The first issue of the Quebec Gazette has been released June the 21th, 1764. In a text untitled The Printers to the Public, the owners (The Printer Brown & Gilmore, St-Louis Street, in the Upper-Town) of the new weekly publication describe the main goals and principles they will put forward.
The Printers to the Public
As every kind of knowledge is not only entertaining and instructive to individuals, but a benefit to the community, there is great reason to hope, that a NEWSPAPER, properly conducted, and written with Accuracy, Freedom, and Impartiality, cannot fail of meeting with universal encouragement especially as it is allowed by all, that such a paper is at present much wanted in this colony.
Every one expects, and expects with reason, that when the attention of the public is solicited, the principles shall be laid down, on which the claim to public favour is founded.
Our design therefore is to publish in English and French, under the title of THE QUEBEC GAZETTE, a view of foreign affairs, and political transactions, from which a judgment may be formed of the interests and connections of the several powers of Europe : We shall also take particular care to collect the transactions of our mother country, and to introduce every remarkable event, each debate, extraordinary performance, and interesting turn of affairs, that shall be though to merit the notice of the reader as matter of entertainment, or that can be of service to the public as habitants of an English colony.
With regard to the MATERIAL OCCURENCES of the American Colonies, and West-Indian Islands, we may venture to affirm, that from the intensive correspondence, established for this purpose in each of them, many interesting truths will be laid before the public, with all becoming impartiality and candor.
The rigour of winter preventing the arrival of ships from Europe, and in a great measure interrupting the ordinary the ordinary course with the fourteen provinces during that season, it will be necessary, in a paper designed for reading, and public utility, to provide some things of general entertainment, independent of foreign intelligence, we shall, therefore , on such (…)*, present our readers with such Originals, both in Prose and Verse, as will please the imagination as well as the Judgment. And here we beg leave to observe, that we shall have nothing so much at hearth, a the support of Virtue and Morality, and the noble cause of Liberty : The refined (…) of Literature, and the pleasing (…) of (…) well (…) . (…) shall (…) be considered as necessary to this collection, (…) with other chosen pieces, and curious essays, (…) from the (…) (…) celebrated authors : So that blending Philosophy with Politics, History, etc. the youth of both sexes (…) (…) (…) And as this part of our project cannot be carried into execution without the correspondence of the Ingenious, we shall take all opportunities of acknowledging our obligations, to those who shall take the trouble of furnishing any matter which shall tend to entertainment, or instruction.
As many disappointments may accrue to such subscribers as reside in remote parts of the country, by want of care in these to be employed in distributing our papers ; we pray such gentlemen as many hereafter subscribe, as also those we have already subscribed to this understanding, to point out to us (in writing) their proper address, and the particular conveyances by which they would choose to have their papers sent.
Advertisements, the use of which is so well known to every body, by their effect on the sale of lands, and goods, will be inserted with particular care, and at reasonable prices. And our papers will not only circulate the several capitals, and other cities and towns of the British colonies in America, and through the Islands in the West-Indies, but also through the trading ports of Great Britain, and Ireland, by which means, those who advertise therein, cannot fall of a very extensive correspondence.
This is the sketch of the plan on which we propose to establish this paper, and as such an undertaking must in its infancy be attended with a heavy expense, we flatter ourselves that it will meet such farther encouragement as the execution thereof may deserve.
We take this earliest opportunity of acknowledging the favours we have received from the Gentlemen of this city, who have generously subscribed to our paper, and whose example will, we hope, influence a number sufficient to (….) as to carry on our understanding with a prospect of success.
Our intentions to please the Whole, without offense to any Individual, will be better evinced by our practice, than by writing volumes on this subject. This one thing we beg may be believed, That Party Prejudice, or private Scandal, will never find a place in this Paper.
*(…) indicate words impossible to read
Reference : The first issue of the Quebec Gazette - qg0001-1764:06:21
In the first issue of the this newspaper, there is no reference to the price of subscriptions. The price for advertising read as follow:
Five Shillings for each language the first week. One Shilling for following weeks. If published in both languages, eight Shillings for the first week, and two Shilling for the following weeks.
The American Invasion of winter 1775-1776
The Quebec Gazette had to resume its publication during the American Invasion of Quebec, in winter 1775-1776.
