Page:History of Warren County.djvu/287

 apprenticeship with Adonijah Emmons in the office of the Sandy Hill Sun, in 1825, and worked as "jour" for Abial Smith on the Messenger, bought the property, and changed the name of the sheet to Warren Messenger and Glens Falls Advertiser. In September of that year the office was removed "to the building heretofore occupied for that purpose, directly over C. L. Brown's fancy store, and a few doors north of the Glens Falls Hotel." The next change occurred in May, 1835, when the Messenger and Advertiser was discontinued, and the press and type were leased by H. B. Ten Eyck. The new proprietor resumed the publication of the paper under the old name of the Warren Messenger, and continued at its head for two years. When he ceased in May, 1837, the press and type reverted to Zabina Ellis, who immediately issued the first number of the Messenger' s successor under the title of the Glens Falls Spectator. In his salutatory which accompanied the first number of the new paper Mr. Ellis said:—

" In presenting to the public the first number of the Glens Falls Spectator, we feel it incumbent upon us to state at least the general course we shall pursue in its future publication. Our political views are in accordance with those of the present administration [Van Buren] whose measures we shall support so far as we shall deem them consistent with the best interests of the community. A portion of our columns will be devoted to literary, miscellaneous, foreign, domestic, agricultural, and such other objects as are calculated to disseminate general intelligence; and will at all times be open for communications upon such subjects as may be of public interest. We shall on all occasions tender a proper respect to those opinions which may be at variance with our own. A well conducted periodical has been long desired in this county, and whether ours shall merit this distinction we leave to the discerning public to decide. To the people of this county we look for a generous patronage. We have before been the recipients of their favor, and, we humbly trust, no omission of duty on our part will forfeit a continuance of them. "

On the 16th of November, 1839, the last number of the Glens Falls Spectator was published. In the same month the type, furniture and presses were purchased by George Cronkhite and Dr. Bethuel Peck, with a view to the publication of an anti-administration paper. On Wednesday, December 3d, 1839, was published the initial number of the Glens Falls Gazette. The new editor was Warren Fox, a son-in-law of Mr. Cronkhite. The Gazette was immediately recognized as the organ of the Whig party, at that time largely in the majority in this town. The paper was the same size as the Spectator, but, though more elaborate as to its editorial department, had deteriorated in typographical and mechanical beauty and arrangement. Meanwhile Zabina Ellis, having purchased an entire new outfit of type, and new furniture and cases, and procured the use of the old Ramage press used in the publication of the Warren Recorder, made arrangements to start a competing journal, and on the 18th of December,