ishmen."
In some of his early numbers Burk published an account of his
trial before the University of Dublin on the charge of Deism
and Rebellionism. Shortly after, he addressed an advice "to
the editors of the several newspapers in Boston" about the
"vices that existed in newspaper establishments." In it he
said, "The period of election is ushered in by bickerings, by
personalities, by squabbles and scurrilities, by feuds, by heart-
burnings and heart-scaldings, by animosity, by contentions and
quarrels, which reflect a disgrace on the amiable character of
Liberty, and are unworthy the literary advocates of a free peo-
ple." Because of these and other criticisms, Burk became un-
popular and was forced to suspend his paper early in 1797.
Leaving Boston, Burk came to New York, where he helped The
Time Piece, established by Philip Freneau, March 13, 1797, to
keep going in a political way. Because of his political editorials
in this paper, he was one of those editors arrested for publish-
ing a libel contrary to the provisions of the Sedition Law.
FIRST APPEARANCE OF "THE FEDERALIST "
In promoting the adoption of the Constitution of the United States The Independent Journal, established November 17, 1783, in New York City, rendered a distinct service by printing a collection of essays advocating that measure under the general caption "The Federalist." Of these essays, eighty-five in num- ber, the first seventy-six appeared in The Journal, starting on October 27, 1787, and stopping on April 2, 1788. Signed by "Publius," they were addressed to the voters of New York, and urged the necessity of supporting the proposed Constitution. Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison were the real authors of these semi-editorial essays, though all wrote over the common name of "Publius." The series was copied in many of the other newspapers and had much to do with the adoption of the Constitution, not only by New York, but also by other States. No other one thing during the early days of the Repub- lic showed more the power of the controversial press than the appearance of "The Federalist." The essays have since been reprinted in book form and are still studied by the students of political history. In 1788 The Independent Journal became The
