The Sun.
London, England, 1836-12-26 00:00:00

HISTORY OF NEWSPAPERS IN

SCOTLAND.

The first newspaper published in Scotland was " A Diur-
nal of some Passages and Affairs," originally printed in Lon-
don, and reprinted at Leit'a by Christopher Higgins. The
first number was dated in November, 1652, but the publi-
cation did not survive a twelvemonth. Before its appear-
ance several papers, chiefly devoted to the affairs of
Scotland, were produced in the English metropolis ; of
these may bb mentioned " The Scots Scout's Discoveries "
(1642); "'the Scotch Intelligencer, or the Weekly News
from Scotland and the Court " (1643) ; " The Scottish
Dove, sent out and returning," (1643) ; " Intelligence from
the South Borders of Scotland, written from Edinburgh,"
(1644) ; " Mercurius Scoticus, or a Tree Character of Af-
irs in England, Ireland, and Scotland, and other Foreign
Parts" (1651) ; " The Theme, orlScoto-Presbyter " (1652.)
" Mercurius Politicus, comprisingithe sum of all intelligence,
with the affairs and designs now on foot in the three nations
of England Ireland and Scotland" published likewise in
London, was first reprinted at Leith in October, 1653.
In the succeeding years the press from which it issued
was transferred to Edinburgh, where the publication was
continued until April, 1660, when, in place of the for-
mer title, was substituted that of " Mercurius Publicus."

The first newspaper written and printed in Scotland was
the " Mercurius Caledonius, comprising the affairs in agita-
tion in Scotland, with a survey of foreign intelligence." It
was edited by Thomas Sydserf, son to the Bishop of Orkney.
The first number appeared on the 31st of Dc.,cember, 1660,
and the production, which was issued weekly, expired on the
22d of March, 1661. It was succeeded by the " Kingdom's
Intelligencer," a London journal, which continued to be
reprinted at Edinburgh for about ten years. In 1683 ap-
peared in the English capital " Scotch Memoirs, by way of
dialogue between John and Elymas." " The Edinburgh
Gazette, publishedl,y authority," was first issued in 1680 ;
and, after being ai)andoned for a considerable time, was re-
vived in 1699, and continued to be published until after
the Union. In 1705, appeared the " Edinburgh Courant"
and the 4‘ Scots Courant," every Monday and Wed-
nesday--in 1710, the former was edited by the ce-
lebrated Daniel Defoe. In 1708 was published " The
FAlinburgh Flying Post" three times a week ; in 1709,
" The Scots Postman" appeared on Tuesday, Thursday,
and Saturday, by licence of the Magistrates of the city,
who " prohibited all others from printing newspapers on
these days." In 1710 was issued the " North Tatler" on
Monday and Friday ; in 1714 " The Edinburgh Gazette,
or Scots Postman," on Tuesday and Thursday ; and in
1718 " The Edinburgh Evening Courant" thrice a week,
the publisher " being obliged befcre publication to give a
coppie of his print to the magistrates." The first number
of the " Caledonian Mercury" was published in 1720. The
earliest journal which Glasgow possessed was " The Glas-
gow Courant," commenced in 1715. Beyond the Forth
there was no newspaper until " The Aberdeen Journal"
was issued in 1748. In 1793, the number of papers in
Scotland was 14 ; of which there were printed in Edin-
burgh 7, in Glasgow 4, in Aberdeen 1, in Dumfries 1, in
Kelso 1. In 1825 there were published in Scotland 35
journals, of which Edinburgh possessed 11, Glasgow 5,
Aberdeen 2, Dumfries 2, Dundee 2, Ayr 2, Inverness 2,
Kelso 2, Montrose 2, Perth 1, Paisley 1, Cupar-in-Fife 1,
Stirling 1, Greenock 1. At present there are 55 news-
papers in Scotland. In 1801 the number of stamps issued
for newspapers in Scotland was 994,280 ; in 1833,
3,038,292. The gross produce of the stamp duties
amounted in 1811 to 21,2881.; i• 1833 to 51,4651.—
Oliver and Boyd's New Edinburgh Almanac for 1837.

