55

were to be flown from the flag staff as various kinds
of ships were sighted; other private signals were to
be flown, answering signals from the ships of those
merchants who had subscribed to Porter's service.⁸⁹
In 1798 the signals seem to have been suspended, for
want of subscribers.⁹⁰ Porter, however, used the
Observatory for popular entertainment, especially
fireworks display.⁹¹ It is not certain at what date
he left Baltimore; he died in New Orleans in 1808.⁹²

Pechin, now established at no. 15, Baltimore
Street, and temporarily not engaged in newspaper work,
procured an additional press, and "a quantity of new
type, of an elegant impression, which renders his of-
fice very extensive and complete"⁹³, and announced
that

he is induced to hope for a preference from
gentlemen, who have book-work, or hand-bills,
&c. of any kind - and assures them, he appro-
priates his office, and devotes his time, sole-
ly to printing in this line.⁹⁴

Pechin did moderately well in the book-publishing
trade. He issued at least one school text-book for
children, an edition of the New England Primer⁹⁵; and
he printed almanacs for the firm of Thomas, Andrews

89 Maryland journal. April 7, 1797,

90 Federal gazette. December 11, 1798.

91 Ibid. July 1, 1800.

92 Dictionary of American biography, v. 15, p, 83.

93 Federal gazette. April 24, 1797.

94 Ibid, April 24, 1797.

95 Appendix A. Imprint bibliography, item 448.