94

sustained a most pressing loss, and the public
an industrious, arduous, and patriotic servant.⁶⁴

Hie Federal Gazette which, like other newspapers of the
period, seldom indulged in a long or detailed obituary,
paid Clayland this tribute:

In this young gentleman were centered many
amiable qualities, which promised considerable
advantage to society. He was the support of
an aged mother, and the prop of an unfortunate
family.⁶⁵

His estate, administered by Sarah Clayland, totaled
the pitifully small sum of $58.77. Of this, the value
of $9.75 was ascribed to his books, which were listed
as "7 volumes World displayed, 2 do Sheridons Diction-
ary, 7 Old Books".⁶⁶ The inventory also listed the
uniform and appurtenances which he wore as secretary
in the First Company of the First Battalion of the
Twenty-Seventh Maryland Regiment.⁶⁷ Dobbin retained
his partner's name in the heading of the Telegraphs
through 1798; from that date he appeared as sole pro-
prietor.

Like its rivals, the Federal Gazette and the Amer-
ican, the Telegraphe experienced a period of growth
about 1799, for on July 2 of that year, Dobbin announced
that

Impressed with a sense of the liberal encourage-

64 Telegraphe. December 7, 1797.

65 Federal gasette. December 4, 1797.

66 Baltimore. Inventories. Liber W.B.21, folio 308.

67 Maryland journal. May 15, 1795.