefday; Motto. When
you shall these deeds^rellte, speak of
them as they are. c Nothing extenuate
ror set down ought in malice. No. 19,
vol. 2, 30 December, 1800, and whole
number yi.
The Portsmouth Mercury and
Weekly Advertizer
Was printed, in Portsmouth, by Thomas Fur
ber and Ezekiel Ruffcll in the years 1765,6,
and 7.
The Newhampshire Mercury
Was published about four or five years, be
tween 1780 and 1790, by Robert Gerrifh.
The Newhampshire Spy
Was published for five or fix years, and most
of the time, twice a week, by George Jerry Os
borne, jun. and was difeontinued early in 1793.
The Federal Observer
Was begun 22 November, 1798, and ended
12 June, 1800. It was firft printed by William
Treadwell and Samuel Hart, and finally by
Treadwell alone.
EXETER.
The firft who attempted to carry on a'paper,
at Exeter, was Robert Fowle. He was suc
ceeded in the business by Zechariah Fowle.
Melcher and Osborne began the Exeter Chroni
cle in June,, and ended in December, 1784.
Ranlet and Lamfon begun a paper in 1,84 and
continued it for fcveral years. Stearns & Wins
low printed the American Herald of Liberty,
about two years. Ranlet printed the Exeter.
Federal Miscellany, about two years. Lamfon
and Odiorne printed the Weekly Visitor. Ran
let again printed a paper. This is the best ac
count the writer can give, and he is fallible of
its imperfection.
CONCORD.
The Courier of Newhampshire
i; Is printed every Friday, at Concord, by Geo.
Hough, printer of the laws of the United States,
except thofc which relate to commerce, for the
diftridt of Newhampihire. No. 48, vol. 11,
26 December 1800, whole number 568.
A few years since, a paper was printed, at
Concord for about twp or three years, by Eli
jah Russel and Moses Davis.
The Concord Mirror
. Was printed by Moses Daris. Our docu
ments will not admit of being more exadh.
,I)OfER. . .;,
The firft paper in Dover, entitled the Poli
tical Repository and Strafford Recorder, was
publifhed.by Eliphalet Ladd. It was begun
15 July, 1790, and ended, 19 January. 1792.
The Phoenix, under the fame editor, was be
gun 23 Januar,, 1792, and continued to 29
August, 1795. From March, 1794, to that
time it was published by Samuel Bragg, jun.,
The Sun, Dover Gazette and County Advertiser
Is published, every Wednesday, by the la 4
mentioned editor. It was begun, 5 September,
1795. Motto. Here truth unlicensed reigns.
No. 17, vol 6,31 December, xßoo, and whole
number 278
GILMANTON.
The Gilmanton Gazette and Farmer's
Weekly Magazine
Is published every Saturday by Leavitt and
Clough. Motto. By knowledge shall the
chambers be filled with all precious and pleafar.t
riches. : Moreover the profit of the earth is for
all. The king himfelf is ftryed by the field.
Bible. No. 18, vol. 1, 26 December 1800,
The Gilmanton Museum
Was published for fix months, imL ediatald
before the Gazette, by Elijah Russell.
AMHERST.
The Village Mefengeri
Which is publiflicd every Saturday, was be
gun by William Biglow and Samuel Cufhing,
9 January 1 796° From 12 July, 1796, to 18
April, 1797, it was carried on by Cufhing.
Since that period it has been published by Sam
uel Preston. No. 1, vol. 6, 27 December, 1800,
and whole number 261.
The Amberfl Journal and Nembamp-
Jhire Advertiser
Was published, immediately before the Vill
age Messenger, by Nathaniel Coverly, and was
begun 16 January, 1795.
KEENE.
The NewbampJhire; Sentinel,
Which was begun, in March, 1799, is pub
lished every Saturday, by John Prcntifs. Mot
to. My country's good, a faithful watch 1
stand., Vol, 2, whole number 93, <7 Decem
ber, i'Bbo.
The Newbampjhire Recorder ,
Was published from August 1789, for about
two,years and a half, by James Davenport
Griffith. The fame editor published from r
January, 1792, the Cheshire Advdnifcr, which
continued about on year.
The Columbian Informer
Was published by Henry Blake,'and Co. frem
Is published every Saturday morn
ing by Charles Peirce printer of the
laws of the United States, in Newhamp
fliire. Motto. Os all the dispositions
and habits, which lead to political pros
perity, religion and.morality are indis
pensable supports. Washington's Leg
acy. It was instituted, 4 June, 1793,
and was published, twice a week, till 1
January, 1796, since, which it has been
published every, Saturday morning.
The Republican Ledger
The United States' Oracle of the
Day
It is published every Tuefday. Motto.
