In the prospectus of the paper given in No. 1, April 13, 1797, there occurs this paragraph: “In the Miscellany we present to the Public, it shall be our endeavour to combine amusement with information. Literary speculations, poetical productions of merit, extracts from popular works, and interesting anecdotes, shall occasionally be called in to relieve the more important details, which they shall not, however, in any instance be suffered to supersede. In this department of our undertaking, we hope from the arrangements we have made, to be able to furnish to the Public a species of entertainment, which will be a source of innocent and agreeable relaxation, while it will afford an opportunity for those of our young countrymen who are partial to the lighter species of literature, to indulge the excursions of their fancy, and ascertain, without abusing their time, how far they may be qualified to succeed in pleasing the Public.” The somewhat lengthy Prospectus does not parade the usual phrase about “the felt want,” but it implies it all the same, and it is pleasant to record that the _Kelso Mail_ is still flourishing, having published its centenary number in April 1897. By the courtesy of the present proprietor, there is given here a reduced facsimile of the first page of No. 1. For the purposes of the new paper James Ballantyne had to make several journeys—first to London, to arrange for correspondents, and also to Edinburgh and Glasgow, in order to obtain type and other printing appliances—Glasgow at that time having one of the best type-foundries in the country.