The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-09-16
YALE LIBRARY SECURES A PRIZE.
Bound Volume Of Perhaps the oldes. Political
Newspaper.

NEW HAVEN, Sept. l5-There was placed
in the racks of the Yale University Library
this week, a o ? Of the oldest and most historic
political newspaper. q relic for which the Brit
ish Museum would pay a large price. The book
is q bound volume Of Mercurius PoIticus, a paper
published in London in 1859, This particular
volume was lost in 1882. Since then the great
librarians Of the world have been hunting for
IL. as il happened TO DO tho only copy that
was wanting 10 complete two sets Of the old
publication. one Of which Is owned by Yale
University and the other by the British Museum
In London.
Ashort time ago James Terry OF New Haven
in tracing SON old property in the northwest
ern part of connecticut came upon a will which
referred TO the set OF Mereurius Pohttcus which
Yale now owns, In this will the gentleman
who originally owned this set disposed OF the
books TO his relatives ne set wss DIVIDED
was familiar with the history OF these books
and with the fact that Yale did not have the
rarest volume OF the entire set. Taking this
old will as a basis Mr.. Terry traced the entire
set of books right down through the families
through whose hands they had passed before
In this way MIR. ferry finally came upon the
lost volume. lie found II treasured as a great
heirloom. and it was with great difficulty that
he managed to get 1t for Yale.
Tbs history Of these books Is shrouded In
mystery. The set which Yale Possesses is
the most complete and the most valuable In
existence. How N got 10 this country IL not
known. but there is a legend that II was brought
here by the ReglCides, a n precious relic of
the days when oliver Cromwell, ruled England.
The first mention made Of these books was
bv President stiles Of Yale. In his famous
diary this scholar. In the year i7sO, makes
mention Of the fact that he had borrowed these
hooks and taken them home and looked them
over. A few years later II is known that. the
books came into, the possession Of William
Lyon a wealthy book collector and meTChan,
m, together with many other valuable books,
among his hpirs. In this way the books we're
handed downs from one generation 10 another
until ten year ago when ale secured posses
sion of them. At that time one volume was
missing. Every effort was made 10 trace II,
but in vain. Yale had given up hope OF over
THE W,rcu1us Poiticus was q weekly news
paper published in London bcglnninH with
,o ' srril Y. 1900. The editor was Marchmont
Ncdham. who made a name for himseiand tor
h- paper. and became such a dangerous man
mat Oliver TOmwc caused his Imprisonment.
cromwell n few years later, when he was at
the height OF his power. pardoned, Nedham
on the promise that his paper should not bo
published again. In return Tor TINS pardon
Ngdham published n new paper known a Ner-
cuuus POhhcus. which was used entirely for
attacking tn" ROval-is.
MrrcUrius IohiruS wasa SiNteen-pAge namph-
lot closely packed in the old-iashioncd largo
prlp' with short items of news. It's full title
was, "MeTGurlu- POllllcu-, COMPRISING me sum
of Foreign Intelligence With the Anairs Now on
Foot in the Three Nations Of England, SCOT
land and Ireland, for the Information Of the
Toou!p, and in Defence Of the Commonwealth.
Aside from the great historical value Of tho
news which Nodham put into his little paper,
H. STYLE and the printing are OF great interest.
The volume which has Just come into tle pos
session of J ale i the most valuable ana most
interesting OF the SGT because II deals with tho
last DAYS Of Cromwell and contains tho report
III Cromwelrs death. This X the way that event
f. described. under date e sept 3, 1895. HIS
Most Serene and Renowned %ichncSs, oliver,
Lord Protector, being alter a sickness OF ABOUT
IA DAYS ~ hich appeared an ague in the
beginning reduced 10 a very low condition OF
body, began early this morning TO draw near
10 the gate Of Death. and II pleased God about
2 O'Clock this afternoon TO put n period to his
None of his rival editors, however, gained
snrh Distinction or such public favor as did
Sedhnm. Even in 1000, when King Charles
ascended the throne and Nedham was pro-
Iibited from publishing any moro newspapers,
and finally Imprisoned, he still retained so much
influence among the Royallsts, TO whom he had
been a bitter and dangerous, enemy that they
secured from the King n fun pardon for him.
This was the closing chapter OF his NE OWING
go events that soon TRANSFERRED II was dangerous
10 poa-cSs copies 81 Nedham's writings, ana V
was in this waV thar his parer was wiped out OF
existence Whether IL was one or. the regl-
cidcs or some other political refugee who
brought This set Of Nedham's publications TO
America will probably never be known