My country's good shall be my constant
aim. No. I v 01.49, issued 30 Decem
ber, 1800, and at thattime the whole
number was 2341. . The above fads
are mostly from the information of mr.
Melcher.•
, The Rifag Sim.,, -, :
Was published front. 4 August, 27,5, till
March 1798, by Cornelius Sturtevant, junior,
and Co. From that time it was published three
months, by Elijah Cooper.^
WAT.POLE
The Farmers Mifam or Literary
Gazette
.. Is published at Walpole, every Monday, by
David Carlifle, for Thomas and Thomas. It
was rill lately edited under the superintendence
of Joseph Dennis, the reputed author of the
Lay Preacher. Motto.
Hither, each week, the pedant shall repair
To sweet oblivion of his daily care,
Again the farmers' news, the barber's tale,
again the woodman's ballad shall prevail.
+ Vol. 8, 29 December, 1800, whole number
404. This paper was firft called the Farmer's
Weekly Museum and Newhampfhire and Ver
mont Journal. From. February 1799, f° r o»e
year, it was called the Farmers Museum, or
Lay Preacher s Gazette. Its proprietors were
firft Jfaiah Thomas and David Carlifle, second
ly Carlifle alone, and then Isaiah Thomas, and
how Thomas and Thomas.
HANOVER „
Alden Spooner, now printer at Windsor, in
Vermont, is said to have printed the firft paper
at Hanover.
The Eagle or Dartrouth Centime!
Was published by Jpfiah Dunham, A. M.
from 22 July, 17,330 23 February, 1795, It
was then published from A March, 1795, to 30
March, 1795, by John M. Dunham From 6
April ^795, to 13 March, 1797, it was pub
lished by Dunham and True. From 20 March,
1797, to 24 July, 1798,it was published by. Ben
jamin True under the.fame name. From that
period it was public by True with the title
of the Eagle, but urythe superintendence of
Moses Fiske, A. M. till the firft week in June
1799, when it was flopped.
The Dartmouth Gazette, ;.:.
Which commenced, 27 August, 1799, is P^ a
lifhed every Saturday, on the college plain, by
Moses Davis. Motto..•
Here range the world,explore the denfeand rare
And view all nature in your elbow chair.
Vol. 2, 27 December, 1800, whole number 70.
HAVERHILL.
Is it poff.ble, that the absolute sovereignty
can reside in two bodies at the fame time ? If the
State Legislatures can controul one a& of the
National Government, can they not combine
to oppose the whole ? Yet such doctrines have
been gravely advanced and inftdioufly pursued
by the Jacobins ; —and tbeje people nevertheless
boast of their attachment to the Constitution.—
As well might a highwayman boast of his gene
rosity to the man whom he is robbing ;. or the
murderers of Louis XVI. of their loyalty ; —or
Bonaparte of his love of liberty —No !—the
Jacobins expeded, and with some rcafon, that
they fhpuld array the State Legiftatures in 6p
pofitiori to Congress, and thus consummate a
new species of regular Revolution—a Legisla
tive Rebellion—in which the enlightened Lc
giflhture of Kentucky might thunder its anathe
mas against the meafurea of the Nation.
Fifth. As no general compact can
possibly contain all the details which
may be necessary to secure its execu
tion, much mull be, and always is, left
Feb t ° the alfolute Supremacy and five-
R T H r A. reignty of the Government of the
Cnited States, touching all those fubjeds which
are entrusted to it by the Constitution, is abfa
lutely effcntial to its felfprefervation, it will net
be surprising that the Jacobira have been always
cppofed to this principle. With all their affixed
love for the Constitution, they have been always
eager to.fmothr it with their affectionate atten
tions, to increase "usfridion until it should bal
ance its powers.of motion, and thus the machine
would flop. . .With this view, after laboring.in
ceffmtly to defeat the meafyre, ofjhe Federalists
in Congress, the, leaders of the Jaedbins quitted
a feene in which their talents had been useless
to their fellow-citizens, to exert them from a
quarter in which they hoped ta do it with more,
effia' . They fei^ed-upon the State Legiffatures
of Kentucky and Virginia, and turning their
batteries against the Federal Government, they
flattered themselves that they should soon make
a breach in the ramparts, at which they with
their " Raggamuffin, (to use Matter Ran
dolph's polite expression) might easily erfter.
If the novel, unfounded and dangerous doctrine
advanced by Virginia and Kentucky, that the
State Legislatures have a right to declare the
a& of the national Government void, had been
adopted by a majority of the States, the subtle
Madison would have completely succeeded in
his project of annihilating the Federal Govern
ment. ... ~.. .
, April, 1793, for cwt years. It was then car,
ried on for four months by William Ward
Blake.
