CONTENTS—First Newspapers, 1457—Year 66—English Newspapers—In
America—In Canada—‘Gazette’—Founder—Papers in 1753—Quebec
‘Herald’—Montreal ‘Gazette’—‘Le Temps’—Quebec ‘Mercury’—Canadien
‘Courant’—‘Royal Gazette’—First in Newfoundland—‘U. C. Gazette’—
First Paper—Subscribers—Upper Canada ‘Guardian’—Wilcox—Mr. Thorpe—
Opposition—Libel—Elected to Parliament—York Jail—Leader—In 1812—
Deserted—York ‘Gazette’—Kingston ‘Gazette’—Only Paper—News sixty
years ago—In Midland District—Rev. Mr. Miles—Pioneer of
Journalism—His Birthplace—Learns the Printing Business—Mower—
Montreal ‘Gazette’—Kendall—Partnership—To Kingston in 1810—The
Printing Office—Kingston ‘Gazette’—Mr. Miles sells out—The concern
purchased—Mr. Miles asked to be Editor—Their kindness—Gratitude—
Second Volume—Extract from ‘Gazette’—The Price—Kingston
‘Chronicle’—Upper Canada ‘Herald’—‘Canadian Watchman’—Mr. Miles at
Prescott—Returns to Kingston—Enters the Ministry—Loyal Subject—In
1812—On Duty—Archdeacon Stuart—Col. Cartwright—Contributors to
‘Gazette’—Our Thanks—A Watch—Faithfulness—“A Good Chance”—
Subscribers at York—Kingston ‘Spectator’—‘Patriot’—‘Argus’—
‘Commercial Advertizer’—‘British Whig’—‘Chronicle’ and ‘News’—
First Daily in Upper Canada—Paper Boxes—Brockville ‘Recorder’—A
Reform paper—McLeod—Grenville ‘Gazette’—Prescott ‘Telegraph’—
‘Christian Guardian’—Reform Journals.
THE FIRST NEWSPAPERS IN THE WORLD.
The first newspaper published in the world, says Galignani, bears the
name of Neuremberg, 1457. But according to Tacitus, newspapers, under
the name of _diurna_, circulated among the Romans so early as the year
66. The first English newspaper was issued in 1622, and the first French
in 1631. The first in America was the _Newsletter_, published at Boston,
1704. It was discontinued in 1776. The first published in New York, was
by Wm. Bradford, in 1773. In 1775, there were but thirty-seven in the
British colonies. By 1801, there were in the United States 203, and in
1810, 358. The first newspaper in Canada was the Quebec _Gazette_, first
issued in 1776. Although now upwards of a hundred years old, it
continues to live an active and useful life. The founder of it, Mr.
Brown, brought his press from Philadelphia in 1763. By his heirs it was
sold to Mr. Nelson, who left the establishment by his will to his
brother, the late Hon. John Wilson, long the experienced and able editor
of the paper. There were, in 1763, not more than twenty newspapers in
the breadth and length of the then American colonies; and the Quebec
_Gazette_ is the oldest in the British North American Provinces. For
nearly thirty years it remained without a competitor; but about 1788 the
Quebec _Herald_ was started, which had but a brief existence. About the
same time, the old Montreal _Gazette_ was established by one Mesplet,
and was published in French; but was soon discontinued until 1794. About
the same date _Le Temps_ newspaper was published at Quebec, in French
and English, and was of short life. The Quebec _Mercury_, published in
English, by Thomas Cary, commenced its career in 1804, and the
_Canadien_ followed it in 1806; but was stopped by the seizure of the
press by the Government, in 1810. The _Canadien Courant_ was founded at
Montreal about 1808. The _Royal Gazette_ and _Newfoundland Advertiser_,
the first newspaper in Newfoundland, appeared in 1707. The _Upper Canada
Gazette_ or _American Oracle_, the first paper in Upper Canada, was
established by Governor Simcoe, in 1793. It was first published on the
18th April, by Gideon Tiffany. Naturally its circulation was limited, as
the population was sparse, and communication difficult. It was supported
mainly by Government. Rochefoucault says, in 1795 it was “not taken by a
single person in Kingston. But the Quebec _Gazette_ was by two.”
The second journal published in Upper Canada, was the _Upper Canada
Guardian_, in opposition to Government, at York, by Mr. Joseph Wilcox,
an Irishman, in 1807, whose history is not of the most satisfactory
nature. He had been a Sheriff in the Home District; but was displaced
for voting at an election for one Thorpe. Mr. Thorpe had been sent out
from England as one of the Justices of the King’s Bench. Notwithstanding
this position, he became a candidate for member of Parliament; but,
being opposed by the Government, he was defeated. Subsequently he was
recalled by the Secretary of State, at the request of Governor Gore.
