Monday last there was no less in his Field than 26 men Mowers in a Breast, and on Wednesday there was 14 others that were Rakers; and on Thursday 16 more, and no doubt there was a competent number on Friday and Satturday (though not come to our knowledge) to carry it into the Barn."
John Campbell had a very decided belief in the continuity of foreign news. At one time he announced, with as much regret as simplicity, that he was "thirteen months behind in giving the news from Europe." The number for November 25 to Decem- ber 2, 1706, opens with an editorial note, introducing the for- eign news: "According to our usual manner (on the Arrival of Ships from England, Portugal, or by the West-India Pacquets) we gave you in our Last, a Summary of the most Remarkable Occurrences of Europe for six weeks time, viz from the 1st of August, to the 15th of September last; And now we must pro- ceed to the more particular Account of the Foreign Occurrences where we left off; So that any one having this Print for the year, will be furnished not only with the Occurrences of Europe, the West-Indies, but also those of this and the Neighbouring Prov- inces."
If Campbell did not show enterprise in his treatment of for- eign news, his domestic news service in later issues may be con- sidered a little more up-to-date. For the most part it consisted of "ship news, the governor's proclamations, reports of the elec- tions of representatives to the General Court, accounts of en- gagements with the Indians or with the French privateers, news from the West Indies, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New York and occasionally from far-away Philadelphia, or farther away South Carolina." Remarkable incidents in neighboring towns were occasionally printed. Skippers sailing between Boston and the West Indies or ports of the other colonies were his reporters of adventure stories.
, He obtained news by letter; the accounts of Indian operations in the Connecticut Valley, and "to the Eastward," came in let- ters from Colonel Church who was commander of the colonial forces; by adventurers returning from the South, as in Septem- ber 4 to 11, 1704, "By some gentlemen arrived here
