The Wisconsin Historical Society recently purchased an important file
of the _New York Weekly Journal_, consisting of 136 numbers, ranging
from December 17, 1733 to July 11, 1737. Bound in the same volume with
these issues of the second newspaper printed in New York is an imprint
of excessive rarity--namely, the first edition of _A Brief Narrative
of the Case and Tryal of John Peter Zenger_, 1736. Probably only one
other copy--that in the New York Public Library--is extant. It is a
folio of forty pages, printed by Zenger himself, without a separate
title-page. At the head of the first page is this title: “A Brief
Narrative of the Case and Try/al of _John Peter Zenger_, Printer of
the/ _New York weekly Journal_.”/ The caption set between rows of
printer’s ornaments, and the colophon reads: “_New York_, Printed and
sold by _John Peter Zenger_. MDCCXXXVI.” There are two lines of errata
above the colophon. The most striking peculiarity of the edition is to
be found in the pagination, pages 15 to 40 being numbered 17 to 42.
James Alexander prepared the narrative for publication.
There are numerous editions of the _Trial_, including four published
in London in 1738. The present copy is in unusually fine condition and
the Wisconsin Historical Society is to be congratulated upon the
possession (acquired with little effort, it is whispered) of this
superlatively rare colonial imprint. It was picked up, so to speak, in
the East, almost at the threshold of several institutions that would
give much to place it upon their shelves. If put upon the market, it
is not unlikely that the pamphlet would realize several thousand
dollars. But, of course, no library ever parts with such a treasure.
Of the life of John Peter Zenger little is known. He was born in
Germany in 1697, but the name of his native place is not recorded. He
is said to have been one of a large company of Palatines who were sent
to America by Queen Anne in 1710. After serving an apprenticeship of
eight years to William Bradford, the printer, dating from October 26,
1711, Zenger went to Maryland. Returning to New York, he there married
Anna Catharina Maulin on September 11, 1722. This was his second
marriage, the date of the first being unknown. For a short time he was
Bradford’s partner. One book only is known to bear their joint
imprint. In 1726 he started business on his own account, and it is
interesting to note that he printed the first arithmetic issued in the
colony--_Vanema’s Arithmetica_, 1730.
The administration of William Cosby as governor of New York,
1732-1736, was marked by many arbitrary acts, which aroused deep
public indignation. “The oppressions,” writes Mr. Livingston
Rutherfurd in his useful book,[78] “culminated in the trial of John
Peter Zenger which was one of the most stirring incidents of colonial
days. Its results were of greater magnitude than any of the
participants could have imagined. It established the freedom of the
press in North America, it wrought an important change in the law of
libel, and marked the beginning of a new era in popular government.”
Nor is this an overstatement of the case; for the trial of this humble
printer constitutes an important episode in our colonial history.
The establishment of the _New York Weekly Journal_ came as the result
of a determination on the part of the popular leaders to show Governor
Cosby to the people of the colony in his true colors. Zenger, its
printer, was probably aided financially in the venture. The first
number was issued November 5, 1733--a folio of four pages. The chief
contributors were Lewis Morris, James Alexander, William Smith,
Cadwallader Colden, and Lewis Morris Jr. Apparently, Alexander was the
editor, for among his papers are many articles intended for
publication in the _Journal_. Zenger had been indifferently educated,
and his skill as a printer was not great. Moreover, he was very poor.
He appears to have entered upon the project for commercial
considerations only, and without any clear understanding of its
political significance or of where it might lead him.
The _Journal_ was the sensation of the hour; in fact, it was so
popular that of some numbers three editions were required to satisfy
the demand. Although it abounds in errors due to Zenger’s imperfect
knowledge of English, it is in every way superior to its competitor,
Bradford’s _Gazette_, the organ of the Governor. “The paper was sold
for three shillings per quarter, and advertisements cost three
shillings for the first insertion and one shilling for each insertion
thereafter.” It contained many articles of merit--and was extremely
outspoken!
With such an administration in power it is not surprising that all
this resulted in the arrest of Zenger on November 17, 1734, “for
printing and publishing several Seditious Libels dispersed throughout
his Journals or News Papers, entitled, _The New York Weekly Journal,
containing the freshest Advices, foreign and domestick_.” After many
vicissitudes, including nine months of imprisonment, Zenger was
defended by Andrew Hamilton, of Philadelphia, an eminent advocate
nearly eighty years old, and acquitted. There was much rejoicing among
the people, for the victory was indeed a notable one, full of meaning
for future generations. Gouverneur Morris declared that “the trial of
Zenger in 1735 was the germ of American freedom, the morning star of
that liberty which subsequently revolutionized America.”