Wilcox, having lost his office, commenced publishing the _Guardian_, and
was very bitter in his opposition to the Government. He was prosecuted
for libel, but was acquitted, and becoming popular, was elected to
Parliament. Having used language considered unbecoming or seditious, he
was arrested, and confined in York jail, a miserable log building, “in a
filthy cell fit for a pig.” Subsequently, he became the leader of the
opposition, and had a majority in the House; for a time becoming more
and more an object of Ministerial dislike. At the commencement of the
war of 1812, he gave up his paper, and shouldered his musket. He fought
at Queenston against the Americans; but afterward deserted, taking with
him a body of Canadian militia, and became a Colonel in the American
army. He was killed, finally, at Fort Erie, by a musket ball, when
planting a guard during the seige.
Mr. Miles remarks that “When he came to Kingston, in 1810, there was but
one paper published in York, by the Government, called the _York
Gazette_, printed by Cameron and Bennet; and one at Newark, by Joseph
Wilcox.” These were the only papers then printed in Upper Canada; but
the one at Newark was discontinued in 1812, and the other was destroyed
when York was taken by the Americans, in April, 1813. The Kingston
_Gazette_ was the only paper then printed in Upper Canada, till 1816,
when the Government _Gazette_ was again commenced. The Rev. Mr. Carroll
says of the _York Gazette_, the number “for November 13, 1801, now lies
before the writer, a coarse, flimsy, two-leaved paper, of octavo size;
department of news is pretty large, but “news much older than their
ale.” On this, November 13, they have, wonderful to say! New York dates
so late as October the 23rd; Charleston, of October the 1st;
Philadelphia and Boston, of October the 19th; and a greater exploit
still, Halifax dates of Oct. 19, &c.”
We are indebted to the Rev. Stephen Miles, of Camden East, for the facts
relating to the establishment of the first newspaper in the Midland
District, indeed the first between Montreal and York, at Kingston. Mr.
Miles is not only the sole pioneer of journalism in Upper Canada, now
living, but he is the faithful _parent of the fourth estate in the
province_, and probably the oldest journalist now living in America or
Europe. The history of such an one cannot but be interesting, while it
is especially appropriate to the work upon our hands. Mr. Miles,
although a native of Vermont, is of English and Welsh extraction. Born
October 19, 1789, he was brought up on the farm until 1805, when he was
placed as an apprentice to the printing business, at Windsor, Ver., in
the office of Nahum Mower. In the spring of 1807, Mr. Mower moved his
printing materials to Montreal, Lower Canada, to which place Mr. Miles
accompanied him. “At that time there was only one printing establishment
in Montreal, under the management of Mr. Edward Edwards, who was also
the Postmaster there; the paper printed was the _Montreal Gazette_, of
small demy-size, two columns on a page, one in French the other in
English. Mr. Mower commenced printing the _Canadian Courant_, in
Montreal, about the middle of May, 1807. Mr. Mower, says Mr. Miles,
giving me three months of my time, my apprenticeship expired on the 19th
July, 1810.” Not long after “I made arrangements in connection with an
excellent young man Charles Kendall, who had worked as a journeyman, to
go to Kingston, Upper Canada, and commence publishing a paper.”
Accordingly having purchased our material from Mr. Mower, we left
Montreal 1st September, 1810, in the old fashioned Canadian batteau (17
in number) and arrived at a wharf in Kingston just the west side of
where the barracks now are, on the morning of the 13th. We took an
excellent breakfast at a tavern opposite, and at once set about to
procure a suitable room for a printing office. Upon the 25th September,
the first number of the _Kingston Gazette_, was published under the
names of “Mower and Kendall,” Mr. Miles not being of age. At this time
there were five papers in Lower Canada. The following March, Mr. Miles
sold out his share to Mr. Kendall, who finished the first volume. At the
close of the year, Mr. Kendall wishing to retire, disposed of the office
and contents “to the late Hon. Richard Cartwright, the Hon. Allen
McLean, Thomas Markland, Esq., Lawrence Herchimer, Esq., Peter Smith,
Esq., and John Kerby, Esq.” These gentlemen saw the necessity of having
a public journal in Kingston, and became the proprietors. They
immediately wrote to secure the services of Mr. Miles, to conduct the
office, and even desired him to take it off their hands. Mr. Miles
promptly came “expecting that the proprietors would wish to be
publishers as well, and that I should attend only to the mechanical
part, but it was their unanimous wish that I should take the whole
concern off their hands, continue to print the paper, and do the best I
could with it.” Mr. Miles speaks feelingly of the kindness of these
gentlemen who would accept no other terms than that he should take
possession and pay them when convenient, “and by God’s blessing all were
promptly paid.” These kind friends, says Mr. Miles, “have all passed
into the spirit world, and the prayer of my heart is, that God may
greatly bless their posterity.” “After some unavoidable delay, the
second volume of the Gazette was commenced by me, and printed and
published in my name, till December 31, 1818.” Before proceeding with
Mr. Miles’ history, as a journalist, we will copy from the volumes which
he has kindly placed at our service, such items as are appropriate.
