47,075 tons of cast metal, of which 37,200 tons are used in making bar iron, and 14365 tons castings; a part in air and a part in blast furnaces. One hundred tons of iron are converted into nails.

Also, that there were as many forges built in 1820 as there are now, but were not all in operation; there were 450 tons more manufactured in 1827, than in 1820 (of bar iron). Thinks the business will not increase, owing to scarcity of timber. There may perhaps be an increase of 600 tons per annum.

Mr. Keese states, there are manufactured in the neighbourhood of Lake Champlain about 3000 tons of bar

iron.

169

Mr. Jackson 800 bushels to make one ton of bar iron from the ore-costs 5 cents per bushel. Coal from oak, chesnut, &c.

The product of each Fire?

Mr. Mitchell-generally 100 tons to each finery fire.
Mr. Jackson-25 to 35 tons each forge fire.

Market and Prices of Iron.

Mitchell-Pittsburg is the best market for that which goes west, say 2-3. Sometimes the iron masters go down the river with it. It costs from 25 to 30 dollars per ton to take it to Pittsburg; the price there is from 100 to 115 dollars. A small part is sent to Baltimore and Philadelphia, where it sells at from 85 to 95 per ton. Carriage to the former 10 dollars, to the latter 12.

Mr. Jackson, of Rockaway, Morris county, N. Y. has a rolling mill, in which he rolls iron into rods from threeeighths to three inches diameter, and squares from threeeighths to an inch spikenail rods, slit band iron, iron scrolls, &c. There is another large establishment of the same kind said to roll 1000 tons annually; here also are made chain cables. Within a circle of thirty miles diameter, there are 81 forge fires now in use. Each forge has two fires and one hammer. In the same circle there are also thirty forge fires abandoned, prior to 1818, ow-75 dollars; 1826, 80 dollars; 1827, 75 dollars. ing to low price of iron at that time. The quantity made in Morris, Bergen, and Sussex counties is estimated at 2050 tons: capital invested in 110 forge fires now in operation $1,210,000; number of hands, 5720; each fire capable of making 25 to 35 tons per annum.

Jackson-sends to N. York: costs 3 75 per ton: sells on average at 80 dols. rolled iron 100 to 110 dolls. Price of Iron at the Works.

Mr. Keese-bar iron hammered from blooms 80 to 85 dollars per ton-small bars to order 5 dollars more. Mitchell-bar iron fixed price in barter or exchange 100 dollars. Pig metal 26 67, when bar is at 100. Jackson-bar iron from bloomery, worth in 1825,

per ton.

Expenses of making Iron.

Mr. Keese exhibits a statement in detail of making 75 tons: viz. 225 tons Rock ore at 6 dls. per ton; casting 2. 37,500 bushels coal at 44 cents. Bloomer's wages $18 Laborer $1 per day. Mechanics $3 per ton. Insurance 1 per cent. on 2000 dols. Carting to Lake 2 dols. per ton. Expenses to N. Y. 6 dols. per ton. Commissions 516, (un sales of 75 tons, at 90 dols. 6750 dols.) Total 6330 dols. Exclusive of proprietor's time and attention, interest on capital; requires forty hands. W. Mitchell estimates the expense of making a ton of bar iron from the pigs at 75 dols. including the value of the pigs 26.67. all the bar iron is made from pigs in his section. Mr. Jackson pays the bloomers for making a ton of bar iron $16 50, finding themselves. The coal costs $42 50, and the three tons of ore 12 dols. The petition from three counties of Jersey estimates the cost of a ton and getting it to N. York at 79 25.

Mr. Jackson estimates the expense of rolling a ton of bar iron into iron one inch square, at 14 87; and it will lose in weight by the operation 3 per cent. on 80 dolls., making $2 40; total 17 27. Two tons a day will constitute the average work, which yields a profit on rolling of 2 73 per ton, equal to 5 46 per day on an establishment worth 20,000 dols: The expenses have not since increased.

