The New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser

For the New-Hampshire Gazette:

On the UTILITY of NEWS-PAPERS:

WHATEVER diffusive knowledge to the public
We at whatever informs and animates the soul,
whatever is calculated to rectify the judgment and
amend the will, whatever tends to rouse, to alarm the
stupid and careless, to enliven and prompt the gene-
rous and noble to rise, to support and defend the cause
of liberty and of human nature, doth answer an inva-
luble purpose. And that news-papers do in a great
measure, at this important day, that is big with the fate
of States and Empires, as well as of Kings & Kingdoms,
answer this grand end, is obvious to the impartial at-
tentive mind. 'Tis in them the great cause of liberty,
now defended, is canvassed by many able pens: 'tis in
them many acts & laws of the States are published, (and I
could wish the number was increased) by which means
the people are in some measure informed what their
rulers are employed upon, and what laws they are
bound to obey; 'tis in them we read narratives of
some men's leaving affluent fortunes and domestic
cares to court honor at the expense of labour and toil-
of their marching up to the mouth of the roaring
cannon, and defying the devouring sword, and nobly
falling in the field of battle, in supporting their coun-
try's cause; 'tis in them, we are informed of battles
and sieges, victories and defeats: their relations
have a powerful tendency to stimulate our souls to
deeds heroic-- 'tis in them, we read specimens of
essays on various subjects, as religion and morality,
law and police, arts and sciences; 'tis in 'em, we read
some useful and diverting poems, anecdotes and fa-
bles;-- and not to mention the many advertisements
of lands, merchandize, &c.

News-papers are both useful and entertaining to
all orders and degrees of men: from 'em we have in
some measure the state and condition not only of
America, but also of a considerable part of the world:
tho' I grant their testimony, being in many cases built
on report and hearsay, may sometimes prove false
and fictitious, and indeed where in the history there
does not! from them the statesman, the moralist, the
religious, the husbandman, the lover of arts, and even
the fair sex, receives instruction:-- from them the own-
ers of new lands in distant towns is informed of the
grants due from him to the State, and thereby has an
opportunity of preventing their sale;--by them mer-
chants, traders, mechanics, and in a word, all or-
ders of men are informed when and where many va-
luable articles are to be purchased;--from reading
them many children have been instructed in reading,
spelling, &c. and contracted such a taste for knowledge
as has induced them to the study of books in general,
by which means their minds have been much culti-
vated and improved.

Now what thinking person would value a few
shillings per year to purchase so valuable an article, so
replete with instruction & diversion, as news papers are!
I cannot pass over in silence one thing more, viz:
That it is really for the advantage of the inhabitants
of each State, who do not take more than one paper
per week, to have that printed in the State in which
they reside; for the Gazettes of each State have some
things printed in them relative to the condition of the
State, which other papers have not, such as acts and
laws passed by the State, advertisements of lands for
taxes, &c.

IMPARTIALIST.