161 



ward, except at Portsmouth. Mr. Hall's eastern subscribers 

 ■were supplied by a post-rider, who left the office on publication 

 mornings for the towns between here and Newburyport, deposit- 

 ing the papers on the way,* To obtain the most recent news 

 from Boston he incurred the expense of a special messenger 

 from that town, on the previous day, who brought the latest 

 papers. The news from New York Avas a week old, from Phil- 

 adelphia a fortnight, and from London two months. 



In 1772, Mr. Hall admitted his younger brother, Ebenezer, 

 into partnership with him. Their business connection continued 

 until the death of Ebenezer, in Cambridge, Eeb. 1776, aged 27. 



The Essex Gazette was published here nearly seven years, a 

 period which embraced the most important events that imime- 

 diately preceded the Revolution. All the great questions 

 which agitated the colonies during that time were discussed in 

 its columns. The odious taxes imposed by the king- — the non- 

 importation agreements — 'the Boston Massacre — the Boston 

 Port Bill — the Tea troubles— the doings of the people in their 

 town meetings, and other primary assemblies — the popular 

 hatred of the officers of the crown, and other similar topics, 

 were laid before Mr. Hall's readers in the succession of their 

 occurrence. 



In October, 1770, an attempt was made to injure the 

 subscription of the paper, on account of an alleged partiality in 

 its columns towards the non-importation agreements. But the 

 effort was unsuccessful, and seems to have resulted in the 

 increase rather than diminution of the list. The number of 

 subscribers at this time was about seven hundred. 



As indicative of the spirit of the paper, we may quote an 

 article which appeared March 6, 1771. This was the anniver- 

 sary of the Massacre in State street, Boston. The columns on 

 this occasion were draped in black. On the first page was a 



* Among the most active distributors of Mr. Hall's print was Thomas 

 Diman. This person's name is often mentioned by our oldest citizens 

 when the topic of ancient carriers is introduced. He set out every 

 Tuesday, at eight o'clock, for the tovens on the Eastern route as far as 

 Newburyport, dispensing his news to eager inquirers all along his way. 

 They looked upon him as an important personage in the service of 

 gratifying their curiosity. His employment wore oflP the corners of 

 his self-difiBdence, and rendered him not at all bashful among " the head 

 men," to whose pleasure he so much contributed. Felt's Annals. 



ESSEX INST. PROCEED. 21. 