Quantity of Iron to one ton Bar Iron.

Mr. Mitchell states that 6000 tons of pigs will make 4000 tons of bar iron, and it is sometimes a part of the contract with the workmen that they shall make it yield that quantity-1 tons.

Quantity and cost of Ore to one ton of Iron.
Mr. Jackson, 3 tons of ore at $4 at forge.
Keese, 3
Mitchell, 2 to 3

6

5

Quantity and Cost of Coal to one ton of Iron. Mr. Keese, 500 bushels for converting the ore directly into bar iron at the forge without the intervention of a furnace, at four and a half cents.

Mr. Mitchell, in making a ton of pigs, 220 bushels, and in making a ton of bar iron from pigs, 175 bushels. Forge coal worth 6 cents at forge, and furnace coal 5 cents. No. 11.

Supply of Ore.

Inexhaustible in the neighbourhoods spoken of.

Manufactory of Wood Screws.

Dr. Mitchell says there is one in Centre which can make 150 groce in 24 hours, but only makes enough to keep the hands together. It completes the screw, taking the iron in the pig; are sent to the sea-ports for sale, at the same price as foreign, and are then probably returned again to the country.

Duty required.

No protection is required, for hoop-boiler, rolled and slit nail and spike rods: with this last a species of iron from Russia interferes and requires to be placed on the same footing as nail rods. Hammered bar iron requires protection of about 5 dols. per ton. A duty is proposed on some kinds of rolled and slit iron and sheet iron.

STEEL.

There are no facts stated respecting this article. The opinions entertained respecting the duty are various. Mr. Keese thinks it should be increased; Mr. Mitchell believes it would be injudicious until it is ascertained whether the quality necessary for use can be made here; and Mr. Jackson conceives the duty is at present sufficient.

HEMP.

The growing of hemp is an important business in the counties of Bourbon, Jessamine, and Scott, of Kentucky. The market price for it, cleaned and ready for market, for 1825 and 1826, was 4 dollars for every 112 lbs.; last year about 5 dollars. It is manufactured extensively in Fayette, Clark, and Woodford counties into cotton bagging, yarns, and cordage. Neither the grower nor manufacturer are supposed to receive a fair compensation for the labour and capital employed. It is believed to be important that the duty be increased. More was given in 1827 than in 1826. It is also grown in Ohio, Pennsyl vania, and New York.

SAIL DUCK AND FLAX.

There are three factories in the United States in operation for sail cloth and other articles from hemp and flax; six others have been suspended. The spindles in operation are capable of making 19,132 bolts or 765,280 yards of heavy duck.

The Phoenix Manufacturing Company, at Patterson, N. J. has a capital of 170,000 dollars, employs 265 hands;

viz. 109 men, at an average of 65 cents per day, 42 boys 8 to 14 years of age at 374 per week, 61 women 2 37 per week, and 53 girls 8 to 12 years of age at 1 37 per week; all pay their own board. The president receives a salary of 1500 dollars per annum, and is superintendant; a clerk at 400 dollars.

Raw material used and quantity manufactured.-Flax exclusively. During 1827 employed 960 spindles and 200 twisting spindles. Flax wrought 382,478 pounds, all imported. The crown flax from Poland, in largest proportion, remainder from Ireland and Russia. From the gross amount of flax above, there were 237,093 lbs. of clean or hatchled flax, and 145,385 lbs of tow; the first is used for the warp, the tow for filling.

Cost of raw material.

Irish flax costs about 13 cents per pound; Russian, called "12 head St. Petersburgh," which is the best quality, about 11 cents. Polish "crown," which is better than Russian, but not so good as Irish, about 12 cents; these are the New York prices. American flax sells at 8 cents, which Mr. Travers ascertained from an experiment in 1822, would not answer, owing to its being prepared by dew rotting.

