Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-06-18
One Hundred and Twenty-Five Year,
Old,


Old.
(New York Evening Post)
The Baltimore American will celebrate
its 18th anniversary on the goth of August
next, and i'm preparation for this event.
it's publisher. General Felix Agnus, has
printed and distributed a facsimile Of the
first number, which bears date, August ~.
1773. 1t was then called the Maryland
Journal. but il is the same paper, and has
been published continuously from thal
day TO the present time. The leading
article in the first issue is letter from
the 'Bishop Of c" 10 the Earl Of Bello-
mont on the folly and wickedness of duel
ling. The Bishop says that he fought a
duel himself in his younger days, that for
tunately he missed his antagonist, but
that he was himself so desperately wound
ed that his life was despaired Of, and
that his own father and his sweetheart
died Of grief in consequence. This is
followed by an article on simplicity OF
Dress" Then come two anecdotes, tol-
lowed by news items from London, New
York, and other places, Oddly enough
one of these news items says that, the
Spaniards have a strong fleet htting out
which they say is to be sent TO awe thelI
rebellious subjects In the West indies.
Perhaps the most interesting part Of this
old paper is found in the advertisements.
Here George Washington holds the most
consnicuous place. He advertises 10000
acres of land on the Ohio and Great ka-
nawha Rivers for rent. allowing a rea-
sonable number of years rent free, pro-
yided. within the space of two years from
next October, three acres for every Hty
contained in each lot, and proporuonaDiy
for a lesser quantity, shall be cleared
fenced. and titled" This land was SUD
lect TO "a quit-rent of two shillings stef-
ling per hundred, demandable some years
hence only" Another advertiser pro-
claims n desire to sell "a pocket Of hops
and to buy a negro girl about u years
old. Another offers a reward OF ten
nounds for the arrest, as a runaway, of
an Irish servant-man named owen Nc
Carly. A. years old and says that
owen had been soldier about the time
of Braddock's defeat land can give good
description of the country. Another
white servant-man is advertised for as
SPRAYED" Another advertises that he
rides post" from the town OF Baltimore
IN the town of Frederick, once a week
and makes connections with another man
who rides post TO the town OF Wlhches-
,e, In Virginia. The paper contains a
III of letters brought by this private post
man from Frederick, and left by him al
MIR William Adamss, at the sign OF the
pace-Horses in Baltimore. IL appears
that there was also Kings post at
that time in operation between Baltimore
and Annapolis The editor says that ne
shall always publish with pleasure what,
a,,or q sent TO him in favor OF liberty anc
~ rights of mankind, provided the IAN
s,,aee Is decent and compatible with good
s,o,,ernment." This standard of journal
iem has always been maintained by his
'',,noceeors The Baltimore American
has always been in front rank as news
naner For instance" ses General
Agnus, ut had it's special posts IN tne
Isst century: il had relays OF couriers In
he carly part OF the present century; II
Gas the first newspaper to hire a special
rain: u was the first to use the magnetic
telegraph as a news-carrier. and 1t led IN
The various mechanical equipments when
have marked the progress or printing
This is certainly an enViaple recoio'