The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-08-08

dn auuiIiOn1i S$pence. White, Tor lntJ;lce few
propnetors in the Fate pay more than l-2
or dollars for ream of t6eir paper, we find
ourfeives unable TO purchaie oars for lefs than
i-2 or 5 dollars. The Enquirer ut preient APP
pears on paper which cot us dollars per ream
at New-York-we expect too, that theic 5 dolls.
will be- paid IN adOaree. Experience, we believe,
hasconYinced mott Editors, that manyrnore per-
ions have been willing to take their paper than
have willing TO pay for it IS it is to remove
the inconvenience, which we ihould probably ex-
penencc from this circumfance, that we have
thought proper to adopt this regulation
Whit the terms of fubfcription were fixed at
4 dollars, we have fometimes waved the privi-
ledge of receiving the money in advance. The
reaion is obvious--It was iInpofiibls to fcnd
dollars iii letter, and it was not always eafy to
meet with competent bearer. But as the price
is now put at five dollars, which il is generally
practicable to tranimt in the form of a bank
note, we fhall fcarcely be prevailed upon to diff
pene with this privilege; and indeed the only
contraction, which we ihal now be willing
to put on fuch requeit, is the very obvious one,
that the gentleman who makes it, has very little
thought of paying for the paper at all.
AT the expiration of three months from this
time, the iubfcription of 4 dollars will be due
from all thofe fubfcribers whole names were on
our lift before the firft appearance ofthe paper.
We fhall adopt the expedient OF nominating
agents in the different Towns and Counties, who
will be entitled to receive the amount of their
fubicriptlons. We hope that thefe fubicribers
will fpare the pain of ftrihing of their names
from our lit, by making us punetual payments
for this alto is one of thofe interchangeable and in
difpenfible regulations, which our own inte-
reits imperiouily call upon us to obferve.
Subscribers to the Enquirer examine the
condition of the mott diftinguifhed prefTes of
our country, and then blame az, if YOU can, for
this inviolable regulation. A few months ago,
the Editor of the Aurora publicly announced
the fact, that more than 10000 dollars were due
| to him during period of five years. A few
| weeks iince, the Editor of the American Citizen
in New-York, advertifed his Establishment for
fale, becaufe he wanted the necef1ary fupport.
few days pat, the office of the Waihingto
federallit was brought under the Marihal's
hammer, although the Editor of that paper pub
licly declared that his debts did not exceed the
mere colt of the paper alone, which had been
ient to his delinquent fubfcribers. So proven
bal indeed is the delinquency of fubfcribers that
it has become kind of general maxim in mott
of the Printing Offices, that one third of their
iubicription money may be fairly regiltered on
the pages of Profit and Lois.
With fuch ftriking eSlmples before our ewes,
we ihould certainly deferve the fate, which
would await us, fhould we puriue the fame de-
lutlve principles. In the prolecution of our la
bouTs, the public interett may doubtleis require
that we fhould on fome occaiions make impor-
tant facrifces of our individual interefs. To
theie tacrifices we are prepared to fubmit with
cheertulnets. We know, that we are but Jingle
links IN the great chain of focety: & we feel that
1t would be but the mott contemplate feliih-
neis, to be unwilling tofacrfce a certain portion
OF our own comforts to the general welfare. On
the preient occafion however we do not Derceive
the neceflity or juftice of flch iacrifice. We
believe Oil the Contrary that Inc public interet
is rs much concerned as our own, in an infIexi-
BILE adherence to this fundamental regulation.
People of Virginia! you have iuftly an exalted
opinion OF the benefit of free, active and enlipht
ened preis. You properly LOOK up to it as the
iacred palladium ofyour deareft poliricairights;
and hope the time is not far diitant, when Won
will begin to regard it as the intructive dfpenfer
OF literary and fcientifc principles. You with to
devolve the fuPerlntendance of this inftrument
upon competent and able editors and vet OBJ
ferve the invitation which too many of you are
willing to hold forth to them. You receive one
OF their papers for a year: during all that time
they have gratified your curiofity, furnifhed Won
with fruitful fund of amufement & extendedthe
boundaries of your knowledge And how do
you remunerate them ? When the annual period
vi pay hieiIl COMES round, your puTfe is too often
cloied againit their honorable demand, 81 the un-
fortunate fuppliants are left to pour forth their
unavaling complaints. What an inconfifencvi is
this! You expect that enlightened men will de-
vote themtelveSto the labours of the prefs; & vet
you withhold from them competent pecuniary
fupport You might as well expect that the corn
VIII yegetate in your fields, or that the flowers
Will blofiom in your gardens, without the genial
influence ofthe fun and the rain. Againft fuch
iyitem as this is, it will be of courfe our inter-
cit to guard with all our vigilance and no re-
fource feems more likely to protect us aeaiuft IT'S
evils, than to trike off every fubfcriber from our
lift, who appears unwilling to comply with the
terms of our fubfcription.
A new fource of profit here prefents itfclf
to our confederation. We allude to the ADVERT
hing cuftom of paper. Like many fubfcribers,
there are fome gentlemen who are willing to
make ute of paper as the vehicle of an adyer.
tiiement, who are not willing to pay for the ex-
pence of it. Againft fuch an Inconvenience as
this is, Tome precaution ALTO feems abfolutely ne
ceiiary. Henceforward then let it be underfood
tiiat no advertisement appear in the columns
OF the Enquirer, which has not either been preyi-
Gully paid for, or which has not been fent TO our
office by fon1e perlon, with Whole character we
are faniliarly acquainted.
Our fubfcrbers will fufer us alto to draw their a.,
tentIon to another exPence which they too neggenty
imPoie upon us. Letters, which relate entirely to
their own private convenience, have too often come TO
our hands, fraught with all the exDences of ronaoe