Time of pulling Flax.

tory in Baltimore, which makes about the same quantity. The cloth costs rather less than that made from hemp or flax; the demand for it is better. 1100 bolts from Patterson were last year sold in Philadelphia, and 200 in N. York. Consumption of it must increase, and Mr. Travers thinks it will soon be exclusively used by all river craft and coasting vessels. If all the craft employed in the North River were to be refitted with sails, it would require 828,000 yds. It is preferred on board fore-andaft rigged vessels, because they can sail fromto of a point nearer to the wind than with hemp or flax sails, nor does it stretch or shrink so much as flax canvas, and it is better and cheaper than sails made of American dewrotted flax or hemp, and is more simple in manufacturing than cotton shirting.

Comparative weight and prices of Duck.

No. 1 to 8 weighs 20 to 374 lbs. prices per yard of cotton 31 to 41 cts. of flax 30 to 383, Russia 21, weighs 47 lbs. price about 56 cts. Ravens do. 16 lbs. do. 16cts. each bolt is supposed 40 yds. cotton and flax duck not starched; Russia and English are; cotton duck is 24 in. wide, flax 20, Russia 30.

Duty required.

An higher one on raw hemp would not benefit the In this country it is suffered to grow too long, with a grower nor increase the consumption, but should be laid view of raising seed, whilst the foreign is pulled when on the manufactured articles-proposed, on all sail duck the bloom falls, and before the bole is formed. Mr. Tra- 9 cts. per square yard, to increase cent annually for 4 vers considers the difference between American flax, years; on osnaburgs, ticklenburgs and furlaps 5 cts. per pulled when the blossom falls, and water rotted and that yard, and increase cent annually for 4 years. No which is pulled after it has seeded, and dew rotted, drawback to be allowed on less than 50 or 100 bolts, and would be fifty per cent. better to the farmer and manu-duty on sails made up on board vessels abroad. facturer; estimated from present prices. The one gains that much by the quantity and quality of the article, and the latter can afford to give that much more for it than it is now worth to him. Flax pulled at this time will weigh 33 1-3 per cent. more than when suffered to go

to seed.

Kinds of fabric manufactured.

Made last year 7,010 bolts or pieces of 40 yds. each, viz. about 5800 of canvass, 1000 of hammock cloth and 210 of bagging. The cotton bagging is made of the most inferior of the tow. The canvass is 20 inches wide, hammock cloth about 44 in. and the bagging 42 in. Cost of manufacturing a bolt of Duck, exclusive of raw material.

Of one kind of duck made by Mr. Travers, each bolt requires 65 pounds of flax, the cost of manufacturing from the flax and preparing for markets this bolt will be on an average $5 05; the value of the flax at 13 cents, $8 45, and the asking price for it is $15 50; but sales difficult at this price. Nothing included for commissions, interest, &c.

Market.

Principal market furnished by contracts with Navy Department; made some sales in N. Y. Boston and Philadelphia, also in N. Orleans in 1826; sold in New York $12,036 96.

Difference between use of Flax and Hemp in Duck. Hemp costs as much as flax, but does not make so durable an article, and the waste is 25 per cent. greater than from flax; cannot weave hemp without starching or sizing, which causes the cloth to mildew more rapidly; flax duck is not starched or sized at all. There is the same difference between dew-rotted and water-rotted hemp, as between flax cured in that way; it exists not in strength but in the durability of the article; these from dew-rotted hemp certainly decompose, when exposed to weather, much sooner than those made from waterrotted hemp or flax.

Sail Cloth made from Cotton.

There are about 1500 bolts of sail cloth manufactured annually in Patterson, from cotton. There is also a fac

Miscellaneous.

Coarse goods cannot be manufactured from flax to any profit under present duties on foreign fabrics. and worn sails, and supply themselves in foreign ports,

It is frequently the case that vessels clear out with old

to avoid the duty.

Samples of American duck have been sent to foreign countries, and been imitated in Russia and England; the Russian and English imitations are starched.

