Page:History of American Journalism.djvu/117

Rh known for his midnight ride, rendered a bill to The Boston Gazette for engraving "5 coffings for a massacre." The coffins, with their skulls and crossbones, did much to arouse the Sons of Liberty to action.

In all probability Hugh Gaine was the first newspaper pub- lisher to employ newsboys to deliver papers. The Mercury for September 14, 1761, contained an advertisement for a nice boy to deliver papers to city patrons; "he will not be employed for more than two Hours every Monday Morning." The Mercury again asked on August 24, 1772, for "a clever honest Fellow to carry The New York Gazette and Weekly Mercury to Part of the Customers in the City, four Hours every Monday will do the business."

After New York had been abandoned by the Continental army, there were two editions for a short time of Hugh Game's New-York Gazette. One edition was brought out in New York City, another was brought out in Newark, in East New Jersey. The New York edition favored the Tory cause, and the Newark edition, that of the Whigs. In the past the assertion has been made that Gaine brought out both of these editions and was simply watching to see which side would probably be success- ful before he cast his lot. Such, however, was not the case. After the battle of Brooklyn, Gaine removed part of his presses and type to Newark. Here, on September 21, 1776, he brought out Number 1301 of his Gazette. This and the following issues spoke of "the Honourable Continental Congress," and the issue of Number 1306 showed that he enjoyed the confidence of Gov- ernor Livingston of New Jersey. What happened in New York was this : General Howe, upon his arrival found that there was no newspaper in the city and appointed Ambrose Serle, a Royal- ist, to bring out a paper. Serle promptly appropriated the type and presses which had been left at "The Bible and Crown" and brought out on September 30, Number 1301 of The New York Gazette with Game's imprint upon it. With the next issue, how- ever, Number 1302, Searle changed the imprint. Gaine, how- ever, did have a change of faith and returned to New York and