“KINGSTON, Tuesday, November 19, 1811.—The establishment of the Kingston
Gazette, being now in the possession of the subscriber, he takes the
earliest opportunity of re-commencing its publication, as he intends
that it shall be conducted in the same impartial manner as heretofore
practiced by his predecessors, he confidently expects and solicits the
patronage and support of its former patrons, and of the public in
general. He will not intrude upon the patience of his readers by making
a multiplicity of promises, but will merely observe that he asks the
patronage of the public no longer than he shall be deserving of it.
Former correspondents of the Gazette, and gentlemen of science
generally, are respectfully invited to favor us with their
communications.—(Signed)—S. Miles.
“Printed and published by Stephen Miles, a few doors east of Walker’s
hotel. Price fifteen shillings per annum, five shillings in advance,
five shillings in six months, and five shillings at the end of year.
Exclusive of postage.”
In the beginning of 1819, John Alexander Pringle, and John Macaulay,
Esquires, to whom Mr. Miles had sold his printing establishment,
commenced publishing the _Kingston Chronicle_, Mr. Miles having charge
of the mechanical part for nearly three years.
In February or March, 1819, the _Upper Canada Herald_, owned and edited
by Hugh C. Thompson, Esq., was first issued. In 1822 Mr. Miles took
charge of the work of printing of this Journal, and continued in charge
until the spring of 1828.
On the 15th of May, the same year, Mr. Miles commenced printing on his
own account the “_Kingston Gazette and Religious Advocate_,” in quarto
form, which he continued till August 6, 1830. Again, Mr. M. took charge
of printing for Ezra S. Ely, who commenced August 13, the _Canadian
Watchman_, and continued it for one year. In December 1831, Mr. Miles
moved to Prescott; and on the 3rd June, 1832, commenced printing the
first paper in that place, and continued till April 1833. In July he
disposed of his establishment and returned to Kingston, and engaged as
printer of the _Kingston Chronicle_, which was now published by
McFarlane & Co., with whom he remained till December, 1835. This ended
Mr. Miles’ career as a printer and publisher; and he then entered upon
the calling of a Wesleyan minister.
Mr. Miles although a native of the States was a truly loyal subject, and
proved himself such during the war of 1812. The Gazette of May 5, 1813,
says “our attendance at _military_ duty prevented the publishing of the
Gazette yesterday.” This was the time when Kingston was threatened by
the Americans, and every man turned out as a volunteer. Mr. Miles tells
of the occasion, that he saw, among those shouldering the musket in the
market place, the late Arch Deacon Stuart. Mr. Miles belonged to Captain
Markland’s company. “Col. Cartwright seeing him, called him and desired
him to go to his office and he would be sent for when wanted.” The
principal contributors to the Gazette were Col. Cartwright, who wrote a
good deal, sometimes over Falkiner, Barnabas Bidwell, Christopher
Hagerman, generally Poetry, while a student with McLean, Solomon John,
who kept a book store; and particularly Rev. Mr. Strachan, over
_Reckoner_.
We cannot leave Mr. Miles without expressing here our sincere thanks and
regard for the interest, trouble, and encouragement he has favored us
with, nor can we forgo recording the following. Says he, “the only watch
I ever owned I purchased in Montreal, on the 1st January 1810, price
$20. It has travelled with me in all my journeyings from that day to the
present time, and still keeps good time. It was made at Liverpool.” A
faithful man and a faithful watch; both for time, one for eternity.
About the year 1816 the _Gazette_ had the following, under the caption
of “_A good chance_:”
“A sober, honest, persevering man, would find it to his advantage to
undertake the circulation of the _Kingston Gazette_, weekly, on the
following route: say, to start from Kingston every Wednesday morning, go
through the village of Ernesttown, from thence to Adolphustown, and
cross either at Vanalstines or Baker’s Ferry, and so on through
Hallowell, &c., to the Carrying place; cross the River Trent, and return
to Kingston by the York post road. The advantages to be derived from an
undertaking of this kind, exclusive of the papers, we are persuaded
would be many; and any honest, persevering man, who could produce good
recommendations as to his sobriety, &c., and will give security for
punctual payment once a quarter, will make a good bargain by applying to
the publisher of the _Kingston Gazette_. There is not a doubt but that
four or five hundred papers might be distributed on this route to great
advantage.” We learn from another source, that at an early period there
was one Shubal Huff, who went around the Bay every fortnight, carrying
the _Kingston Gazette_ with other papers, pamphlets, &c., and also tea
and sugar.
