ved to the present day--which came
out in 1695. Norwich started a journal of its own, the _Norwich
Postman_, in 1706, the price of which the proprietors stated to be 'one
penny, but a half penny not refused.' The _Worcester Postman_ made its
bow in 1708, and Berrow's _Worcester Journal_--which still exists--in
1709. Newcastle followed suite with its _Courant_, in 1711, and
Liverpool with its _Courant_ in 1712. The other large towns did the same
at less or greater intervals, and of the provincial journals which were
born in the first half of the eighteenth century about a score still
flourish. The _Edinburgh Gazette_ came cut in 1699, as appears from the
following quaint document, which has been republished by the Maitland
Club at the 'modern Athens':

'Anent the petition given to the Lords of his Majestie's Privy
Councill by James Donaldson, merchant in Edinburgh, shewing 'that
the petitioner doth humbly conceive the publishing ane gazette in
this place, containeing ane abridgement of fforaigne newes together
with the occurrences at home, may be both usefull and satisfieing
to the leidges, and actually hath published on or two to see how it
may be liked, and so farr as he could understand the project was
approven of by very many, and, therefore, humbly supplicating the
said Lords to the effect after mentioned;' the Lords of his
Majestie's Privy Councill, having considered this petition given in
to them by the above James Donaldsone, they doe hereby grant full
warrant and authority to the petitioner for publishing the above
gazette, and discharges any other persones whatsoever to pen or
publish the like under the penaltie of forfaulting all the coppies
to the petitioner, and farder payment to him of the soume of ane
hundred pounds Scots money, by and altour the forsaid confiscatioun
and forfaulture; and recommends to the Lord High Chancellor to
nominat and appoint a particular persone to be supervisor of the
said gazetts before they be exposed to public view, printed, or
sold.'

In 1705 a rival started up in the _Edinburgh Courant_, which was
published three times a week. About the same time appeared the _Scots
Courant_, in 1708 the _Edinburgh Flying Post_, and in the following year
the _Scots Postman_, the two last being tri-weekily. In 1718 there
dawned upon the literary horizon the _Edinburgh Evening Courant_, which
s