land is, with Printing Offices, and falling in every place like snow flakes, as are the pages of the Newspaper, daily and weekly, speaking to all classes in praise of real merit instead of factitious and artificial, the people cannot help feeling admiration for the real virtues of their distinguished fellow men. One sentence, perhaps, written with one pen full of ink, and put in type, in half an hour in the streets of the city—in an hour thousands have read it there—another day tens of thousands get it—it is copied by another daily and weekly sheet and in a week millions have read a valuable truth which becomes a text and theme for millions of ears beside. Yet the writer, scarcely dared hope his own readers would notice it.
Thus, great good or great harm is within the power of your hands, my worthy friends. You can elevate, still higher, and render superlatively great, or you can bring down and destroy our country.
But, I may be tresspassing upon time which can be more profitably employed—or if not, I may already have arrogated to myself the utterance of suggestions more forcibly and appropriately made by more wise and venerable persons; I will therefore farther detain you only by offering the following sentiment.
The Press: A lever whose impressive power, if pulled by the united hands of the craft, will put a period to vice, and leave a fairer impression upon the face of our nation, and give the pages of as history in future, a brighter lustre than all other influences combined.
With great respect,
And Fraternal Regard.
J. N. T. Tucker.
From W. L. Crandall, Esq., of the Onondaga Democrat.
Syracuse, Jan. 16, 1847.
Gentlemen: I find it impossible to meet you at the Festival, on Monday, in honor of the most illustrious Patron of our craft. My regret is greatly enhanced by the fact, that around your festive board will be gathered a host of noble spirits, who do honor to our pursuit. To join with them, and with the retired Patriarchs of our craft who will be present, in rendering homage to the illustrious Name you celebrate, and to exchange friendly greetings with each man, I need not say would indeed be a pleasure such as is rarely afforded on a public occasion.
It is now nearly ten years since I became connected with the Press of Western New York, at Buffalo. An abrupt and unexpected termination of my engagement there, resulted in my location at this place. You will therefore acquit me of all indelicacy when I say to you, that, during the period which has intervened, I have watched with peculiar interest the course, prosperity and character of the Press of Western New York. I can say to you, truly, that I have observed its onward course, with heart-felt pride. It would, indeed, be difficult for me to point to any district in our Union, more distinguished for the enterprise, character, and enlightened views of the Press.
Permit me to add a word in reference to Central New York, confining myself to our own village—soon to be the "City of Syracuse." When I came here eight years ago, it contained two weekly newspapers, one of fair, the other of diminutive, proportions; the combined circulation being about 2000 copies. There are now published six weekly newspapers, with an aggregate circulation of between ten and eleven thousand, each of which is decidedly superior in size and mechanical execution to either published at the former period; while, with limited exceptions, the demand is purely local. Besides, there are two well sustained daily newspapers.
With an apology for having so long detained you, permit me to offer this sentiment:
The Press of Western New York: May its conceded enterprise be equalled only by its prosperity, usefulness and high character.
Very respectfully,
W. L. Crandal.
To the Committee, Rochester.
From F. Morley, Esq., Editor of the Courier.
Palmyra, Jan. 16, 1847.
Gents—An answer to your letter of invitation to the "Franklin Festival," proposed to be held in your city on Monday next, has been deferred from time to time, under a hope that circumstances could be so shaped as to admit of my participation with you in the enjoyments of the occasion. The situation of business and other matters, compels me, however, at almost the last moment, to abandon any idea of being present with you. I regret this the more, that similar circumstances prevented attendance upon your festivities of last year; but I beg you to be assured that though not personally present, my sympathies will be very closely identified with you.
Please propose, in my name, the following sentiment:
Journeyman Printers—Often "Poor Richards" in pocket, but always "Rich Benjamins" in a disposition to divide their "last crust" with more needy mortals. Good "works" are none the less valuable, if they happen to be destitute of "gilt covers" and "marble edges."
Two workmen in my office, also propose the following:
By E. J. Whitney. The Ladies—May they be locked up in the chase of benevolence; embraced in a line of love; andaway with scorn the ☞ of ingratitude.
By A. C. Dryer. The members of the craft assembled at Rochester on the 18th, who may reserve a corner of their hearts for the poor "devils" whose want of quoin compels them to keep their forms at home. Very truly yours.
F. Morley.
P.Canfield, Esq., and others. Com. of Arrangements.
From J. J. Mattison, Canandaigua
Canandaigua, Jan. 18th, 1847.
Gents:—Your kind invitation to attend to-day a Festival of our Craftsmen in your city, in honor of the Birth-day of the Immortal Franklin, was received some time since. Up to a late hour last evening it was my intention to have been present, but I regret to say that circumstances now forbid
