Brown University - Liber Brunensis Yearbook (Providence, RI)

Page 30 text:

PROVIDENCE GAZETTE, 1762 The population of Rhode Island, according to the first censusin 1708 was 7,181 By 1730 the colony s population had erown to 17,935, The increase of ten thousand odd hardly seems like very much by today's standards. Nevertheless, the difference in numbers meant that a greater division of labor was possible. An organ of com- munication, no matter how crude, was desirable certainly under these circum- stances. The cessation of publication of one newspaper, however, was not quickly followed by the birth of another. The Rhode Islund Gazette had only seven months of life because of lack of support but Newport did not quickly find a substitute. In the early stages of growth, the printer and his press though valuable were not indis- pensable. James Franklin, Jr., carryving on his father's trade, founded the Newport Merc- ury in 1758. This newspaper, enjoyed a better fate than that of its predecessor. In fact, it continued as a weekly for 170 yearsinterrupted only by British occupation of Newport. It may be observed that the initial ventures in newspaper work came from New- port. Glaringly absent from the picture was Providence which did not get its own paper until 1762, In that year William Goddard set up the first printing press in Providence and published the Providence Gazette and Country Journal. He too suffered from lack of support. Goddard left Providence but was requested to return by his readers who desired that he should continue in his work. Goddard, unfortu- nately, was unsatisfied with his second attempt and left the Gazette in the hands of his mother, Mrs. Sarah Goddard who, in Goddard's words, has enjoyed to do all she can for supporting the printing business in Providence. Mrs. Goddard did relatively well, and in 1767 acquired a partner, Mr. John Carter. The Gazette had a long history. William Goddard, m his own efforts, founded the Constitutional Courant of New York, the Pennsylvania Chronicle and Universal Advertiser of Philadelphia, and the Maryland Journal and Baltimore Advertiser. The significant internal advancements, as exemplified by newspaper develop- ment, point to the fact that Newport had the jump on Providence. Not for many vears was there to be any real competition between the two. Newport had the wealth and the citizens who were interested in continued improvement. Usually they had the requisite capital to achieve their ends. As early as 1715 the General Assembly recognized the importance of Newport when it appropriated funds to- ward paving the streets. It was the first instance of street paving within the colony. The Redwood Library. Formed in New- port in 1735 and chartered in 1747. 26

Page 29 text:

