Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society

and in The Recovery (1682-83):

Here first their unskill'd Spirits th' visions play'd,
And learnt their Visions to the Hatfield Maid:
Here first were rais'd the wond'ring world to scare,
The Armies Harris muster'd in the Air.

wherein fun is made of some exaggeration or prediction by Harris which had fallen short. Yet Harris was capable of better things than abuse.

In the Boston Athenaeum are a few English ballads or broadsides of the period and three have the imprint of Harris. The title of a fourth in the Woods Collection is added.

The Ghost of the late House of Commons, | To the New one appointed to meet at Oxford. Printed for Benjamin Harris at the Stationers Arms under the Royal Exchange; and are to be sold by Langley Curtis in Goatham Court on Ludgate-Hill. 1681.

An Excellent New Ballad, | To the Tune of How Unhappy is Phillis in Love. Printed for Benjamin Harris at the Stationers Arms at the Royal Exchange, and are to be sold by Langley Curtis in Goatham Court on Ludgate-hill, 1681. BA

The Leacherous Anabaptist: or, the Dipper Dipt. A New Protestant Ballad. London, Printed for Benjamin Harris. 1681. Woods Coll.

In addition to the three having Harris' imprint there are others of the same period, some relating to the Duke of Monmouth. I give them, as Harris may have been responsible for the issue, though without his name.

Englands Lamentation for the Duke of Monmouth's Departure: | Reflecting on his Heroick Actions. London, Printed in the Year, 1679. [Signed, J. F.]

A Poem of Congratulation | On the Happy Return of His Grace James Duke of Monmouth.

Geneva & Rome: | Or, The Zeal of both boiling over: | In an earnest Dispute for Præeminence, carried on at a Private Conference between | Jack a Presbyter and Believe-All a Papist. | Now Printed for Publick Satisfaction. London: Printed in the Year 1679.

The True Protestants | Litany. | To the Tune, When Jockey first the Wars began. Printed in the Year, 1680.

The Excellency of Monarchy: | A | Panegyrick, | Written Anno 1658. by a Learned and truly Loyal Gentleman, for Information | of the miserably misled Commonwealths-men (falsely so called) of that deceitful Age; and now reviv'd by a Friend to the Author, and an Honourer of the Establish'd Government of these Nations.

The Tune to the Devonshire Cant: | Or, an Answer to the Parliament Dissolved at Oxford. London: Printed for T. Rawe in

London-yard, near St. Paul's. 1681.

A Ballad upon the | Popish Plot | Written by a Lady of Quality. . . . To the Tune of Packington's Pound.

Young Jemmy. [Duke of Monmouth.] An Excellent New Ballad, | To an Excellent New Tune. London: Printed for Alexander Banks, 1681.

The Ballad of the Cloak: Or, The Cloaks Knavery. To the Tune of, From Hunger and Cold, or Packington's Pound. [Three lines of music.] Reprinted, Corrected, Revised, and enlarged by the Author.1

A Canto on the new Miracle wrought by the D[uke] of M[onmouth], in Curing a young Wench of the King's Evil; as it is related at large by B. Harris in his Prophetical Intelligence, published Friday Jan. 7th, 1681, to prevent false Reports.

BAGFORD, II. 800.

1 In the British Museum is the first issue. Printed for P. Brooksby, near the Hospital-Gate, in West-smithfield. [1680?]

for Benjamin Harris, at the Stationers' Arms in Swithins-Alley, near the Royal Exchange.

ROXBURGHE, IV. 105.

The Manner of the Barbarous Murther of | James, | Late Lord Arch-Bishop of St. Andrews, | Primate and Metropolitan of all Scotland, And one of his Majesties most honourable Privy Council of that | Kingdom; May 3, 1679. London, Printed for J. S[mith?] and B. H[arris]. 1679.

ROXBURGHE, IV. 151.

