Virginia Gazette.

This Gazette was first published in April, 1775, and continued weekly, on Saturday, by John Clarkson and Augustine Davis, at Williamsburg, several years.

Note.- A paper was printed at Norfolk in 1775, by John Hunter Holt, whose press was carried off by a British force landed from war ships, in the harbor, Sept. 30. See 4 Force's Archives, III, 847, 923, 1031.-M.

NORTH CAROLINA.

The establishment of three newspapers had been attempted in North Carolina before the revolution. One of these, after the first trial, was discontinued for several years, and then revived. Another was published only three years, between 1763 and 1768, and dropped. The third was begun about 1770, and this, as well as the first, was published when the war commenced.1

NEWBERN.

The first paper published in the colony was printed at Newbern, under the title of

The North Carolina Gazette.

With the freshest Advices, Foreign and Domestick.

No. 1 appeared in December, 1755, printed on a sheet of pot size, folio, but often on half a sheet. It was published

1In Lossing's Field Book of the Revolution, 11, 360, ed. of 1860, we read that James Davis brought the first press into this state from Virginia, in 1749, and printed the first edition of the acts of the assembly; that the first periodical paper was called the North Carolina Magazine, or Universal Intelligencer, which was printed on a demy sheet, in quarto pages, and was filled with long extracts from theological works and British magazines. Mr. Lossing's account of early printing in this state differs materially from that of Mr. Thomas.— M.

weekly, on Thursday. Imprint, "Newbern: Printed by James Davis, at the Printing-Office in Front-Street; where all persons may be supplied with this paper at Sixteen Shillings per Annum : And where Advertisements of a moderate length are inserted for Three Shillings the first Week, and Two Shillings for every week after. And where also Book-Binding is done reasonably."

This paper was published about six years, after which it was discontinued.

On the 27th of May, 1768, it again appeared, numbered one, and enlarged to a crown sheet, folio; the imprint, after the title, was: " Printed by James Davis, at the PostOffice in Newbern." The price of Advertisements, and the paper per annum, the same as in 1755. It was continued after the commencement of the war.

WILMINGTON.

A newspaper was published in this place about the year 1764. I am not certain respecting the title of it, but if I recollect aright, it was

The Cape-Fear Gazette and Wilmington Advertiser.1

A small cut of the king's arms was in the title. This Gazette was printed on a sheet of pot, on pica and long primer types, by Andrew Steuart, who styled himself "Printer to the King's Most Excellent Majesty." It was discontinued before or during the year 1767.

1 Mr. Lossing says it was called the North Carolina Gazette and Weekly Post Boy; that the first number was printed in September, 1764.— M.

The Cape-Fear Mercury.

"Quod verum atque decens curo et rogo, et Omnis in boc Sum."

The Mercury was first published October 13, 1769.1 It was printed weekly, on Friday, on paper of crown size, with pica and long primer types. A cut of the king's arms was in the title. The imprint was long and singular, viz: "Boyd's Printing-Office in Wilmington, Cape-Fear, where this Paper may be had every Friday at the Rate of 16 s. a year, one half to be paid at the time of Subscribing, or at 8 s. every six months. Subscriptions for this Paper are taken in by Gentlemen in most of the adjacent Counties, and by A. Boyd, who has for sale sundry Pamphlets and Blanks; Also: Epsom and Glauber Salts by the lb. or larger quantity. N.B. Advertisements of a moderate Length will be inserted at 4 s. Entrance, and 1 s. a Week Continuance: Those of an immoderate Length to pay in proportion.'

This paper was badly printed; and although destitute of system in the arrangement of its contents, it was, I believe, continued until 1775.

1 Lossing says, Oct. 1767.

SOUTH CAROLINA.

The publication of a newspaper was not attempted in this colony till the year 1732.

CHARLESTON.

The first newspaper published in the Carolinas, made its appearance in this city January 8, 1731-2, printed by Thomas Whitmarsh.' It bears the title of

The South-Carolina Gazette.

Containing the fresheft Advices, Foreign and Domestick.

"Omne tulit punctum, qui miscuit utile dulci.
Lectorem delectando, pariterque monendo.”

HOR.

It was published on Saturdays, through that year, and, as circumstances required, on a sheet or half sheet of paper, pot size, but soon after was discontinued, on account of the sickness and death of its publisher. See Appendix M.

1 There is an indication that Eleazer Phillips, Jr., printed the first paper in Charleston. We learn from King's Newspaper Press of Charleston, that Phillips died in July, 1732, and that his father advertised nearly two years after, for settlement of debts due the former for six months subscriptions to the South Carolina Weekly Journal, a paper which is not named in any of the early records of the press, and of which no other trace can be found. It will be seen by reference to the first volume of this work, p. 340, that Phillips was the first printer in the colony.-M.