“Another striking figure of pre-Revolutionary days, and an aggressive if unpopular one, was Hugh Gaine, the printer. And it is strange that after Bradford and Franklin, the two great figures in the early history of printing in America should be those of Irishmen—Gaine in New York and Matthew Carey in Philadelphia. Gaine has been a much-abused man and was very unpopular during the Revolutionary period, but he is an example of a successful business man. Born at Belfast in 1726, he was apprenticed at an early age to James McGee, a printer there. He emigrated to New York in 1745 ‘without basket or burden,’ and secured employment with James Parker at wages of $1.25 a week. He went into the business of bookselling in 1752 in partnership with William Weyman, a former apprentice of William Bradford. A characteristic advertisement of the period is the following: ‘To be sold by Weyman & Gaine at their House on Hunters’ Key, next door but one to Mr. Perry’s, Watchmaker; Bibles of different Sizes, with and without the Common Prayer; gilt and plain Common Prayers of most sorts, Church and Meeting Psalm Books, History of the New Testament, History of the Five Indian Nations, Account of the Earthquake at Lima, Ovid’s Metamorphosis, Virgil, Cornelius Nepos, Mariners’ Compasses, Scales and Dividers, Writing paper by the Quire or Sheet, also choice good Bonnet Papers.’ On August 3, 1752, Gaine alone commenced the publication of the _New York Mercury_ at the same store, the subscription being twelve shillings per year, and advertisements of a moderate length were published for five shillings each. He sold books and stationery as well at this time, and his was one of two stores where theatre tickets were sold. After various migrations the business was finally located at the Bible and Crown in Hanover Square in 1745. During a bitter controversy caused by the attempt of the Presbyterians to curb what they thought was the undue dominance of the Episcopalians, a letter in the form of a petition ostensibly coming from the Irish residents in New York, was sent by a committee for insertion in the _Mercury_, to be published anonymously; but the letter was in bad English, misspelled and full of ridiculous exaggerations—all purposely done—and Gaine refused to print it as a reflection on the Irish nation, of which he was proud. _The Mercury_, in 1758, in announcing the fall of Louisburg, printed a wood cut diagram of the fortress—an unusual piece of enterprise for the times. That printers did not then consider advertising the principal feature of their papers may be inferred from his apology in an issue of 1759: ‘We hope those of our customers whose advertisements are omitted this week will not take it amiss, it being occasioned by the agreeable advice received from the Fleet and Army at Quebec.’ In this connection it may be noted that in 1755 he had offered for sale ‘A very few brass