219

guished patronage he enjoys, and assures his
fellow-citisens, that neither industry nor attri-
tion shall be wanting to entitle him to a contin-
uance of it.¹⁴

This does not sound like an editor's farewell ad-
dress, but since no issues of the Chestortown Gazette
have been found later than December 31, 1793, it may
be assumed that the newspaper ceased with that date,
or shortly thereafter. Saunders carried on his print-
ing business in Chestertown for a short time, at least,
during the year 1794, for An Act to Regulate and Dis-
cipline the Militia of this State [Maryland] ¹⁵ was
issued from his office during that year.

A Robert Saunders, paper-manufacturer, and later,
printer and publisher of the newspapers the Diary,
and the Time Piece, resided in New York City from 1794
through 1805.¹⁶ Here, again, there is nothing to link
this Robert Saunders with the Chestertown printer ex-
cept similarity of name and occupation.

This was Chestertown's first authenticated print-
ing establishment, the press of Robert Saunders, whose
identity is open to considerable question, and of
George Gerrish, whose integrity was certainly not above
reproach. An interval of seventy-one years had passed

14 Chestertown gazette. December 31, 1793,
15 Appendix A. Imprint bibliography, item 183.
16 McKay, G.L. A register of artists, engravers
1633-1820. p. 64.