Beschreibung:

FREEDOM OF THE PRESS]. [ZENGER, John Peter (1697-1746), Printer ]. The New-York Weekly Journal. Containing the freshest Advices, Foreign, and Domestick . Munday [ sic ] March 11, 1733. New York: John Peter Zenger 1733. 4to, 98 x 90mm. (11¾ x 7½ in.), 4 pages, headline on page 1, text printed two columns to the page, Zenger's imprint at bottom of page 4. (Small holes at central fold where once sewn, scattered, mainly marginal dampstains), tipped at front of the volume described below. Rare. AN ORIGINAL ISSUE OF ZENGER'S NEW-YORK WEEKLY JOURNAL An issue which epitomizes the outspokenly critical nature of Zenger's paper. Featured is an essay on government, signed "Cato," expounding on the need in human society for magistrates, observing that men sacrifice "part of their natural Liberty to acquire civil Security," though "frequently the Remedy prov'd worse than the Disease." The history of Rome under tyrants is cited as evidence that "Magistrates...trusted with too much Power, always abused it." But such Magistrates "either cannot subsist long, or will not suffer the Nation to subsist long." Cato, rather prophetically, asserts that "because Liberty chastises and shortens [curtails] Power, therefore Power would extinguish Liberty; and consequently Liberty has too much cause to be exceeding jealous, and always upon her Defence..." On page 3 is a brief, awkwardly written letter from "Jack Frenchman" to Mr. Zenger: "Me been read your Journals, and Mr. Bradford's Gazette; me find nothing, but the quarrel in them. That's true, I believe the quarrel will be good for the Country..." On page 4 is another letter to the editor from James Alexander: "We have seen a Letter, to Mr. Bradford...in the last New York Gazette, wherin he seems to suppose himself to be injured by us, and calls us his Accusers;" Alexander promises to "pay all due Regards" to Mr. Harrison "by a Vindication of our Conduct...within a short time." [ With :] HEARTMAN, Charles, F. John Peter Zenger and His Fight for the Freedom of the American Press . Highland Park: Harry B. Weiss 1934. Folio, 60 pp., original marbled paper boards, cover with printed label, uncut, (spine defective), slipcase (case defective). LIMITED EDITION, one of a total edition of 99 copies (this one unnumbered). A detailed account of Zenger's newspaper, the controversy it gave rise to, and his celebrated trial and acquittal. RARE.