Prior to the founding of the _Mercurio peruano_ there had existed a periodical for the presentation of economic and commercial subjects called _Diario erudito_, which ceased publication at the end of its second year. The first number of the _Mercurio_ appeared on the first of January, 1791, under the editorial direction of Jacín de Calero y Moreyra. The periodical itself was designed to treat of scientific, political, commercial, historical, and statistical subjects, in a manner hitherto quite unknown in the colonies. It was continued until eleven volumes had been completed by the association; and on the failure of funds to meet further expenses of publication, Padre Cisneros, who had succeeded the former secretary of the society caused a twelfth volume to be printed at his own expense. In this year, 1791, there was formed, moreover, a new society called “Tertulia poética,” which held frequent meetings for the examination of articles or poems presented, some of which were published in the _Mercurio peruano_. [Sidenote: _Gaceta de Lima_] [Sidenote: Anti-revolutionary propaganda] In 1793 the viceroy decided to publish a _Gaceta de Lima_, reviving a title that had been used in the middle of the century, in order that the inhabitants of the viceroyalty might have a properly accredited journal that would inform them regarding the excesses of the French Revolution, of which various rumours were reaching their ears. For this purpose the viceroy concluded that it would be better to have an independent journal rather than to give to the _Mercurio peruano_ an official character. The number of the persons associated with the _Mercurio_ would make it practically impossible to prevent their intervention in the determination of what should be published. These persons, for the greater part, were men of high ideals and not in sympathy with all of the views and practices of the government, and the viceroy had doubtless reason to believe that their interference would furnish a source of embarrassment, for he evidently did not propose, in the gazette, to present the unvarnished truth, but, on the other hand, through its pages, to carry on a propaganda against revolutionary doctrines, free criticism of the Church, and republican attacks on the absolute state. The _Gaceta_ was continued until 1821; and it made public only such facts or documents as the government wished to have known, in other words, falsified and garbled information. V [Sidenote: Hipólito Unánue]