THE FIRST NEWSPAPERS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 589, 1 August 1873, Page 3

THE FIRST NEWSPAPERS.

o For a length of time it has been claimed that to Venice belonged the honor ofhaving bad the first printed newspaper, and that the “ Acta Diurna,” published in Rome, was the first manuscript journal ever issued Recent investigations prove both claims to be unfounded. Of manuscript newspiapers, the “ Pekin Gazette” preserved in the Imperial archives of that city, dates centuries anterior to its Roman contemporary. The first printed newspaper was the “ Nuremburg Gazette,” published in 1457, thirteen years prior to the first publication of the “ Venetian Gazetta.” Four continental journals were ia existence when Nicholas Bourne and Thomas Archer published the first in England under the title of the “ Weekly Newes.” Nine years afterwards France followed suit with the “ Gazette de France,” publishel at Paris. The newspaper literature of America was initiated by the “ Boston Public's: Occurrences,” in 1090 ami the “ Calcutta Gazette,” published in 1781, was the first effort of Asiatic journalism. The pioneer journals were established in the following order :—“ Nuremburg Gazette,” in 1437 ; “ Cologne Chronicle” 1400 ; “ Venice Gazetta,” 1370 ; Die Frankfurter Oberpostampts ZeiUmg,” 1C15; “London Weekly Newes,” 1(522 ; “ Gazette de France,” 1631; “Swedish Postosehlurikes Tinding,” 164-1; “Leith (Scotland) Mercuries Politicals,” 1653 ; Harlaam Courant,” 1323 ; “ Boston Public Occurrences,” 1090 ; “ Pile’s Occurrences," (Dublin), 1700 ; “ St. Petersburg Gazette.” 1703 ; “ Boston Newsletter,” 1704 ; “ Philadelphia Mercury,” 1719 ; “ New York Gazette,” 1725 ; “ Annapolis Gazette," 1727 ; “ Charleston Gazette,” 1731 ; “Williamsburg Gazette,” 1733 ; “ Calcutta Gazct e,” 1781. Mr. Howe issued the first Australian newspaper in this city on March 5, 180.3, under the title of the “Sydney Gazette and in 1837, John Pascoe Fawkncr arranged for publishing tho pioneer journal of Victoria, of which the first number was issued in Manuscript on January 1, 1838; and on the 11th March following the first printed number came out under the title of the “ Melbourne Advertiser.”— Sydney Morning Herald.