The following indicates the character of the times when the _Gazette_
was established. It is a notice from the _Gazette_:
“Subscribers to the _Kingston Gazette_, in the neighbourhood of York,
will please apply at the store of Q. St. George, where their papers will
be delivered once a fortnight. Payments made to him in grain, &c., will
be acceptable. He will also receive subscriptions.” (Signed), Mower &
Kendall.
In addition to the papers already mentioned, there was the _Kingston
Spectator_, issued about 1830, and lasting three or four years. The
_Patriot_ was commenced in 1829, by T. Dalton. Subsequently there was
the _Argus_, _Commercial Advertiser_, and _Churchman_. The _British
Whig_ was started in 1832, by Dr. Barker, and is still published. _The
Chronicle and News_ began in 1830, is also still published. The _British
Whig_ was the first Daily published in Upper Canada.
For many years the subscribers to the _Gazette_ and other papers were
indebted to footmen who traveled through the more thickly settled parts
of the settlement, which were generally along the front. But after a
time there were scattered along in the second or more remote
concessions, subscribers to whom the footman could not go. These
individuals would often place boxes upon the path followed by the
carrier, into which could be dropped the paper, and letters as well.
These boxes were attached to a tree and made water-tight, and the owner
would go for his paper at his convenience.
One of the first newspapers in Upper Canada, east of Kingston, was the
_Recorder_. Says Adiel Sherwood, Esq., in a letter to the writer, it was
“the first and only paper of note, of early date in this district. It
was first got up in 1820 by one Beach, who continued but a short time
when he sold out to William Buel, Esq., and about 1848 Mr. Buel sold out
to the present proprietor and editor, D. Wylie, Esq. It was got up as
Reform paper, and has ever continued as such.”
The following is extracted from an American paper:
“In 1818, D. McLeod, a retired soldier,” who had fought at Badajoz, and
other places in the campaign under Wellington, and at Queenston, Upper
Canada, Chrysler’s Farm, Lundy’s Lane, and then under General Picton, at
Waterloo, “purchased a farm in Augusta, a few miles back of Prescott,
moved on it, and commenced the business of farming; not succeeding well
in his new avocation, he removed to Prescott and opened a classical
school, at which the late Preston King received his rudimentary Greek
lessons, and subsequently accepted the appointment of Clerk of the new
court of Commissioners, for the collection of debts. He purchased a
printing establishment and commenced the publication of a paper at
Prescott, called the _Grenville Gazette_, taking a decided stand against
the “Tory Compact” administration, and continued a zealous advocate of
reform until the insurrection broke out in December, 1837, when he was
forced to leave the country, when his press, type, and the various
paraphernalia of the printing office were seized by the Tories. A mob of
Tories visited his house, after he left the place, at midnight, to the
terror of his unprotected family, seized, and carried off his books,
letters, and other papers, and his elegant sword, as the trophies of
their midnight raid. He was chosen by the insurgents as their
major-general, and acted in that capacity during the continuance of the
insurrection. At this time large rewards were offered for his arrest on
each side of the line, on the Canadian side, for his rebellion against
that government; on the United States side for an alleged violation of
the Neutrality Laws,” in being supposed the leader of the party of men
who captured and burned the Canadian Steamer, “Sir Robert Peel,” Well’s
Island.
McLeod settled in Cleveland, Ohio, and is yet alive, being upwards of
eighty-four years of age. The Cleveland _Herald_, from which we learn
the above, records the celebration of “General D. McLeod’s fiftieth
anniversary of his marriage.”
The _Prescott Telegraph_, “The first number” said an exchange “published
by Messrs. Merrell & Miles, (1831) is now lying before us. From the
appearance of the first number, and the known ability of the
proprietors, we anticipate that the _Telegraph_ will be a valuable
acquisition to the best of newspapers in this Province, and also to the
principles of reform.”
The _Christian Guardian_ was established in the year 1829. Rev. E.
Ryerson being the Editor.
The following were so-called “Reform” papers: The _Colonial Advocate_,
by McKenzie, The _Canadian Watchman_, The _Brockville Recorder_, and The
_Hamilton Free Press_, &c.