periodical publications, daily, weekly, &c., for the purpose of communicating to the world every thing of importance, whether political or literary, &c., which is going on. They have tended much to the dissemination of learning, and have served many other valuable purposes; and while they are carried on with candour, impartiality, and ability, they are unquestionably a great national benefit. When this, however, is not the case, and it often happens, they disgrace their authors, and are highly injurious to the public. They were first published in England, August 22, 1642. Journal de Scavans, a French paper, was first published in 1665, though one was printed in England, under the title of the Public Intelligence, by Sir Roger L'Estrange, 1663, which he dropped, on the publication of the first London Gazette. Newspapers and pamphlets were prohibited by royal proclamation 1680. Though at the Revolution prohibitions of this kind were done away, and the press set at liberty, yet newspapers were afterwards made objects of taxation, and for this purpose were first stamped in 1713. The number of them, however, gradually increased; and there were printed in the whole kingdom during the years 1775, 12,680,000; 1776, 12,830,000; 1777, 13,159,642; 1778, 13,240,059; 1779, 14,106,842; 1780, 14,217,371; 1781, 14,397,622; 1782, 15,272,519. They are now still more numerous. The average number of newspapers printed in England at the close of the reign of George II. was 9,464,790. The number in 1792, was 14,935,639; in 1792, it was 15,055,760.

Chalmers' Life of Ruddiman, p. 442.

NEW STYLE, first used in England in 1753, was introduced into the western world by Pope Gregory XIII. See CHRONOLOGY, No. 24.