The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-06-17
WASHINGTON: MONDAY MORNING, JUNE
From the Philadelphia Eeening Bulletin.
The First Newsunper.

1t is somewhat remarkable that the newspaper
press, powerful element il is in modern civiza-
uon, ID scarcely two centuries old. Ii is equally
remarkable that means of instruction and amusc-
ment 80 apparent should not have been established
until nearly two hundred years after the discovery
vi printing, The common belief that the first Eng
lish newspaper was published in 1888, to announce
the defeat of the Spanish Armada, 10 now known
to be popular error the printed sheet in the Brit
ish Museum, called the English M1cwis, and
dated in that year having been proved forgery
mistake was Mr.. Chalmers, who, in a life of Rud-
diInan, entered into the history of newspapers. He
had seen the broad sheet in the Museum, and, ac :
cepting it for what il pretended to be, had an
nounced il as the first English newspaper. Nichols
D'lsraeli, and other writers, followed Chalmers,
without inquiry, and from these authors the error
crept into the Encyclopedias, and all the books Of
the day in which newspapers were discussed Few
assertions are now perhaps 30 generally believed,
as that the English Mercurie was the first English
newspaper. The detection Of the error we owe TO
the photographer, Mr.. Watts, of the British Muse
um, who, having occasion to examine the Mercuie
saw at once that the type and paper were of com
pafauvely modern origin-an opinion which has
been confirmed by every subsequent examination,
and it has been freely scrutinized by capable judges
since.
The first newspaper was issued towar is the close
OF the reign of James the First, and was published
in London by man named Butter. This individ-
ual had been hired l.tter-wrter, in the pay Of
numerous country gentlemen--his business Being
to pick up the news Of London and send written
sheet OF II weekly 10 his employers. The thought
hnaiiy struck nun that he might serve his custom
ers more quickly, and enlarge his business ndeh-
nitely, by printing instead of writing his sheets
AT hrst, however, the enterprise met little encour
ageInent. The English are not people fond of
innovations, and the old manuscript letter sheets
were generally preferred. Buffers paper was
laughed at by the wits and i'll supported by the
public. Ben Jonsun, in his comedy, ."rhe Staple
of News" made the new journal the butt Of his
ridicule. Finally, however, the invention became
better appreciated, and newspapers increased in
size, merit, and numbers; but late the begin
ning of the last century the written news letter
still III existence, the delight of aDtiquated country
gentlemen, who Morshppcd it relic of "the
good old tiInes.'' Ia l7O9 the first morning paprr
appeared i'll London, and now discussion was com
bincd with news, for heretofore the journals had
confined themselves en,iiely to the mere narration
Vi events, and those chiefly foreign. Indeed, more
than ole editor had been severely punished for
printing news about the government; and late
as lIl0 lad of nineteen was hung for publishing
an article against hereditary right.
Prior TO the issue of Buffers journal, there had
been various gazettes. they called, publish
ed In different countries in Europe; and there is a
popular impression that these newspapers.
But such is not the fact. The gazettes merely
occasional broad sheets, or pamphlets, published
after some important event, al proclamation is
now published. They not at all permanent,
much less periodical Ia their nature important
qualities requisite for the real newspaper. Nor
was II until the age of Addison, Steele and Swift
90 w Jou' ptBdu W ds7uuie iHcH
present influential position. When these great
writer's. however, entered the lists regular con-
tributors TO the newspapers, and were followed by
Bolingbroke, and In later age by Junius, the pub
iic press at once took Lofty position, and ono
which it has since maintained, and even ncreased
In England, however, to this day, the newspaper
has less influence than in either France or the Uni
ted States In this free country is really the great
parliament of the nation where all impor sub
jects arc discussed, and virtually decided. Con-
gross is, in fact, but the formal piece Of the
press. or, TO speak m"re definitely, OF the people
controlled by the press. The day will como when
to be a member OF this fraternity will be a higher
honor than to be legislator, and il is even now a
more influential position. Long live the press!