Political Journals. 251 



first in Nexv-Hampshire, by Daniel Fowle, in 

 1756. The periods at which Gazettes were first 

 introduced into the other States are not certainly 

 known. In 1771 they had increased to the num- 

 ber of twenty-five ; and in 1801, more than one 

 hundred and eighty different newspapers were 

 printed in different parts of the United States/' 



It is worthy of remark that newspapers have 

 almost entirely changed their form and character 

 within the period under review. For a long 

 time after they were first adopted as a medium 

 of communication to the public, they were con- 

 fined, in general, to the mere statement of facts. 

 But they have gradually assumed an office more 

 extensive, and risen to a more important station 

 in society. They have become the vehicles of dis- 

 cussion in which the principles of government, the 

 interests of nations, the spirit and tendency of pub- 

 lic measures, and the public and private characters 

 of individuals are all arraigned, tried, and decided. 

 Instead, therefore, of being considered now, as 

 they once were, of small moment in society, they 

 have become immense moral and political engines, 

 closely connected with the welfare of the state, 

 and deeply involving both its peace and prosperity. 



m Of these about fifteen are daily papers ; and supposing looo copies of 

 «ach to be printed, the whole number of copies annually distributed, mak- 

 ing due allowance for Sundays, &c. will be about 4,590,000. The num- 

 ber printed three times a week is about nine. Of these, supposing 800 

 copies to be on an average stricken off, the amount annually distributed 

 will be 1,080,000. About twenty-five are printed twice a week. Of these, 

 allowing 800 copies each to be the common number sent abroad, the num- 

 ber annually circulated will be 2,000,000. Finally, about one hundred and 

 thirty newspapers are printed -weekly ; and, allowing the number of each 

 published to be 800, the amount of this class annually edited will be 

 5,408,000. So that the whole number of newspapers annually circulated 

 in the United States may be estimated at thirteen millions and seventy-eight 

 thousand. For the sake of being rather below than above the mark, say 

 tzvelve millions. It will be seen, by comparing this with a preceding note, 

 that, while the population of the United States is not more than one-half 

 of that of Great-Britain, the number of newspapers circulated in the for- 

 mer country may be estimated at more than two-thirds of the number pub- 

 lished in the latter. 