By a comparison made by Capt. Porter, and a certificate from Com. Rogers, it appears that the American canvass is more durable than the imported.

If the American flax were pulled at a proper season and water-rotted, there would now be a demand, if all the factories were in operation, for 950,000 lbs. flax and 5000 tons of hemp at 50 per cent. better price than is now paid for dew-rotted American.

The largest flax Mr. Travers ever saw was raised on rice lands in S,Carolina, a sample was sent to him 5 feet 11 inches in the stock.

Spirits from Grain.

The distillation of whiskey is considered very important to the agriculturist, as finding him a market for his grain; it converts it into less bulk and diminishes cost of transportation. The price in Ohio 16 to 20 cts. The price of grain regulates the price of whiskey.

The western states are supposed capable of supplying the United States. They grow corn for distillation into whiskey.

The quantity distilled is believed to be increasing.Average product of one bushel of corn is two gallons of whiskey.

A farmer receives as his share of whiskey half the product, which is usually one gallon per bushel. One half corn and one half rye produces more whiskey than corn or rye alone.

Hon. N. Garrow distilled in last 12 months 80,000 gals. and expects to make the same this year.

The opinion is that the diminution in the price of whiskey does not increase the consumption of it. Spirits from Molasses.

One gallon of good molasses will produce a gallon of

Published by order of the Acting Committee of the Philadelphia Society for Alleviating the Miseries of Public

Prisons.

NEWSPAPERS

Published in Pennsylvania prior to the Revolution.
Extracted from Thomas' History of Printing, 1810.

PHILADELPHIA.

JAMES J. BARCLAY, Secretary.

ladelphia: Printed by Andrew Bradford, and Sold by him and John Copson." May 25, 1721,* Copson's name was omitted in the imprint, which was altered thus"Philadelphia: Printed and Sold by Andrew Bradford, at the BIBLE in Second Street; and also by William Bradford in New York, where Advertisements are taken Fifty years ago there were only three newspapers pub- in." William Bradford's name as a vender of the Merlished in this city, viz. two in English, and one in the cury in New York was omitted in December, 1725. In German language. In 1762, two English and two Ger- January, 1730, an addition was made to the imprint, viz. man papers existed, one of the latter was afterward dis-"Price 10 s. per Annum. All sorts of Printing Work continued. and from that time until the year 1773, only three papers, two English and one German, were printed at Philadelphia.

The first newspaper in Pennsylvania was entitled
No. 1.

The AMERICAN
Weekly Mercury.

TUESDAY, December 22, 1719,

done cheap, and old Books neatly bound." In 1738, it was printed in "Front-Street," to which he transferred his sign of the Bible.

The Mercury occasionally appeared on a whole sheet of pot, from types of various sizes, as small pica, pica, and English. It was published weekly, generally on Tuesday, but the day of publication was varied. In January, 1742-3, the day of the week is omitted; and it is

Copson at this time opened the first insurance office

It was printed on a half sheet of pot. Imprint-"Phi- in Philadelphia.

dated from January 18, to January 27; after this time it was conducted with more stability.

In No. 22, two cuts, coarsely engraven, were introduced, one on the right, the other on the left of the title; the one on the left was a small figure of Mercury, bearing his caduceus; he is represented walking, with extended wings; the other is a postman riding full speed. The cuts were sometimes shifted, and Mercury and the postman exchanged places.

The Mercury of December 13, 1739, was 'Printed by Andrew and William Bradford,” and September 11, 1740, it had a new head, with three figures, well executed; on the left was Mercury; in the centre a town, intended, as I suppose, to represent Philadelphia; and, on the right, the postman on horseback; the whole formed a parallelogram, and extended across the page from margin to margin. This partnership continued only eleven months, when the Mercury was again printed by Andrew Bradford alone. The typography of the Mercury was equal to that of Franklin's Gazette.

