194 HIS SATIRE UPON CHURCH POLITICS. Irish for winking when they shoot; for never marksman took such aim as this: 'Tis such a Tale of a Tub, that the very Irish themselves must of necessity laugh at it; for what could be of more service to the Popish interest in that kingdom, than to see the Protestants thus divided, and persecuting each other?” Note (A) referred to in page 177. The following lines by Mr. Wordsworth, upon the Persecution of the Scottish Covenanters," are so beautiful in themselves, and so appropriate to the foregoing subject, that the writer cannot deny himself the pleasure of filling up this vacant space by their insertion. "When Alpine vales threw forth a suppliant cry, The majesty of England interposed And the sword stopped; the bleeding wounds were closed; And faith preserved her ancient purity. How little boots that precedent of good, Scorned or forgotten, Thou can'st testify, For England's shame, O sister realm! from wood, Mountain, and moor, and crowded street, where lie Slain by compatriot-Protestants that draw Their warrant. Bodies fall by wild sword-law; * Ecclesiastical Sketches. Part iii. No. 6. CHAPTER X. Publication of the Review.-Origin of Newspapers.-State of the Periodical Press in the Reign of Charles II.—And after the Revolution.-Leading Papers in the reign of Queen Anne.-Politics of De Foe.-Nature of the Review.-Dr. Drake's Character of it.—Matters embraced in it.-General Neglect of Education.-Tavern Wits.-Johnson's Estimate of Periodical Writers.-Merits of the Review.-Account of its publication.-The Author's Statement of its Object.-Specimens of its Execution.-Power and Resources of France.-Rise of the French Greatness.-Despotic Character of the Old Monarchy.-Advantages and Disadvantages of Arbitrary Power.—Anecdote of Archbishop Cranmer.-De Foe vindicates himself against the News-writers.-His Remarks upon Duelling.-Proposes the Establishment of a Court of Honour.-Curious Record of Ancient Manners.-De Foe's Application of his Argument.-His Speculations upon Trade.-Is against the Prohibitory System.-Institution of the Scandal Club.-Subjects brought under its Notice.-De Foe's Precursors in this Department.-He vindicates the Design.-Threatened for his Freedoms.-Explanatory Defence.-Answer to Reproaches.-He publishes a Monthly Supplement.-Illustrations of this part of his Work.- His disinterested Character.-Discouragement of the Undertaking.-Proposal for continuing it.-Title and Preface to the First Volume. 1704. THE foregoing pages sufficiently attest that the monotony and solitariness of a prison had but little influence in cramping the energies, or damping the ardour of De Foe; who had embarked in a cause he was well able to defend, and which no temptation could induce him to desert. Undaunted by persecution for imaginary crimes, which others were allowed to commit with impunity; and undismayed by 196 ORIGIN OF NEWSPAPERS. the terrors that surrounded him, his active mind remained unfettered, and like a watchful centinel, he took timely cognizance of the events of the day. But whilst he was providing ways and means for the cessation of national discord, it was necessary that he should not be inattentive to his own circumstances, which became absolutely ruined by his imprisonment. It was probably with a view to retrieve his finances, that he now projected the REVIEW, a periodical paper that he continued several years, but during a portion of the time, with little or no pecuniary advantage. The origin of periodical literature in this country is to be traced to the age of Elizabeth. England being threatened with a formidable invasion from Spain, the wise and prudent Burleigh projected "The English Mercurie," printed in the year 1588, with the design of conveying correct information to the people, and to relieve them from the danger of false reports, during the continuance of the boasted Spanish Armada in the English channel. They were all extraordinary gazettes, published from time to time, as that profound statesman judged needful, and less frequently as the danger abated. The appetite for news thus excited was not suffered to rest long without a further supply. Nathaniel Butter established the first weekly paper in August, 1622, entitled "The Certain Newes of this Present Week," and within a few years other journals were started; but they did not become numerous until the time of the civil wars. During that season of contention, each party had its Diurnals, its Mercuries, and its Intelligencers, which arose into being as fast as the events which occasioned them. The great newswriter of that period, was Marchmont Needham, of whose history and writings a large account is given by Anthony Wood. At the Restoration, he was discharged by the council of state from his post of public news-writer, Giles Dury and Henry Muddiman being appointed in his room. They ORIGIN OF NEWSPAPERS. 197 were authorised to publish their papers on Mondays and Thursdays, under the title of "The Parliamentary Intelligencer," and "Mercurius Publicus." In August, 1663, the noted Roger L'Estrange obtained the appointment of sole patentee for the publication of intelligence, under the designation of "Surveyor of the Imprimery and Printing Presses;" and he was at the same time constituted one of the licencers of the press. By virtue of his newly created office, he published two papers, entitled "The Intelligencer," and "The Newes," which appeared Mondays and Thursdays, until the beginning of January, 1665-6, when they were superseded by "The London Gazette," which became the property of Thomas Newcomb. From this time to the Revolution, a variety of newspapers made their appearance, both for and against the court. The most ingenious of its opponents was "The Weekly Packet of Advice from Rome; or, the Popish Courant ;" written by Henry Care, and continued for four years and a half, from December, 1678, to the 13th of July, 1683. A rival paper, written with much wit and humour, against Care, and other Whig writers, was." Heraclitus Ridens; or, a Discourse between Jest and Earnest; where many a true word is pleasantly spoken, in opposition to libellers against the government." The first number appeared February, 1681, and the last, August 22, 1682. Towards the end of Queen Anne's reign, when churchmen were desirous of rendering the Dissenters ridiculous, in order to crush them, this work was re-printed in two volumes, with a preface, full of misrepresentation and slander. The work itself contains some humorous songs and poems adapted to the loyalty of the times. Another contemporary paper, rendered notorious by its subserviency to the court, and the scurrility of its pages, was "The Observator in Dialogue. By Roger L'Estrange, Esq." It commenced April 13, 1681, and was continued until the 9th of March, 1687. Proper titles, prefaces, and 198 IMPROVEMENT IN PERIODICAL LITERATURE. indexes were then added to the work, which forms three volumes in folio. It is a curious record of the manners and illiberal spirit of the times. The events that followed the Revolution gave a new stimulus to inquiry, and multiplied the productions of the press; which also increased in value, and began to assume a more permanent form. Following the spirit of the age, Dunton projected "The Anthenian Gazette; or, Casuistical Mercury. Resolving all the most nice and curious Questions proposed by the Ingenious." The first number was published March 17, 1691, and the last the 8th of February, 1696, which closed the nineteenth volume. Before this time, the public journals were either restricted to temporary politics, or to the angry discussion of controverted subjects of an ecclesiastical nature, and of little benefit to the reader. Dunton has the merit of first giving them a literary turn; but his paper excluded politics, and the quaintness of the style rendered it uninviting to his readers (c). It was in the following reign that our periodical literature first acquired that polished style and intellectual vigour, which had so decided an influence in improving the taste and manners of the age. Upon this account, the reign of Queen Anne has been sometimes called the Augustan age; and it certainly abounded in men of genius and refined taste, in every department of learning. The writings of Swift, Steele, and Addison, who adorned that period, were long considered as the standards of good style; and although not the inventors of essay-writing, contributed to throw a charm over it, such as it had never before attained. Amongst their precursors in this line, there can be no question that (c) Those who are desirous of becoming acquainted with the origin and progress of our periodical literature, may consult Mr. Chalmers's Life of Ruddiman, a very curious and elaborate work; also the fourth volume of Mr. Nichols's Literary Anecdotes, one of the most valuable contributions to the literature of our day. |