this would make the first issue on October 16, 1725—a date which has been commonly accepted as that on which New York's first newspaper appeared. While Thomas undoubtedly knew at first hand about the early journalism of New England, he was evidently mistaken about the date of the first issue of The NewYork Gazette. Unfortunately, no copy of the first issue of the paper has survived, but there are, however, copies of the paper published the first half of 1726. Taking any one of these as a starting-point and working backwards, one finds that Volume I, Number 1, should be dated November 1 to November 8, 1725: in other words, The New-York Gazette was first published on November 8, 1725, if there was regularity of publication. To support the correctness of this date, the following facts may be cited: Bradford's day of publication was on Monday, and any almanac for 1725 shows that October 16 fell not on Monday, but on Saturday.
The New-York Gazette, Number 26, May 2, 1726, contained this item:
N.B. This Numb. 26 of our Gazette, concludes the first half year and is the Time the first Payment should be made by the Gentlemen who encourage the same. And altho' the Number subscribed for does not defray the Charge, yet we intend to Continue it the next half year, in the hopes of further Encouragement.
The most positive proof of November 8 as the date on which Bradford first brought out his Gazette will be found in an item published after the paper had been in existence two and one-half years:
By the Advice and encouragement of some Gentlemen, for the Information of the Publick, We began to Publish this Gazette the first of November, 1725 (not doubting but we should have Subscribers to take off such a Number as might defray the Charge), and the first of May last it was Two Years & a half that we have continued its Publication; but having calculated the Charge of Printing and Paper for the same, as also how much will arise to defray that Charge (when all those that take this Gazette have paid in what is due to the first of May last) do find that we shall lose Thirty-Five Pounds in the two years and a half by Publishing this Paper, besides the trouble and Charge of Correspondents, collecting the News, making up Pacquets and conveying the same to those in the Country who take them, And therefore if some
