British troops took possession of Philadelphia, he was entrusted by the Governor with the command of the city, and the care of removing the stores. Having performed this service, he left the city as the enemy was entering it, and went to Fort Mifflin, where he remained till that fortress was evacuated. From that time, he remained at Trenton, till the British army left Philadelphia. He then returned to the city, and re-opened his printing-office, and resumed the publication of his paper, which had been suspended while the city was in the possession of the enemy. He returned from the hazards of public service with a broken constitution and depreciated property. A few years after he had an attack of paralysis, which ultimately proved fatal. Bradford complied, literally, with a resolve of the early Revolutionists, "to risk his life and fortune for the preservation of the liberties of his country." After the peace was established, he consoled himself under his misfortunes; and in his solitary hours, reflected with pleasure, that he had done all in his power to secure, for his country, a name among independent nations; and he frequently said to his children, "though I bequeath you no estate, I leave you in the enjoyment of liberty."* * Thomas's History of Printing, vol. ii. pp. 50, 51. THE ESSEX JOURNAL. A PAPER entitled "The Essex Journal, and Merrimack Packet; Or the Massachusetts and New-Hampshire General Advertiser," was published in Newburyport. "It was issued from the press, December 4, 1773, by Isaiah Thomas, printed on a crown sheet folio, equal in size to most of the papers then published in Boston. At first its day of publication was Saturday, afterward Wednesday. Two cuts were in the title; one, the left, representing the arms of the Province, that on the right, a ship under sail. Imprint, Newbury-Port: Printed by Isaiah Thomas and Henry Walter Tinges, in Kingstreet, opposite the Rev. Mr. Parsons's Meeting-house,' &c. Thomas was the proprietor of the Journal; he lived in Boston, and there published the Massachusetts Spy. Tinges, as a partner in the Journal, managed the concerns of it. Before the expiration of a year, Thomas sold his right in the paper to Ezra Lunt; and, about two years after, Lunt sold to John Mycall. Tinges was a partner to both; but to the latter only for about six months, when the partnership was dissolved, and Mycall became the sole publisher of the Essex Journal, the publication of which he continued many years.' Thus far the history of this paper is given by Mr. Thomas, and nothing can be added, except a few speci mens of the composition of its editors and their correspondents. The first article in the first number is an address to the Public, signed Isaiah Thomas, stating, that, — "Many respectable Gentlemen, Friends to LITERature, having expressed their earnest desire that a PRINTING-OFFICE might be established in this populous Town, the Inhabitants in general being sensible of the great Want thereof, and the Patronage and Assistance they have kindly promised to give, has encouraged me to procure the necessary Apparatus for carrying on the PRINTING BUSINESS, and OPENING here; and animates me to hope that every PUBLIC SPIRITED GENTLEMAN, in this and the Places adjacent, will promote so USEFUL an Undertaking." This is followed by the conditions on which the paper was proposed to be published, and more than two columns of remarks on "the great utility of a PrintingPress," and the circulation of newspapers; and an exposition of what the publishers considered to be their duty, and the principles by which they intended to govern their conduct. They promised, when political disputes ran high, readers might depend on hearing both sides of the question, "with the greatest impartiality." In the second number they returned their "sincere thanks to those gentlemen and ladies, who, by their encouragement, had so far assisted them, that Number II. of the Essex Journal, makes its appearance," and, in the form, customary at that day, solicited further aid. The first original articles are a couple of communications, ironically describing the advantages of patronizing "the much injured Lady TEA," about whom the world made such a bustle. These articles produced others, but none of them had a superabundance of wit or humor, though some of them discovered a spice of ill-nature in the writers. The following verses, which have been frequently published, — appear in the Journal of March 16, 1774, as original: - A PROPER SUBJECT OF MEDITATION TO SMOKERS OF TOBACCO. In Two Parts. FIRST. This Indian weed, now withered quite, Though green at noon, cut down at night, All flesh is hay: Thus think and smoke Tobacco. The Pipe, so lily like and weak, Gone with a touch; Thus think and smoke Tobacco. And when the smoke ascends on high, Of worldly stuff Gone with a puff; Thus think and smoke Tobacco. And when the Pipe grows foul within It does require; Thus think and smoke Tobacco. PART II. Was this small plant for thee cut down ; For nobler ends: Thus think and smoke Tobacco. Doth juice medicinal proceed From such a naughty foreign weed? Then what's the power Of Jesse's flower? Thus think and smoke Tobacco. The communication, that follows, is an exponent of opinions that were prevalent a century ago in New-England. Some parts of the censure may pass for sound doctrine at this time, or at all times; but there are some among us, who will hardly subscribe to the whole of it, especially those who repudiate the writer's notion, that "submission to the male sex is an indispensable part of the female character": MESSRS. PRINTERS, There are several vices, to which the female world are, (I wish I could not with justice say) generally prone; if you will let them know what they are, you will oblige, &c. 1. Vanity. This vice is, if possible, more absurd in woman kind than in the other sex. Men have bodily strength, authority, learning, and such like pretences for puffing themselves up with pride. But woman's only peculiar boast is beauty. For virtue and good sense are never the subjects of vanity. There is no endowment of less consequence than elegance of form and outside. A mass of flesh and blood, humors and impurities, covered over with a well colored skin, is the definition of beauty. Whether is this more properly a matter of vanity or mortification? Were it incomparably more excellent than it is, nothing can be more absurd than to be proud of what one has no manner of hand in getting, but is wholly the gift of Heaven. A woman |