56

and Butler, and for Isaac Briggs.⁹⁶ There is an intima-
tion, too, that Pechin succeeded to the post of printer
to the city of Baltimore, left vacant by Philip Edwards,
editor of the Maryland. Journal. In March, 1798:

W. Pechin renders a sincere tribute of his warmest
thanks to his friends in general, and in particular
to those official gentlemen of this city, who have
so kindly honoured him with their patronage; the
beauty of his type, a strict attention to business,
and his moderate charges for printing of every
kind - he fondly hopes, will insure him a contin-
uance of favors from a generous public.⁹⁷

If Pechin actually engaged in official printing for the
city, the extent of his work is not known.

Newspaper publishing, however, was Pechin's first
love; and in January, 1798, he launched the idea of a
new sheet, the Baltimore Intelligencer, obtained sub-
scriters, and intended it to make its first appearance
on February 12⁹⁸; tut publication was delayed until
March 7. Like the Eagle of Freedom, this new sheet, ac-
cording to its prospectus, was to te published every
Monday, Wednesday and Friday, at a cost to subscribers
of three dollars per annum, and every subscriber would
to entitled to advertise at half price through its col-
umns. It would be printed with a new type on paper of
quarto royal size. Its plan would be similar to that

of a magazine; one page, at least, would be devoted to

96 Appendix 4. Imprint bibliography, items 346,

416, 417.

97 Baltimore Intelligencer. March 7, 1798.
98 Telegraphe. January 27, 1798.