Some years ago Nathaniel Coverly published a
paper for about fix months, at Haverhill. Three
or four numbers of a magazine were, two or
three years since, published by Mofcley Dur.-
ham, at the fame place.
li] ! 799> the profyedus of a paper, which was
to have been published at Charleston, was issu
ed, but the paper was never carried into effect.
The foregoing hiftoriettc, in some inflances,
nia y prehaps be erroneous. It is however, as
correct, as our materials would admit. In col
leding data, the writer has been assisted princi
pally by Mr. Charles Peirce, editor and printer
of the United States' Oracle of the Day.
Political Miscellany
From the CENTINEL.
° ur faithful Champions of the public weal,
Nc b&fe-born fears, nor treacb'r&us langour feel.
Tho late by Taklion, Vice, and Folly croft —
Their glorious Labors after can be loft."
The Cons^tenTfEDERALIST,
No. NL.
0 —
The Politics and Theories of the Jacobins.
yet thdy only operate on the. ric,h who
are able, or the vicious who.cugbt to
^ pay ; and relieve the poor who are un
able, and the temperate who ought , not
to pay.) Th^, Jacobins were equally
opposed to thefar// a/7, Why.? It
was equal—eafcly collected—fimpje.—,
falling aS all taxes ought to fall, upon
the citizens in proportion to their abili
ty ; —but then it Bad „been formerly
obnoxious, and it was a gsad topic to
raise a clamor against the government.,
While the Fefteralifts were laying
taxes on personal property and on the
articles of consumption and luxury, it
is afaft^ well, known, that the Jacobins
in Congress warmly advocated a Land
tax. This the Federalists were averse
to, but when the necessities of govern
ment called for |his aid, tbefe very men,
clamored loudly against it. This is a
specimen of Jacobin conliftency. In
Short on the fubfaff of taxation the Ja
cobins have p^rfued a very f%le game
which all democratic leadershave found
fuccefsful in all ages &in all countries.
Knowing thoaverlion of the people, to
pay taxes even that are necessary, they
have opposed them in every form—
So did the Gracchi and Manlii at Rome:
So did the Girondist at Paris : So do
die Tierneys and fixes in England.—
Thus they acquire the reputation of
being friends to the people, while their
find the interpretation of others. Do
you want proofs of this spirit ? They
•are abundant-— The President and Sen
ate have power to make treaties ; —but
they have no right to Stipulate the pay
ment of money, fay the jacobins. They
have a right ; to agree with foreign na
tions reciprocally to surrender fugitives
from justice :—But they fay, that the
Piefident has no right to deliver them
up—the Judiciary has no such right—
and they are about to punifl iin Virgi
nia, the Britifo Consul for fending a cul
prit off—.For this however, .they are ex
cusable, as they have fellow feeling, for
rogues and mutineers. Congress have
to good sense and a liberal interpreta
tion.—This principle preyailsin private
as well as public coritra&s, that such a
conllruftion shall be made " ut res %-
Teat magis..quam pereat." Without
this, deeds would often be nugatory to
the grantees ; —without this, Constitu
tions of Government would be totally
inoperative. Precisely for this very rea
foa the Jacobins, have always contend
ed that you must flick to the letter : —
Like the case in Shalfpeare, you may
take your pound of fl^h, but you mull
abstain from torching one dropof blood.
You may punilh murder on the high
seas, but you shall not look into the
common law to fee what murder is. The
United States fliall have no common law
—They shall not interpret for them
selves, nor Ihall they look into books to
montrous truth ? Yet to the disgrace of
qur country, such principles have been
advanced even in our Senate., Again,
Congress have power to. regulate com
merce, and to manage the concerns of
the nation ; —and yet it is a flagrant
breach of the Constitution to cred a
bank to facilitate its operations. .Why
for sooth ? ,Because the word “ Bank"
does not occur in the Constitution. I
contrast with my neighbor, that he shall
have my apples on my trees, but he
shall neither ffiake them off, knock
them down, or pick them, because there
are no such words in the bargain. ,;
)Sixth —Government muff be sup
ported. That is admitted. The pub
lic debt must be proyided for, and the
public expenses defrayed. From what
source ? The Jacobins have in turn op
posed every species of taxation. They
reprobated the impost tax—lt would
impoverish the merchants—They vio
lently opposed the excise on Jpirituous
liquors ; —profefTedly because it was un
equal & arbitrary, and all excises were
odious ; but really because it was a tax
on luxury— r -on vicious, indulgencies,
which were dearer to them than the gov-,
ernm^nt. ; Th^y opposed the, carriage
tax, because it was unconflitutional—
Why ? Because taxation and represen
tation are to be proportionate, and the
democratic Lords cf Virginia, had ten
carriages,, where the ariftcratic hus
bandmen and yeoman of New-England
had one. The southern Jacobins ra'if-<
ed a rebellion about these t^wo taxes, and
power to declare war, and make peace,
and to guard over infractions of the
laws of nations, , which may produce
yar : —But, fay the Jacobins, you have
no right to prevent your citizens from
fighting on board the fhips,or in the ar
mies of the belligerent powers,—So
that France may raise 20,009 men in
your country, but it is no crime in
your citizens to enlist.—“ Creditijue
Pifenes ?" Will posterity- believe thig
whole objed is porfonal popularity.—-
Let any man oppufe every tax, wheth
er it be Wanted or not ; let him always
profefs a tender regard for the rights
and interest of the people ; —and he
may fit moral principle at defiance, and
outrage every lentimeut and maxim of
jurtice, and yet preserve an illgotten ^
difgraceful popularity.
