Quaint Paper is 160 Years Old

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1040, 2 August 1930, Page 10

Quaint Paper is 160 Years Old

"THE PUBLIC ADVERTISER’' TWO COPIES IN AUCKLAND History seems to repeat itself, even ' in newspapers. For instance, in “The Public Ad- j vertiser,’’ published in London on October 30, 1770, appears the following notice: Yetterday near twenty Perfons in this city were convicted before the Mayor and Aldermen at their Sittings, for felling Spirituous Liquors without Licences , three of whom were fined Ten Pounds each. . * . George 111., "Farmer George,” was ruling England, 160 years ago, when this paper -was printed. The long “s” (represented in this article by the nearest approach to it, typographically, the letter "f”) was used in most instances and compositors had a perfect passion for capital letters. Newspapers of that day were unassuming sheets compared with the productions of today. "The Public Advertiser” was a small paper of only four pages, priced at 2id a copy. Its imprint runs as follo-%: “Printed by H. S. Woodfall. the Corner of Ivy Lane and Paternoster Row, where Letters to the Author—i apparently there were no editors in those days)—post-paid, are received, and Advertisements of a moderate length taken in at Three Shillings each. Advertisements are also taken in at Lloyd s Coffee House in Lombard Street.” News was gathered by personal letter. One item is an “Extract of a letter from a gentleman of Ballvheedy, in the County of Cavan, Ireland,” which reads: "We have had a most dreadful Harvest here, Owing to a Continuance of very Severe Weather for near three Weeks . . "NATION GOING TO RUIN” And in those days, long before the battle of Waterloo or the battle of Trafalgar, men were writing to the newspapers complaining that the nation was rapidly going to ruin. One such letter begins: "Sir, It is impossible for any able Men who consider the Measures of Administration since \the Death of the late King —-(George 11., who had quarrelled with Walpole)— not to apprehend this Nation to be in Imminent Danger of Ruin. The Treaty of Fontainbleau hath returned to our conquered Enemies the Arms which we had taken from them in every port of the Globe, together with all the most valuable possessions which they had lost in the War . . .” Women in those days must have just as eager to attend bargain Bales. Here iS|One notice: “S. Cole and Co., Weavers, of Peacock, the Corner of Bedford Street and Maiden Lane, beg leave to inform the Public that their great Sale of Silks for the Winter Is now opened, consisting of flowered, figured, and striped Goods of the most Elegant Patterns . . And another which has for sale "Gold and Silver Stuffs, Brocades, Damasks, Tissues, Sattlns, an Elegant Assortment of Gold and Silver shapes for waistcoats,” and "A large Quantity of Flowered and Figured Silks of last Year’s Pattern to be sold remarkably cheap.’ "SHATTERING REDUCTIONS” Adjectivements in those days were worthy of some account, and the “shattering” reductions of today were not thought of. Doctors and purveyors of patent medicines were extremely frank with their advertisements—so frank, in fiact, that today any newspaper publishing the accounts of their medicines and cures would be charged with Indecency. Inoculation, In 1770, was something to wonder at, and to be inoculated cost 20, 10 and five guineas. In an advertisement by a Mr. Sutton, of Kensington Core, appears the. following:—"For the Benefit of the Lower Orders of People, Tickets for his Plan for universal Inoculation at the Patient’s own Habitation, are to be had, three for a Guinea, of him, or of Mr. Bond, Surgeon, Cecil Street, In the Strand.” This fulsome notice is inserted by a successful candidate at an election:— "Ladies and Gentlemen, — “Permit me to return you by sincerest thanks for the general Support with which I was favoured on Thursday and Friday last. "Your Faithful and obedient Humble Bergant, William Martin Blake.” THEATRE “ADS.” Hay-Market, Drury-Lane and Covent Garden were the only three theatres advertised. “The Jealous Wife” and "The Elopement” were being played at Drury-Lane, with “Tamerlane” advertised to follow. No person was admitted behind the scenes and no money was returned after the curtain had been drawn up. The doors were advertised to open at 5 o’clock in the afternoon, and the perform ance to start at 6 o’clock. A comparison of the prevailing wage may bo gathered from this paragraph: "We hear from Ballinsfloe, Athlone, that a few nights ago a labouring Man watching sheep near the Town, fell asleep, and while he slept was robbed of 17 Guineas, the Produce of several years’ Labour. It is remarkable that he never wrought for any Person until he was first paid his Hire.” Here are some interesting items of news to be found scattered through this interesting reminder of other days:— “We hear that George Pitt, Esq., is soon to set out upon his Embassy to the Court of Madrid, in order to reconcile the Disagreements between that Power and Great Britain.” “We hear that Mr. Garrick (the actor) is recovered by the Bath waters and will return some day next week to London.” “Yesterday Morning two young Women were married at St. Olave’s Church, Tooley Street, to two Blacks: when, O Dire Misfortune, on their coming out of the Church the two Blacks were carried away by a Strong Body of Sailors in order to serve on board his Majesty’s Fleet.” “To be Lett: A Complete small House, three Rooms on a Floor. It will suit any small family. The annual rent is 22 pounds.” The newspapers are in the possession of Mrs. A. C. Hilton Bird, of 17 Watling Street, Mount Eden. They originally belonged to her grandfather and were saved because some property belonging to the family was EM&Uoned in them, N