Meredith and Franklin separated in May 1732. Franklin continued the Gazette, but published it only once a week. In 1733, he printed it on a crown half sheet in quarto.-Imprint, "Philadelphia: Printed by B. Franklin, Post-Master, at the New Printing-Office near the Market. Price 10 s. a year. Where Advertisements are taken in, and Book-Binding is done reasonably in the best manner." In 1741, he enlarged the size to a demy, quarto half sheet, and added a cut of the Pennsylvania arms in the title. In 1745, he reverted to foolscap folio. In 1747 the Gazette was published “By B. Franklin Postmaster, and D. Hall;" it was enlarged to a whole sheet, crown, folio; and afterward, by a great increase of advertisements to a sheet, and often to a sheet and a half demy. On the 9th of May, 1754, the device of a snake, divided into parts, with the motto-"Join or die,” I believe, first appeared in this paper. It accompanied an account of the French and Indians having killed and scalped many of the inhabitants in the frontier counties of Virginia and Pennsylvania. The account was pub. Andrew Bradford died November 23, 1742; and the lished with this device, with a view to rouse the British next Mercury, dated December 2; appeared in mourn- colonies, and cause them to unite in effectual measures ing. The paper was suspended one week, on account for their defence and security, against the common eneof the death of Bradford; therefore the first paper "pub-my. The snake was divided into eight parts, to reprelished by the widow Bradford,"* contained an extra half sent, first, New England; second, New York; third, New sheet. The tokens of mourning were continued six Jersey; fourth, Pennsylvania; fifth, Maryland; sixth, Virweeks. ginia; seventh, North Carolina; and eighth, South Carolina. The account and the figures appeared in several other papers, and had a good effect.

The widow entered into partnership with Isaiah Warner, and the Mercury of March1, 1742 bears this imprint -"Printed by Isaiah Warner and Cornelia Bradford." Warner, in an introductory advertisement, informed the public that the paper would be conducted by him.

Cornelia Bradford resumed the publication, October 18, 1744, and carried it on in her own name till the end of 1746. It was, I believe, soon after discontinued. The Mercury was well printed, on a good type, during the whole time she had the management of it.

The Universal Instructor in all Arts and Sciences: And
Pennsylvania Gazette.

This was the second newspaper established in the province; it has been continued under the title of The Pennsylvania Gazette to the present time, and is now the oldest newspaper in the United States.

No. 1, was published December 24, 1728, by Samuel Keimer, on a small sheet, pot size, folio. In No. 2, the publisher adopted the style of the Quakers, and dated it | "The 2d of the 11th mo. 1728." The first and second pages of each sheet were generally occupied with extracts from Chamber's Dictionary; this practice was continued until the 25th of the 7th mo. 1729, in which the article Air concludes the extracts.

The Gazette was put into mourning October 31, 1765, on account of the stamp act, passed by the British parliament, which was to take effect the next day. From that time until the 21st of November following, the publication of it was suspended. In the interim, large handbills, as substitutes, were published, headed "Remarkable Occurrences."- -"No Stamped Paper to be had,” &c. When revived, it was published without an imprint until February 6, 1766; it then appeared with the name of David Hall only, who now became the proprietor and the printer of it. In May following, it was published by Hall and Sellers, who continued it until 1777; but, on the approach of the British army, the publishers retired from Philadelphia, and the publication was suspended while the British possessed the city. On the evacuation of Philadelphia, the Gazette was again revived, and published once a week until the death of Sellers in 1804. After this event, it was printed by William and David Hall, and is now published by Hall and Pierrie every Wednesday. Hall the present partner is grandson of David, and the son of William Hall.

The Pennsylvania Journal and the Weekly Advertiser.

