223

it became apparent that the local printers were distrib-
uting practically every kind of publication desired
in their communities.

During the decade 1791-1800, the presses of Balti-
more and the other Maryland towns were gradually broad-
ening the scope and number of their publications. The
books printed locally were usually those which had a
quick appeal. It is true that there were examples of
fine printing; Pechin's edition of the Works of Jose-
phus, begun in 1795 is the best example. There were the
laws and ordinances, still an important function of the
local printer. However, books on timely subjects were
much more numerous; they were political pamphlets,
national legislation reprinted in convenient form for
the convenience of the citizenry, sermons preached on
certain momentous occasions, bocks of rules and pro-
ceedings of local organizations, recreational and popu-
lar instructive reading (mainly novels, popular songs
and verse, with and without music, religious tracts
and medical books); school texts, and the ephemeral
Periodicals, newspapers and broadsides.

George Washington was still the first citizen of
the republic, and his resignation from the presidency
in 1796, and his death in 1799 were causes for many
Pamphlet publications in Maryland, as in other states.

With the close of Washington's second administra-