HE press in Rhode Island grew out of the pioneering of a few who realized that the backbone of an efficient demo- cracy lay in the securing of a well-informed populace. The man who set up the first printing press in the colony was a refugee from the authoritarian control of Massachusetts. His editorial comments on public policies had been greeted with disfavor there and he was frequently a victim of prosecution. On September 29, 1732 James Franklin issued the Rhode Island Gazette at Newpore Printed and sold by James Franklin at his printing house under the Town School House, where Advertisments and Letters to the Author are taken in. R oot 731 i Bl AL, oy gyi ma$wiwmm4m4 mxm..ywwg..w s o, 22 g:wmmmmm bl ;;E PrinTING-OFFICE, PROVIDENCE, Augiefl 31, 1762, . Rhode Island Historical Society y William Goddard To tum Pusrick, vmfdQ the Colony of Rbsde-Ifand from jts firft Inftirution to chis prefent Time, has been 2 remarkable for mainraining the Spiric of true By Likerty, by why ir has X frequently provd a Refuge and dylom for Strangers, whoh fond off en all the 344 Privilezes and Advantages of their Mother Country, preferd this Colong befor: many 97 8 orhers for their friendy Xndulv:nce 10 Strangers of every Denomination of Chriftians thac chofe to feule amorig them ; by which judiciogs Conduct, they are become a fourithin People, and in which the Town of Providence being the tled Place in the Colany has no qnfnhl erable Share ; to the Inhabitants of which, Tina icular Manser addrefs myfelf, whe, at the Re el of many GUM' men, have, at a very confiderzble Expence, procur'd a complete AvTrmu ntof Printing ch T purpofe to carry on lhc inting Bufinefs ia tiis Town ; prc te to the Trouble and EWpence of the Undertaking: And as it is un iy r is mmach wanted in this Place, very confiderable Sums being annually ments for Pradng, to the Imp iment of this, cltabl gres it would be an Additon o its t Home, iy is not doubted bur every Well- an Undertakiflg, as far ai the Execution o And 1 take this Method to folicic che Favour of the from the fame geacrous Difpofition they have fhewn o young Be myfelf 1 fhall fird Encouragement anfweral IL wm ick, that as far as I am engaged in their Scervice I fhall ufe cwith Fidelity and Tncegrity ; and if by my Afduity and C ieir Tteem, by an impartal Condudt, T fhall think my Time well Ixaux into the Schemes of any Partyending cidher to religivus or policcal Con troverfy, f s.it mizlic prevent my acting wich the ftricigh Juftce i a As cvery Branch of ufeful Knowledge, bol rrh ous and civil Nature, is abumhr k i f Approbaton of i Puw Colony ; by Means of the Freedom of the Prefs; 1 hope 1L induce Gentlemen of Lumm xand I conenibuigea few af cheir leifure Hours in me public-fpirited B for the Cauft ying it in beautiful Colours, and painting Vide in all its Efferts LeneAcial to the lateft Poft ; by which Method rthey will foon m re i Printing Prefs: For 1 verily believe chere is ngt another Town in New Trade and Commerce, that remains vacant of fo neceffary and ufeful a G - tions give me great Reafon to hope, that not oy the Gentlemen of P the adjacenc I Towns, witl, with a kirnd and good-natur'd Reception, affift Tut Printen Grrtlemen and Ladice, on as poffible afrer my Affiirs are in fome Meafure fertled, and T am eftablith'd in my Rufinefs, urpofe to print.a Weel News-Paper, under the Title of the PROVIDENCE GAZETTE, TR JOURNAL, to be publifvd cvery e Morning, and o le, both Iorezn and Donflee; for which Purpofe, 1 have eftablifh'd a , and fhall receive not only the Zomisn Magazines and Prints, but every i the Continent Imerica, which can't fail of rende ring the Prozudence Gazetee. Peyformance of the Kind. The Prce will be oy Sevex Seiccines Lawful Mon per r equivalent in Currencs And altho! feveral judicious Men have done worthily toward 2 Defign, in a heighbouring Government, whofi: Performances have obcain'l a general Ap fs it muft be allowed chat fomething of thar Nature is very much wanted here nd various RBranches of Bufinefs are carried on, more efpegially that in a mercar Yope no one will im :n the Efteerm juitly due to others, or be guilty of Vanity, in - atter A public Appearance . that Manner, fo neceffary 4t this Junciure, when His Prospectus for the Gazette and wu zed in a jult and glorious War againft two of the molt perfidious Nuiions in g j nd 1 em perfuaded every A B s Tt il S romara ML Lt Country Journal s he Dekgn s caleulsted in 2 peculiar Manner for the Intercit of this Town ve Neighbiourhoods. 1t is intended the Paper fhall make ics firlt Appearance og 1 ventieth of Ofober, 1n Cale a fufficient Number of Subfcribers fhall offer, Sublcriptions 7 in by Hisry Pacer, Efg; Sasvel Cuace, Efg; Poftmafter, Benont Pearce, Lfig, Mr. Brs Wrst, Mr Kniour Dexter, Mr. Esenvezer Thompson, Mr Josern Lawaescr, and hy m Publick's Develed Hrmble Serzart, 2 William Godidard, as comple A Rhode Island Historical Society 25

Page 31 text:

George C. Mason General Prescott Headquarters in 1777, Newport 2 ; Georg C. Mason Whitehall, the residence of Bishop Berkeley in Middletown 27