The Kentucky Gazette

Lexington, August 7, 1789.

I SHOULD think it well worth my while, in gratitude to my kind countrymen, and undeserving of their former favor, if I should neglect to return them my most humble and unfeigned Thanks for the public spirit and Beneficence they have uniformly shewn in promoting the Success of the Kentucky Gazette, from its Beginning to this day. The distinguished Marks of Favor and good will, which I have already experienced from them, are exceedingly flattering to me, and have impressed on my Mind such grateful Sentiments as can never be effaced, but will always induce me to exert myself to the utmost of my Ability to serve and oblige them, and particularly to render this Paper worthy of their Notice, as it will ever be my highest ambition to obtain the Approbation of a People for whom I entertain the profoundest respect and veneration.

Nor must I omit expressly my just Acknowledgments to those disinterested Friends who kindly contribute Business and Intelligence to my office.

Thus encouraged, the favors I have received from the public, shall be so far from abating my Ardour to give them Satisfaction, that they would prove the strongest Motives to an increase of Diligence, and an exertion of my Abilities to render this paper in every respect pleasing and instructive. The strictest Scrutiny and fair play I have at all times met, and shall not be wanting, nor an assiduous Industry in procuring and communicating the earliest Intelligence of every important transaction, both Foreign and Domestic, with whatever else may be furnished by my Correspondents, avoiding, as much as possible, to fill the paper with insulent performances, and pieces in which the public are not interested: - Nor shall the discouragement arising from the exorbitant price of paper and other materials, which necessarily occasions additional expense, and filches a considerable part of the profit in these last times deter me, as I have Reason to hope, from the experienced Generosity of the public, that as the work shall advance in its merit it will in proportion be favored with an additional number of subscribers.

A paper under these embarrassments continues but unpunctual payments in every article, but needs a far greater number of subscribers to support it.

I beg leave to observe further, that I propose to enlarge this paper the ensuing year, and to employ a rider to convey it to the most convenient places in each neighborhood throughout the District.

As the present year will expire on the 22d instant, I flatter myself that those subscribers who have failed to comply with the terms of this paper will not expect their numbers to be continued, unless they pay up their respective balances before the commencement of the ensuing year.

I am the Public's most obedient and very Humble Servant,

JOHN BRADFORD.