His taste for journalism could not be suppressed. On May 1, 1695, he published the first number of Intelligence, Domestick and Foreign. "Printed and sold by Benjamin Harris in Fore Street near Lorainers Hall." Only a single example of that sheet is known, but it was continued by an eighth number, dated June 7, 1695, as Intelligence domestick and foreign, with the Flying Post-boy from the Camp in Flanders. Being an historical account of the publick transactions in Europe. How many numbers were printed, or what subsequent changes the title passed through, I have no means of learning. Nor can the appearance of a new sheet in June be explained: The Pacquet-boat from Holland and Flanders. Being an historical account of the publick transactions of Europe, together with the most memorable domestick occurrences. "Printed for Benjamin Harris at the corner of Bartholomew Lane, near the Royal Exchange." Three numbers were issued, with a supplement to No. 3 July 5. Four years later he again entered the field with The London Slip of News, both foreign and Domestick. No. 1. Tuesday, June 6, 1699. Printed by Benj. Harris in Maiden Head Court, Great Eastcheap. With No. 2 the title was changed to The London Post, with intelligence foreign and Domestick. Removing to the Golden Boar's Head against the Cross Keys in Gracechurch Street, he continued to print the paper until 1705 — an unusually long series and period for one of his usually disturbed career. Grass or Gracechurch Street was in Bridge Warde within and led to London Bridge, perhaps a favorable location to catch the passing traffic on the bridge. The region at the other end of the bridge, Bridge Warde without, contained the old bear gar

den, theatres and other less reputable places of amusement and the stew houses were there advertised by signs painted on the walls, among which in Stow's time were a boar's head and the cross keys; but elsewhere such symbols would be harmless indications of occupations not so ancient or dangerous. In 1732 the Cross Keys on Gracechurch Street was an active stage center,' but the Golden Boar's Head had passed with so much else of a like description. Once again did Harris put out a weekly, in October, 1700, issuing The Weekly Entertainment, of which three numbers are known.

It is rather absurd to call most of these sheets newspapers, for news formed but a small part of their make-up. Nor can their existence be explained on any reasonable ground. They seemed to spring up in a day and die within a short time, leaving no permanent mark in the long list of ephemeral issues. Perhaps a small number had a definite purpose - to advance the interests of an aspiring politician, to defend the cause of religion or the State Church, or to express a certain public policy in terms other than official; many suggestions arise in painfully going through these sheets, the beginnings of the newspaper of today, but the result does not compensate the labor. The competition must have been intense and methods of meeting it unscrupulous; for the number of really good journals was small, the temptation to libel frequent and the trade of journalist in bad odor. Yet at this very time the participation of writers like Swift, DeFoe and Steele was being felt and opened the path for The Tatler, The Examiner and like issues which have become an essential part of English literature and valuable contributions to the history of the English people. Harris never can be ranked high as a writer, editor or printer, but he displayed enterprise and a persistence under difficulties that marked him above the ordinary news man and left a lasting impress in the annals of printing in old and in new England. To him belongs the New England Primer and to him should have belonged the credit for the first newspaper regularly printed in an English colony in America. Either achievement would label him as one to be remembered.

John Dunton, who was also of the craft, wrote of Harris in his later years: he "continu'd Ben Harris still; and is now both Bookseller and Printer, in Grace-church Street, as we find by his London Post; so that his conversation is general (but never Impertinent) and his Wit pliable to all Inventions. But yet his vanity (if he has any) gives no Alloy to his Wit, and is no more than might justly Spring from conscious Vertue; and I do him but Justice in this part of his Character, for in once travelling with him from Bury Fair, I found him to be the most Ingenious and Innocent Companion that I had ever met with."

BENJAMIN TOMPSON TO INCREASE MATHER

REVER'D MR. MATHER, Most humble and kind Salutations premised to yourselfe and yours.

It is not so much an ambition of Honour, as of a full imployment, and Its Comfortable attendants, which have moved mee to try what Interest a branch of an auncient Lancashire Christian and your most precious and Renowned friends and fellow sufferer may find, with your Christian selfe, who influence so many others. I had by my brother a Copie of New Laws, one wherof being for multiplying Schools. In observance whereof I thought you would Not bee backward, or in any other designe of publique good. My yeare being up in the place where I am I am bold to present my service to you, as your parishioner and Schoolemaister. It being the first time of offering myselfe in like Case, Whether the place bee open for me or Not, I begge that no foreigner or stranger may have It, if those of our owne Countrey and acquaintance may fitt the same. And though I sit unimployed,

My Loyalty is still the same

Whither I win or lose the game

True as a Dial to the Sun

Altho' It bee not shin'd upon.

If you have an hora vaciva in the long winter nights vouchsafe a Minute in a line to, and the rest in prayers for, Sir, your hearty and humble friend and servant,

25. 9. 83.

Sir the Cold apologizeth for the Scrawles.

BENJ. TOMPSON.

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