Page:History of American Journalism.djvu/67

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BEGINNINGS IN COLONIES
41

her, Zenger published an article on "The Liberty of the Press." This was followed by other articles radical in tone. In November, 1734, an issue of The Weekly Journal was omitted. The reason Zenger gave in his next issue, Number 55, for Monday, November 25:

To All My Subscribers and Benefactors Who take My Weekly Journall. Gentlemen, Ladies, and Others;

As you last week were Disappointed of My Journall I think it Incumbent upon me, to publish My Apoligy which is this. On the Lords Day, the Seventeenth of this Instant, I was Arrested, taken and Imprisoned in the common Goal of this Citty, by Virtue of a Warrant from the Governour, and the Honorable Francis Harrison, Esq; and others in Council of which (God Willing) yo'l have a coppy whereupon I was put under such Restraint that I had not the Liberty of Pen, Ink, or Paper, or to see, or speak with People till upon my Complaint to the Honourable the Chief Justice, at my appearing before him upon My Habias Corpus on Wednesday following. Who discountenanced that Proceeding and therefore I have since that Time the Liberty of Speaking through the Hole of the Door to My Wife and Servants by which I doubt not yo'l think me sufficiently Excused for not sending my last weeks Journall, and I hope for the future by the Liberty of Speaking to my Servants thro' the Hole of the Door of the Prison to entertain you with My Weakly Journall as formerly.

And am your obliged
Humble Servant
J. Peter Zenger.

Writing from his prison on December 20, 1734, Zenger not only defended himself in replying to an attack made in Bradford's Gazette, but also criticized its writer for recalling the fact that he was brought over at the expense of the Crown. To quote Zenger's words:—

There is a great Noise made in that ridiculous Letter in Mr. Bradford's last Gazette about setting the Province in Flames, raising of Sedition and Tumults, etc. I know of none, either past or intended; if my Adversaries know of any, they'l do well to discover them, and prevent the Consequences . . . That I was brought over at the charitable expense of the Crown is the only Truth that groaping Fumbler found when he studied that clumsy Performence I acknowledge it; Thanks to QUEEN ANNE whose Name I Mention with Reverence, her Bounty to me and my distress'd Country Folks to be gratefully remembered. If that Author has contributed any Thing towards it, I begg to be inform'd, I assure him that my Acknowledgement shall not be want-