The first that came out in the interests of the new Government were the _Orange Intelligencer_ and the _Orange Gazette_. The opponents of the ministry also started organs of their own, and the paper warfare went gayly on, but with more decency and courtesy than heretofore. William did not show himself disposed to hamper the press in any way, but Parliament, in 1694, proved its hostility by an ordinance 'that no news-letter writers do, in their letters or other papers that they disperse, presume to intermeddle with the debates or other proceedings of this House.' This was only a momentary ebullition of spleen. The licensing act, which expired in 1692, had been renewed for one year, but at the end of that period disappeared forever from English legislation. The House of Lords--obstructive as usual to all real progress--endeavored to revive it, but the Commons refused their consent, and a second attempt in 1697 met with a like defeat. This obstacle being happily got rid of, new journals of all kinds arose every day. One was called _The Ladies' Mercury_; a second, _The London Mercury_, _or_ _Mercure de Londres_, and was printed in parallel English and French columns. A third was entitled _Mercurios Reformatus_, and was, during a portion of its existence, edited by the famous Bishop Burnet. Some were half written and half printed. One of these, the _Flying Post_, in 1695, says in its prospectus: 'If any gentleman has a mind to oblige his country friend or correspondent with this account of public affairs, he may have it for twopence of J. Salisbury, at the Rising Sun, in Cornhill, on a sheet of fine paper, half of which being blank, he may thereon write his own private business, or the material news of the day.' In 1696, Dawks's _News Letter_ appeared, printed in a sort of running type, to imitate handwriting, with the following quaint announcement: 'This letter will be done upon good writing paper, and blank space left, that any gentleman may write his own private business. It does, undoubtedly, exceed the best of the written news, contains double the quantity, with abundant more ease and pleasure, and will be useful to improve the younger sort in writing a curious hand.'