, -- LEONIDAS.
We live in a small town in Warwick,
lire.—Father is a shoe maker ; I am
his apprentice ; and mother as eminent
a clear-ftarcher as any in the country,
We were very hard working people,
and had plenty of customers, and were
as comfortable a family as, could be,
?till about two months ago, when father
one evening carried a pair of Ihoes to
the matter of the red lion. It was iz
o'clock before, he came home ; he was
very drunk, and came in tinging (as
he called it) patriotic songs. Father
never could sing in his life ; but he
made a frightful noise, and mother and
I had much ado to get him to bed—
Being dually a very sober man, next
day he was very fickj and a strange
ill-looking man came and asked to
speak to him, and they were shut up
together, ever so long, and when he
went away father said it was Citizen
Rigthaw, a member of the corresponding
Society, a great philosopher, % and a pat
riot, who had been sent to enlighten,
and reform, and organize (I think he
called it) this part of the nation, and
father was to help him. Father said it
was a glorious work ! and full of hu
man wisdom and integrity !, :
Meantime, however, his own work
flood still, and we were half starved.—•
My mother had a great affection for
my father, and a high opinion of his
understanding ; but when ihe found his
fludying politics made us none the rich
er, dnd his ne^eding his work made
us all ,the poorer, she grew somewhat
crufty, and one evening when father
had been keeping his decade day, as he
called it, (for we had no Sundays now,
tho'.we did not work) mother plucked
up a spirit and scolded him well. He
only smiled, and told her philofopher§
did not like a noise, therefore he,fhould
get rid of a bawlingiwife as soon. as the
French came. , Divorced," said my
mother, coloring as red as a turkey-cock.
“ Nay, Female Citizen," said he, " do
not blush, it will be no disgrace to thee ;
I gfhall only alledge incompatibility of
temper, and when thou art divorced
from me thou mayst marry as many
husbands as thou canst get, one after
another, that is." " May I sure," said
mother ; and seemed quite pacified,
and went out.of the room telling one,
two, three, upop. her fingers. Then
my father turned to me—“ My brave
boy," said he, " thou art no longer my
child, but the child of thy country,"
and he went on talking about the old
Romans and a.parcel.of fluff! did not,
heed—l had heard enough in knowing
I was no longer his son, : and I deters
mined to fhift for myfelf in the world,
and trouble ray head no more about
him. • ::
0
Z correspondent has sent us,for publication, the fob,
Driving letter, extraflA from one of the Euglifh
Journals. He remarks, that altbo originally
calculated for the meridian of England, there are,
unfortunately, in our country, many le gitim ite ofo
jeßsfor the lajh of its satire. Who is these that
knows mt, in the circle of bis acquaintance, fame
" Citizen Rigsbatu, fame "fiver o f sedition,
feme babbling, corner c'tbe freet politician ? The
portrait of the old Citizen Shallow affords a ft, ik
ing rcfcmblance to many among us, who neglect
their own affairs, while they attend to tbofe of the
fate, to whom the words of Horace may be appli
ed:—
Quid rides ? mutato nomine, de te
Fabula narrata."
[Why do you laugh ? you little elf,
Change but the name it means yourfclf]
SIR, 7 iv
HEARING you had some time.
back published a letter from a
young woman, complaining her father
had been milled by the newfangled
French do^rines,. I take the liberty
(tho' I am but a poor scribe) to relate
to you the hifory of my own family.
SOMETHING FUNNY & GOOD.
A few days ago he happened, to get
drunk again, and as he was roaring.
Liberty and Equality in the Hreet, a
Sturdy fellow came up, called him Ja
cobin, and kicked him into the kernel,
I happened to be not far of", so he hal
loes out to me—“ Cowrie hither Sam,
and help your old father on his legs ^
gain.". I thought to (hew how well I
had improved by his instructions, so go
ing up to him I said " citizen, I am not
thy child, but the child of my country,"
and was going away, when I met a
gentleman who had dealt at our Shop!
who feeing my father Sprawling on his,
back, infilled on my going and taking
Washington's. Legacy.