24 INTRODUCTION. 
Rivington, in 1773, commenced his newspaper career with a large and handsome 
sheet bearing the comprehersive title of “ Rivington’s New-York Gazeteer, or the 
Connecticut, New-Jersey, Hudson’s River and Quebec Weekly Advertiser ;” and 
in January, 1776, the publication of the New-York Packet and American Adver- 
tiser was begun by Samuel Loudon. 
At the advent of the revolution, therefore, there were only four newspapers in 
existence in the colony, to wit, Gaine’s Mercury, Holt’s Journal and Advertiser, 
Rivington’s Gazeteer, and Loudon’s Packet; and as these reflect the spirit of that 
epoch, and are characteristic of the phases of the mighty struggle, a few facts in 
relation to them may not be thought devoid of interest. Gaine, who was a native 
of Ireland, continued to print and sell books in Hanover square until his death 
in 1807, a period of nearly sixty years. Exact, punctual and industrious, he ac- 
quired a large estate, and transmitted a reputation for personal honesty, thrift and 
tact, not often disturbed by excessive aspirations of patriotism. Approaching the 
revolution, he was ostensibly neutral; but with a desire to keep the strongest side, 
he alternately printed for the people and for the loyal authorities, as each seemed 
to preponderate. Although he removed with his press to New-Jersey on the ap- 
proach of the British army, he returned when they had gained possession of the 
city; and emboldened by their successes, pursued the natural impulses of his 
mind, and gave to the royal cause the best efforts of his pen and press. His 
request to be allowed, to remain in the city after its evacuation by the British 
army was granted; but his traits of character were happily hit off in a poem 
which appeared on the Ist of January, 1783, professing to be the humble petition 
of Gaine to remain in the city, in which his early profession and attachment to 
the cause of the country, his subsequent adhesion to the royal cause, and his final 
appeal were humorously and satirically described. It concluded, 
‘‘ As matters have gone, it was plainly a blunder, 
But then I expected the whigs must knock under, 
And I always adhere to the sword that is longest, 
And stick to the party that’s like to be strongest.” 
The Mercury, of course, did not survive the revolution. 