This paper was first published on Tuesday, December 2, 1742. It was printed on a folscap sheet. The day of publication was changed to Wednesday. Imprint

West side of Second Street, between Market and Chesnut Streets." But soon after "at the Corner of Black Horse Alley. ;'

When the paper had been published nine months, the printer had not procured one hundred subscribers. Franklin, soon after he began business, formed the design of publishing a newspaper, but was prevented" Philadelphia: Printed by William Bradford, on the by the sudden appearance of this Gazette: he was greatly disappointed; and, as he observes, used his endeavours to bring it into contempt. He was successful, and the publisher, being obliged to relinquish it, for a trifling About the year 1766, the imprint was, "Philadelphia: consideration resigned it to Franklin. At this time Frank- Printed and sold by William and Thomas Bradford, at lin was in partnership with Hugh Meredith; they began the corner of Front and Market-Streets, where all perprinting this paper with No. 40, and published it a few sons may be supplied with this Paper at Ten Shillings a weeks on Mondays and Thursdays, on a whole or half year. And where Advertisements are taken in." In sheet pot, as occasion required. The price "ten shil- 1774, it had in the title a large cut, the device, an open lings per annum." The first part of the title they ex-volume, on which the word "JOURNAL" is very conspipunged, and called their paper "The Pennsylvania Ga-cuous; underneath the volume appears a ship under zette. Containing the freshest Advices Foreign and Domestick." The Gazette, under their management, gained reputation, but until Franklin obtained the appointment of postmaster, Bradford's Mercury had the largest circulation; after this event, the Gazette had a full proportion of subscribers and of advertising custom, and it became very profitable.

* Andrew Bradford's widow, Cornelia,

sail, enclosed in an ornamented border; the volume is supported by two large figures; the one on the right represents Fame, that on the left one of the aborigines properly equipped. This device remained as long as the Journal was published, excepting from July 1774 to October 1775, during which time the device of the divided snake, with the motto-UNITE OR DIE" was substituted in its room.

This paper was devoted to the cause of the country;

1828.]

NEWSPAPERS.

173

but it was suspended during the period that the British The Pennsylvania Ledger; or, The Virginia, Maryland army was in possession of Philadelphia.

William Bradford died in 1791; the Journal was continued by the surviving partner subsequent to 1800; it was finally discontinued, and the True American, a daily paper, was published in its stead.

The Pennsylvania Chronicle, and Universal Advertiser. Containing the freshest Advices both Foreign and Domestick; with a Variety of other matters, useful, instructive and entertaining.

Pennsylvania, and New Jersey Weekly Advertiser.

This Ledger was first published January 28, 1775. It had a cut of the king's arms in the title. It was printed on a demy sheet, folio, with new types: the workmanship was neat and correct, and it appeared on Saturdays. Imprint "Philadelphia: Printed by James Humphreys, Jun. in Front-Street, at the Corner of Blackhorse Alley;-where Subscriptions are taken in for this Paper at Ten Shillings per Year."

The publisher announced his intention to conduct his paper with political impartiality; and, perhaps, in times more tranquil than those in which it appeared, he might

"Rara Temporum Felicitas, ubi sentire quæ velis, et quæ have succeeded in his plan. He had, as has been stated, sentias dicere licet!"-"Tacitus.

In the middle of the title was placed a handsome cut of the king's arms.

taken the oath of allegiance to the king of England; he pleaded the obligations of his oath, and refused to bear arms against the British government; in consequence of which he was deemed a tory, and his paper denounced as being under corrupt influence, The impartiality of the Ledger did not comport with the temper of the times; and, in November, 1776, Humphreys was obliged to discontinue it, and leave the city.

pos

of Philadelphia, in September, 1777, Humphreys reA few weeks before the British troops took possession turned, remained in the city whilst it was in their session, and renewed the publication of the Ledger; but, when the royal army evacuated the place, it was again discontinued, and never afterward revived. Whilst the British remained in Philadelphia, the Ledger was published twice a week, on Wednesday and Saturday. The last number was published May 23, 1778, and the British army quitted the city about the middle of the following month.

The Pennsylvania Evening Post.

