200

Cowan apprised his public that two Annapolis publica-
tions, "a copy of Bacon's laws,⁸ and a copy of Vallette^
Deputy commissary's guide,⁹ may be had of the printer
hereof,"¹⁰ (Whether for sale or for the general con-
venience of Easton lawyers, and others, is not clear.)

The first issue of James Cowan's paper was pub-
lished on Tuesday, May 11, 1790, "after a variety of
unlooked-for difficulties."¹¹ In his opening address

to his patrons, the editor stated:

That public prints have by no means had a general
circulation on the Eastern Shore, must be univer-
sally admitted. A great deal of important politi-
cal intelligence has never reached the great body
of the people at all; and when sometimes by ac-
cident they obtain it, it comes either with so
many additions, or such mutilation, that they
would be better off without it altogether. The '
few subscribers to remote prints may not, indeed,
derive much information from the establishment of
a press at Easton. But the editor conceives that
he will render an acceptable service to them, as
well as to their less opulent or enlightened
countrymen, if, by the successful prosecution of
his plan, he shall afford those advantages which
are enjoyed by our citizens in almost every cor-
ner of the United States.¹²

He announced his intention of informing them of

every important transaction in local government, of
everything that concerned them in the general govern-
ment, aad of every remarkable occurrence which he could

8 Wroth, L.C. A history of printing in colonial
Maryland. Maryland imprints, item 254.

9 Ibid. Maryland imprints, item 338.

10 Maryland herald, (Easton) July 12, 1791.

11 Ibid. May 11, 1790.

12 Ibid. May 11, 1790.