Two fires occurred on Thurs-lay night through want
of due caution with lighted candles. At Mr. Bennett's,
hemp dresser, 1, Pleasant•.row, Great Guildford-street,
Southwark, a fire was the,s caused in the workshops, and
very serious damage stone to the stock before tike fire could
be extinguished. T.tre building itself was also slightly da-
maged.—At Mr. Jriseph Kaye's, linendraper, 55, Totten-
ham-cOurt-road, u quantity of goods beneath the shop
counter was 'set fire to and destroyed, and but for the
early arrivrA of the firemen from different western sta-
tions wit:a their engines, the damage might have been far
greater,

TATE NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE.—The at-
tractions of this ever very popular Magazine will be greatly in-
creased at the commencement of the New Year ; not
alone by the talents of the new Editor, (Mr. Theodore
'Hook), but also by his influence with a numerous circle o
friends, who have volunteered to aid him in his undertaking
—one for which he appears so eminently fitted.

Dr. Lingard is preparing for the press a new edition
of his History of England, to be published in Monthly
Volumes, at Five Shillings each, illustrated with beautiful
engravings. The author has given the work a thorough
revision, and proves his facts in every instance by references
to additional authorities. The entire work will not exceed
twelve volumes. The labour given to the preparation of
this edition having of course occupied largely his time and
thoughts, the public may now hope, on its completion, that
a continuation to the work will be begun. A History of
England from the time of the last James, written with the
original views, lucid narrative and great industry of Dr,
Lingard, would be a national object.

IRISH IMPORTS.—Last week the supply of oats
from Ireland amounted to 20,782 quarters, while those of
English growth were only 2,027 quarters, and from Scot-
land 4,979. Of other provisions, up to the same period,
there have been received at the port of London 5,916
firkins of butter, and 1,815 bales of bacon. Liverpool-
-8,002 firkins of butter, 1,128 quarters of wheat, 1,670
quarters of barley, 7,366 quarters of oats, 10,241 sacks of
flour, and 7,102 loads (240 lbs, each) of oatmeal. Bristol
—1,569 firkins of butter, 1,224 pigs, 119 bales of bacon,
159 sacks and 27,- cwt, of flour, 632 quarters and 1,801
barrels of barley, 714 sacks and 1,000 barrels of oats, 40
cwt. of oatmeal. At Gloucester 17 barrels of wheat, 1,679
arrels of barley, 4,440 barrels of oats, and 100 firkins of
utter. And tall this iZ to short a space of time, from a
country, one-third of whose population are in a state closely
borderinp; on star✓ation, and who scarcely know the taste of
any orke of the articles enumerated.

Assurances reach us from various quarters that the
new year will be ushered in by the long talked-of Naval
Promotion, and that no less than 102 Captains will either
obtain ...heir flags or retirement ; the lion. G. Paulett is in-
elwled. This will of course give two shillings additional
half-pay to the 200 office-4s who will then be at the top of
the list, and well the" will need such a solace, as they can
scarcely expect a:iother flag promotion for at least ten
years to come. As far as we can judge, about 55 officers
will be put, to the active flag list—active, at least, in a
comParatL,re sense, for the great bulk of those thus raised
in rani..; can tell of fifty years' servitude, and the list of
Ad:nirals will then comprise about 185. At the last pro-
motion, of July, 1830, the list was 198, at which time 48
or 49 Captains were promoted.—Hampshire Telegraph.

LIBEL LAW.—The Leamington Chronicle has a
second time been dragged into a Court of Law for the pub-
lication of an alleged libel in the publication of which that
Journal declares it had no participation whatever, and in the
printing of which all evil design is distinctly denied. We
are glad that the verdict fully exonerated our able and ho-
nest Contemporary, and congratulate the Chronicle on its
escape from the meshes of a libel law, that is an insult to
the common sense, and an opprobrium to the legislative
system in which it is suffered to exist,