Notes and Queries, Number 70, March 1, 1851 | Page 5

papers are 2d. each here, and anybody may have them by the
post. But where that is thought too much, it may be eased by ten or
twelve obliging themselves constantly to take them from a bookseller,
coffee-man, or some other, who may afford to pay a carrier, and sell
them there for 2d., or at most 3d.; or carriers themselves may gain well,
if they'll serve the country gentlemen. And any such bookseller,
coffee-man, or carrier, that will apply themselves to me, shall have
good encouragement, with liberty to return those that won't sell."
Ultimately the editor determined on admitting advertisements. He then
doubled the size of his paper, making it two leaves instead of one. In
reference to this increased size he says,--
"My collection I shall carry on as usual. This part is to give away; and
those who like it not, may omit the reading. I believe it will help on
trade, particularly encourage the advertisers to increase the vent of my
papers. I shall receive all sorts of advertisements, but shall answer for
the reasonableness of none; unless I give thereof a particular character,
on which (as I shall give it) may be dependence, but no argument that
others deserve not as well."
"I am inform'd that great numbers of gazettes are each time printed,
which makes them the most universal intelligencers; but I'll suppose
mine their first handmaid, because it goes (tho' not so thick, yet) to
most parts. It's also lasting, to be put into volumes with indexes; and
particularly there shall be an index of all the advertisements, whereby,
for ages to come, they may be useful. I have publish'd on the subject of
Husbandry and Trade, two quarto volumes, three folio volumes, with
the great sheet of taxes, acres, houses, &c.; and am weekly carrying on
this paper, which may be brought to anybodies house within the Bills
of Mortality, or penny post, for one penny the week; and anywhere else
in England (where enough will encourage a bookseller or carrier). The
volumes may be had from most booksellers of England, Scotland, or
Ireland."
The Collection, which the editor will carry on as usual, refers to the
single sheet. The Gazette must have been the London Gazette. In what
sort of way the editor could suppose that advertisements could be

useful for ages to come, we, in this age of enlightenment and
knowledge, are at a loss to conceive. The great sheet of taxes, acres,
houses, &c., I have, and may give you an account of its contents at
some future time. The first page {165} of the paper was always
devoted to a letter from the editor's own pen on husbandry, trade,
chemistry, domestic cookery, and a variety of other topics. The editor
appears to have been a spirited man, who collected with great care and
diligence a great variety of facts whereby to interest his readers. The
advertisements are very curious, specimens of which I will give you in
another communication. Each paper contains the weekly prices of
wheat, rye, barley, malt, oats, horse beans, peas, coals, hops, hay,
tallow, and wool, in all the counties of England and Wales; the prices
of provisions in London; also a weekly statement of wind and weather;
the number of deaths, and their causes; the number of christenings and
burials, specifying how many of each sex. The editor often concludes a
column of information by stating, "this is all I see useful to posterity."
He not only appears to have been a man of an active mind, but also a
very kind man; for he says to those who advertise in his paper for
situations, &c., that "if they apply themselves to me, I'll strive to help
them." He appears also to have kept a shop, or at least to have traded in
certain articles: for in one of his papers is this advertisement:--
"In my first volume of 1682, I publish'd my own selling of chocolate,
and have sold in small quantities ever since: I have now two sorts, both
made of the best nuts, without spice or perfume; the one 5s., and the
other 6s. the pound; and I'll answer for their goodness. If I shall think
fit to sell any other sorts, I'll give notice.
JOHN HOUGHTON."
By this advertisement we get at the date when the paper was first
published.
H. M. BEALBY.
North Brixton.
* * * * *

MR. GOUGH'S TRANSLATION OF THE HISTORY OF THE
BIBLE.
The original work is thus described by Brunet, in his Manuel, Paris,
1842, vol. ii. p. 583.:
"Histoire du Vieux et du Nouveau Testament (par Dav. Martin),
enrichie de plus de 400 fig. Anvers (Antwerp), P. Mortier, 1700, 2 vol.
gr. in fol."
This work is usually called Bible de Mortier.