ORIGIN OF NEWSPAPERS

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2212, 11 September 1886, Page 2 (Supplement)

ORIGIN OF NEWSPAPERS

We are indebted to the Italians for the idea of newspapers. The first one was published at Venice. It was called the Gazzetta, the name of a small coin about the same value as an Euglish farthing. The G.izzetta was a monthly journal, and was merely the newspaper of the Government. Newspapers were introduced into England by the wisdom of Elizabeth and the prudence of Lord Burleigh. The epoch of the Spanish Armada was also the epoch of a genuine newspaper. Here is an extract from a notice published on July 2S, 1588 : "Yesterday the Scotch Ambassador, being introduced by Sir Francis Walsingham, had a private audience with Her Majesty, to whom he delivered a letter from his master, containing the most cordial assuranco of his resolution to adhere to Her Majesty's interests, and to those of the Protestant religion. And it may not be here improper to notice a wise and spiritual sayiner of this young prince to the Queen's Minister at his court, viz: "That all the favour he did expect from the Spaniards was the courtesy of Polypheme to Ulysses, to bo the last devoured." The papers of the present day could hardly give a more decorous account of the introduction of a Foreign Minister. Iv the reign of Queen Anne, there was but one daily paper published iv England ; the others were weeklies.