The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-04-15
IT IS AN OLD PAPER
One of the First Publications Printed
in the United States.
OWNED BY MISS L. RIDER
interesting Eeading of Those
Times. the Date Being March H.
176O Clippings and COM
ment on things General.

ment on Kings Generai.
An interesting document Is in pos
session of Miss l.. Rider, who lives at
$40 Pine street, of this city. 1t is
CODY of one of the first newspapers
printed in the United States. 1t is an
issue of the Newport Mercury, dated
March IL, 1850, published by James
Franklin, the nephew of Benjamin
Franklin, the illustrious, and a son OF
his brother, James Franklin.
Miss Rider believes this to be a gen
uine copy of that ancient paper The
paper fell into the hands of her grand
father, Zerah Rider, to whom IT was
presented by Jared Sparks, the ia
nous historian, who was at that time
president of Harvard college. For
many years the paper lay neglected in
a stand drawer, but afterward came
into the possession of Miss Riders par
ents, who framed ii between two glass
plates. The paper is well preserved
though yellow with age.
1t is quarto sheet having three
columns about three and one-half
inches wide to the page, and the pages
about IL inches long. 1t has quaint
black heading, and a figure of the
English coat of arms, the well-known
lion and the unicorn. fighting for the
crown The title further states with
freshest advices, foreign and domes-
tic"
The first column and a half of the
first page is given up to a lottery ad-
vertisement which at the present day
would throw IL out of the malls. In
substance IL is the
Scheme of the first class of a lot
terry, to be drawn at Newport, agree
able to an act of the general assembly
of the colony of Rhode Island; passed
ut a session at Kings county, Feb. 2S
1760. for raising the sum of G2f,OOO old
tenor. to be appropriated to the cree
tion of a handsome and convenient
building of two stories. The lowest
part to be made use of for a public
market and the upper to be divided in
to several apartments to be let for
stores. The income of the said build
ing to be applied as a perpetual fund
toward supplying a public granary for
the benefit of the town of Newport for
ever"
On another page is the following no.
tice
TO BE SOLD.
A negro fellow about % years of age.
who understands every kind of farm
ing business. Likewise a negro wench.
about H. Enquire of ]. Franklin.
The news is made up from letters
from London, which were three months
yet were the --latest advices.". The
war in India and the death of General
Wolfe are the chief incidents noted. A
letter from Bombay under date of May
s. more than nine months old, is pub
lished. telling of the fall of Surat.
A long clipping is taken from the
Gentlemen's Magazine, which naIrates
the story of General James Wolfe's
character and the circumstances of his
death at Quebec.
Interesting reading is an address
by Roman Catholics of the City of
Cork by Earl of Shannon, sent to
his grace. John, Duke of Bedford, Lord
lieutenant general and general COVER
nor of Ireland, congratulating his
grace upon the success" of the English
army in the French and Indian wars
1t is extremely doubtful IL the citizens
of Cork would say as much at the
present time.
I'VE are truly sensible of his majes-
TVS paternal care and tenderness for
his kingdom of Ireland and IL is with
the deepest sense of gratitude we ac-
knowledge the protection and indul-
gence we have experienced under his
majesty's most mild and suspicious
reign"
Here is a bit of financial news which
reveals that free coinage is not a mod
ern idea or such a wild theory as many
suppose. 1t is by the editor;
They write from Paris that not
withstanding the great number OF
hands that are employed at the mint to
convert the plate that is brought
thither into money, they are not able
TO make sufficient dispatch, for which
reason several goldsmiths are en-
ployed in casting of ingots and in that
shape the several sums allotted for the
payment of the Russian army, are sent
out of the kingdom"
These extracts have been modernized
in style, as under present conditions
the type could not reproduce them.
The Newport Mercury is still in exist
ence one of the oldest papers in the
United States. and still bears the name
of its founder in this legend at its head:
FOUNDED by Franklin, A. d. 175S."
The press which the younger Franklin
used. was the same which James the
elder and Benjamin so often worked in
Boston and was for more than 100
years in the Mercury Office. and is now
owned by the Massachusetts, Charitable
Mechanics association.
Miss Rider values her treasure high
ly, but has recently accepted a propo-
sition from a museum at Madison.
Wisconsin. TO whom the paper has
been sent
1sx4s Steer.
A 4s 20,