Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1851-05-29


| It is somewhat remarkable, that Che newspaper
press powerful element as il Is in modern ciEilizn
ton is scarcely two centuries old. II is equally
marlable, that means of instruction and amusement
so apparent should not have been established until
nearly two hundred years after the discovery Of prin
ting The common belief that the first English news
paper published in 1885, to announce the defeat
of the Spanish Armada, is now known to be popu-
lar error, the printed sheet in the British Museum,
called the English Mercurie,'' and dated in that
year. having been proved forgery of century later
in date. The originator Of the mistake Mr.
Chalmers, who, in life of Ruddiman, entered into
the history Of newspapers. He had seen the broad
sheet in the Museum, and accepting il for what pre-
tended to be, had announced IT as the first English
newspaper Nichols, D'Israeli, and other writers
followed Chalmers without enquiry, 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 gen
orally believed that ''The English Mercury was
the first English newspaper. The detection OF the
error We owe 10 the photographer, Mr. Watts, of the
British Museum, who, having occasion TO examine
the sMercure,'' at that the type and paper
were of comparatively modern origin, an opinion
which has been confirmed by every subsequent ex-
animation and it has been freely scrutinized by
pable Judges since.
The first newspaper was issued towards the close
of the reign of James the First, and published
in London by man named Butter. This Individual
had been hired letter writer in the pay Of numerous
country gentlemen, his business being 10 pick up the
news of London and send written sheet OF it week
ly TO his employers. The thought finally struck him
that he might serve his customers more quickly and
enlarge his business indefinitely by printing, instead
Of writing his sheets. Al first however the enter
prise met little encouragement The English
not people fond of innovations, and the old manu-
script letter sheets generally preferred. Buffers
paper laughed at by The wits and Unsupported by
the public. Ben Johnson, in his comedy 1.-THE Sta
pie of News made the journal the butt of his
ridicule Finally, however, the invention became
better appreciated, and newspapers increased in size
merit and numbers; but so late as the beginning OF
the last century the written newsletter was still in
existence, the delight of antiquated country gentle
men, who worshipped it a relic of &c the good old
times" In 1909 the first morning paper appeared in
London, and now discussion combined with
news, for heretofore the journals had confined them
selves entirely 10 the mere narration of events and
those chiefly foreign. Indeed, than one editor
had been severely punished for printing news about
the government; and SO late as ITO lad of nine
teen was hung for publishing article against he
redtary right.
Prior to the issue of Buffers journal there and
been various gazettes, they were called published
in different countries in Europe and there is pop
ular impression that these were newspapers But
such is not the fact The gazettes were merely oc-
csSona broad sheets, or pamphlets, published after
some important event, as proclamation is pub
lished- They not at all permanent much less
periodical in their naure two important qualities re-
quise for the real newspaper. Nor was it until the
age of Addison, Steele and Swift-as we said-that
journals began to assume their present influential
position. When these great writer's however, entered
the lists regular contributors the newspapers and
were followed by BOlingbroke, and in latter age,
by Junius; the public press at took lofty
position, and which il has since maintained and
even increased. In England, however, to this day,
the newspaper has less influence than in either France
the United States. In this free country tits really
the great parliament of the nation where all impor-
tant subjects discussed, and virtually decided
Congress is, in fact, but the formal moulh-piece of
the press to speak more definitely, of the people
controlled by The press. The day will come when
to be member of this fraternity will be higher
honor than TO be legislator, and it is even now
more influential position. Long live the press-
Philadelphia BuH.tin.