170 



continued until tlie very close of his life, the last Summary ap- 

 pearing in the Register published on the very day of his death, 

 the last day of the year 1819. These contributions from Dr. 

 Bentley's industrious pen were thus constantly furnished with- 

 out ever a dollar being received by him as compensation. He 

 labored Avithout the expectation or desire of reward. 



The Register, as well as the Gazette, after the dissolution of 

 the old parties, joined the ranks of the modern whig party, and 

 gave it cordial and valuable aid. During the last canvass for 

 Go.ernor, it favored the election of Rockwell, the republican 

 candidate. 



9. The Weekly Visitant. In 1S06, daring the rage of 

 party politics, a periodical was commenced, by Haven Pool, of 

 a purely literary character, though not of great pretensions. 

 It was an octavo, entitled " The Weekly Visitant," published 

 on Saturday evening " directly west of the Tower of Dr. 

 Prince's Church." Price $2 per year. It seems to have 

 been designed to afford its patrons more agreeable reading than 

 was furnished in the political papers, an idea which was ex- 

 pressed in the couplet adopted as a motto : 



" Ours are the plans of fair delightful peace, 

 Unwarped by party rage, to live like brothers." 



10. The Friend. The Visitant had a successor, the 

 next year, in "The Friend," started by Mr, Pool, in connec- 

 tion with Stephen C. Blyth, as editor, Jan. 3, 1807. It was 

 published weekly, on Saturday evening, of the common news- 

 paper form, at $2 per year. It was announced as a " new and 

 neutral paper," and Avas therefore spoken of as "a scheme 

 7iovel in its design;" nevertheless it was hoped that by avoiding 

 insipidity it might be made interesting. Like its predecessor, 

 this paper indicated a desire for peace in the community by se- 

 lecting a peaceful motto, from Ecclesiasticus: " Sweet language 

 will multiply friends ; and a fair speaking tongue will increase 

 kind greetings." The Friend lasted about six months, until 

 July 18, and was then merged in the Register, with which the 

 publisher and editor also formed a connection. Mr. Blyth had 

 changed his name to Blydon, during the year, by consent of 

 the General Court. He was a native of Salem, and taught 

 school here. He afterwards removed to Canada, and is believed 

 to have died there. 



11. 12, 13. Humorous Publications. In 1807 and 



