The troublous year of 1764 saw another innovation almost as revolutionary, compared with the old regime, as the introduction of civil government itself.  This was the issue of the first newspaper in Canada, where, indeed, it was also the first printed thing of any kind.  Nova Scotia had produced an earlier paper, the Halifax Gazette, which lived an intermittent life from 1752 to 1800.  But no press had ever been allowed in New France.  The few documents that required printing had always been done in the mother country.  Brown and Gilmore, two Philadelphians, were thus undertaking a pioneer business when they announced that ’Our Design is, in case we are fortunate enough to succeed, early in this spring to settle in this City [Quebec] in the capacity of Printers, and forthwith to publish a weekly newspaper in French and English.’  The Quebec Gazette, which first appeared on the 21st of the following June, has continued to the present time, though it is now a daily and is known as the Quebec Chronicle.  Centenarian papers are not common in any country; and those that have lived over a century and a half are very few indeed.  So the Quebec Chronicle, which is the second surviving senior in America, is also among the great press seniors of the world.

The original number is one of the curiosities of journalism.  The publishers felt tolerably sure of having what was then considered a good deal of recent news for their three hundred readers during the open season.  But, knowing that the supply would be both short and stale in winter, they held out prospects of a Canadian Tatler or Spectator, without, however, being rash enough to promise a supply of Addisons and Steeles.  Their announcement makes curious reading at the present day.

The Rigour of Winter preventing the arrival of ships from Europe, and in a great measure interrupting the ordinary intercourse with the Southern Provinces, it will be necessary, in a paper designed for General Perusal, and Publick Utility, to provide some things of general Entertainment, independent of foreign intelligence:  we shall therefore, on such occasions, present our Readers with such Originals, both in Prose and Verse, as will please the FANCY and instruct the JUDGMENT.  And here we beg leave to observe that we shall have nothing so much at heart as the support of VIRTUE and MORALITY and the noble cause of LIBERTY.  The refined amusements of LITERATURE, and the pleasing veins of well pointed wit, shall also be considered as necessary to this collection; interspersed with chosen pieces, and curious essays, extracted from the most celebrated authors; So that, blending PHILOSOPHY with POLITICKS, HISTORY, &c., the youth of both sexes will be improved and persons of all ranks agreeably and usefully entertained.  And upon the whole we will labour to attain to all the exactness that so much variety will permit, and give as much variety as will consist with a