The Chronicle was published weekly, on Monday.The first number appeared January 6, 1767, well printed from a new bourgeois type, on a large medium sheet, folio. Imprint "Philadelphia: Printed by William Goddard, at the New Printing Office, in Market-Street, near the Post-Office. Price Ten Shilling per Annum." This was the fourth newspaper in the English language established at Philadelphia, and the first with four columns to a page, printed in the colonies. The second and third years, the Chronicle was printed in quarto, and the fourth year again in folio, but on a smaller sheet. It was ably edited; in all respects well executed; and it soon gained an extensive circulation. Joseph Galloway a celebrated character at the commencement of the American revolution, and a delegate to the continental congress from Pennsylvania, before the declaration of independence, and Thomas Wharton, a wealthy merchant, but neither of them in the whig interest, were silent partners with Goddard. The Chronicle was established Was first published January 24, 1775, by Benjamín under their influence, and subjected to their control, Towne. It was well printed on half a sheet of crownuntil 1770. Benjamin Towne, afterward printer of the paper, in quarto, and published three times in a week, Pennsylvania Evening-Post, was also, for a short time, a viz. on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday evenings; partner in the Chronicle establishment; he was intro-"price two pennies each paper, or three Shillings the duced to this concern by Galloway and Wharton, who quarter." This was the third evening paper which sold him their right in it. In 1770, Goddari separated made its appearance in the colonies; the first was The from his partners, and the politics of the Chronicle be- Boston Evening Post, and the second The New York The reverend Dr. Witherspoon, memcame more decided in favour of the country. A portion Evening Post. of it was, however, for a long time, devoted by Goddard ber of Congress, and some other distinguished characters to the management of a literary warfare which took of that day, it has been said, furnished the Evening Post place between him and his late partners. occasionally with intelligence and essays. Although the printer of this paper had been the agent of Galloway and Wharton, he was on the side of the country until the British army entered the city in 1777. He remained in Philadelphia after this event, and continued the Evening Post under the auspices of the British general until the city was evacuated. Towne was proscribed by a law of the state of Pennsylvania; he did not, however, leave Philadelphia, but again changed his ground; and, without molestation continued his paper until 1782, about which time the publication of it terminated.

The Chronicle was published until February, 1773. It was then discontinued, and the publisher of it removed

to Baltimore.

The Pennsylvania Packet, or the General Advertiser.

The Packet was first issued from the press in November, 1771. It was well printed on a sheet of demy, by John Dunlap, in Market street, Philadelphia- The day of publication was Monday. A well executed cut of a ship divided the title.

From September 1777, to July 1778, when the British army was in possession of Philadelphia, the Packet was printed at Lancaster. On the return of the propritor to this city, it was published twice a week. For some time it was printed three times a week; but it was again reduced to twice a week in 1780. In 1783, Dunlap, for a very valuable consideration, sold this establishment to D. C.Claypoole, who had previously been a partner. Claypoole again printed the Packet three times a week; and, about 1784, he published it daily. This was the first daily paper printed in the United States. Several years elapsed after Claypoole became the proprietor of the Packet, before the city was crowded with newspapers which gained permanent establishments. He soon acquired a competence, sold his right in the Packet to Zachariah Poulson, and retired from business. Poulson continues the publication of this paper.

The Mercury first came before the public in April 1775; and was published weekly, on Friday, printed on a demy sheet, folio, with types said to be manufactured in the country. A large cut decorated the title; Britain and America were represented by two figures, facing each other, and in the act of shaking hands; underneath the figures was this motto-"Affection and Interest dictate the Union." Imprint "Philadelphia; Printed by Story and Humphreys, in Norris's alley, near Front str. where Subscriptions, (at Ten Shillings per Annum) Advertisements, Articles and Letters of Intelligence, &c. are gratefully received."

The Mercury was short lived. The printing house whence it was issued, with all the printing materials therein contained, were destroyed by fire in December