American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1826-11-10

Several Editors have lately noticed /" the extra.
ordinary circumstance tina, out Of London there is
not daily newspaper published in Great Britain :;
and that there more papers published IN the
United States of America, than in all the rest OF
the world =
To us this does not appear extraordinary. We
have no privileged families. Ours is IS perfect q
system Of equality as the nature OF man will per.
nit This has produced, not an equality OF wealth
but an independence Of mind and circumstances
that has enabled the great majority OF our people TO
read and TO pay the trifng expense OF weekly
newspaper. In Europe the grea. mass OF The peo
Pile have nothing TO do with the government They
have no say in the choice OF their rulers, conse
quently no control over, and very little immediate
interest in the proceedings OF their governments :
therefore for them to read the news OF the day IS
only the qualification oil an idle curiosity, coLse
quently a waste OF time, which is better employed
in keeping starvation from the door, ii the
means Of the qualification could be spared. With
u.s. who have the choice OF our rulers, and who are
Immediately interested in all the acts of our GOV
eminent, there is intense desire TO be acquainted
with all its proceedings, and the motives by which II
is guided in its decisions, that we may be enabled
at the proper time to express our opinions OF the
fitness OF the different members for the Offices they
hll--as their continuance depends upon our voice.
This desire can only be grathed, and the informa
ton obtained through the medium Of the news
papers.
10 England, The paper on which the newspaper is
printed is very heavily taxed, the paper itself when
printed is taxed al sum much higher than our
papers are sold at i; and as farther means OF de
preston, the advertisements are taxed, and TO pre-
vent Transmission by mail, at the distance Of sixty
miles from London, the cost oil single newspaper
would be equal to days wages OF good mechan
ic. In our country, the manufacturers and work
men are not oppressed with labor. They have
time to spare, and their interest and inclination
prompt them to read; in England, where the me
chanic and manufacturer is doomed to work six
teen hours out Of the twenty four, they cannot en-
croach the few hours left to recruit their weary
frames by spending any portion Of it in reading
Another cause may be considered not unworthy OF
notice In England the farmers are principally
renters from year to year, consequently dependent
and poor in the United States the farmer is lord
OF the soil, consequently independent and compar
aively rich, very able and willing TO afford to his
family, the information and improvement, TO be de
rived from newspaper.
Were newspapers the only vehicle Of conveying
intelligence to the minds Of the people OF England
the great mass would speedily sink into state of
total ignorance OF the affairs OF the world: But
The deficiency OF newspapers is in great measure
supplied by the circulation of monthly publications.
called magazines, ably conducted These works
not being subjected TO sny tax but tina, upon the pa
per, and carried through the kingdom wi,haut hay.
ing TO encounter the annihilatng charges OF the
Post Office, they are afforded at cheap rate in
| comparison with the cost OF daily or weekly
| newspaper. A close printed octave magazine con
tanning 100 pages, embracing collection 0! anus
Ing and useful mater, with an abstract OF the for
| cign and domestic occurrences OF the month re
views OF new publications, sc. is sold for about one
shilling and six pence sterling, which. a, 100 miles
distant from London would not pay Tor one newspa.
per- and on the spot would not purchase two. In
our country. monthly publications have not proved
successful, simply because that method Of convey
ing intelligence, and information Of every kind, is
superseded ny our daily and weekly publications
which are found IN our country. cheaper, more
varied inucn speedier, and generally speaking bet.
ter suited to the great mass of readers than mag
azncs yoncosier f,c~ettso
Hemar6abls Conrersion.-The Hon. Charles
w. byrd Judge OF the U. States District Court
m Ohio has Joined the Society OF Shakers, resi-.