Butter’s print was succeeded by a host of “Mercuries,” but none of them were long-lived. They were started for particular objects, to advocate certain views, and sometimes to circulate the likeliest lies that could be invented to serve the cause espoused. Each of these was laid down when its mission was accomplished. During the civil war, nearly thirty thousand journals, pamphlets, and papers were issued in this manner. In the heat of hostilities, each army carried its printing-press as part of its munitions of war. Leaden types were employed with as much rancour and zeal as leaden bullets. These were often headed as News, such as “Newes out of Worcestershire,” “Newes of a bloody battle,” fought at such a place, &c. In 1662 a regular periodical, called the “Kingdom’s Intelligencer,” was started, and in the following year the “Intelligencer, published for the satisfaction and information of the people,” was set up by Sir Roger L’Estrange. All these were superseded by a journal, which has stood its ground so well that the last number came out only yesterday. This was the “Oxford Gazette,” set up in that city in 1665, and now known as the “London Gazette.” For many years after the Restoration this was the only newspaper; for the law restricted any man from publishing political news without the consent of the Crown. Charles and James the Second withheld that consent whenever it suited them, and put those who took “French leave” into the pillory. As a specimen of a newspaper, when these restrictions were abated, after the flight of James the Second, we may instance the “Universal Intelligencer.” It was small in size, and meagre in contents. It appeared only twice a week, and consisted of two pages; that is to say, one leaf of paper a little larger than the page on which the reader’s eye now rests, and with hardly so much matter. The number for December 11, 1688, boasts two advertisements. A small paragraph amongst its News describes the seizing of Judge Jefferies, in his attempt to escape from the anger of his enemies. Besides this interesting morsel of intelligence, the paper has sixteen lines of News from Ireland, and eight lines from Scotland; whilst under its News of England, we have not very much more. One of the items tells us, that “on the 7th inst. the Prince of Orange supt at the Bear Inn, Hungerford.” There are other headings, such as “Forrain News” and “Domestick News.” Each item of intelligence is a mere skeleton—more in the nature of memoranda, or notifications of events, than accounts of them. “Further particulars” had not been invented then.