The Devon book trades: a biographical dictionary. Exeter. 1718-1719
Journals of the House of Commons
4 December, 1718.
Complaint being made to the House of Two printed Pamphlets; the one intituled "The Exeter Mercury, or Weekly Intelligence, from Tuesday November 25th, to Friday November 28th, 1718," printed and sold by George Bishop; the other, intituled, "The Protestant Mercury, or The Exeter Post-Boy, Friday, November the 28th," printed by Jos. Bliss, 1718; wherein the Resolutions and Proceedings of this House are falsly represented, and printed; in Contempt of the Order, and in Breach of the Privilege, of this House;
The said Pamphlets were delivered in at the Table; and several Paragraphs out of them were read.
Ordered, That the said George Bishop and Jos. Bliss do attend this House upon this Day Fortnight
18 December, 1718
George Bishop, Printer at Exeter, attending, according to Order;
He was called in to the Bar; Where he owned the Printing of the Pamphlet complained of; and said, He had the Intelligence from News Letters sent to Coffee-houses at Exeter; Two of which he produced, and delivered in to the House:
And several Paragraphs of them were read.
And then he withdrew.
Resolved, That George Bishop, Printer at Exeter, having printed the Proceedings of this House, in Contempt of their Order, is guilty of a Breach of privilege of this House.
Ordered, That the said George Bishop be, for the said Breach of privilege, be taken into the Custody of the Serjeant at Arms attending the House.
Jos. Bliss, Printer at Exeter, not attending;
The Serjeant at Arms, and his Mesenger, were called upon to give an Account of the Service of the Order of the Fourth Instant, upon the said Jos. Blisse: Who gave an Account, That a Copy of the Order was left at his House, with his Daughter; and read to her, he being not at home; and she saying, She did not know when he would be.
Ordered, That the said Jos. Blisse, having been summoned to attend this House the Eighteenth Instant upon a Complaint made against him the Fourth Instant, for printing the Proceedings of this House, in Contempt of their Order; and he not attending then, nor this Day; be, for his said Contempt, taken into the custody of the Serjeant of Arms attending this House.
Ordered, That a Committee be appointed, to inquire who were the Authors or Writers of the Two News-Letters delivered in by George Bishop, Printer at Exeter; and report the same to the House.
And it is referred to Mr. Comptroller, [... and 46 named persons]: And they are to meet the Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber: And have Power to send for Persons, Papers, and Records.
Ordered, That the said Two Letters be referred to the said Committe.
The Devon book trades: a biographical dictionary. Exeter. 1718-1719
N.B. No pressmakers apart from John Baker are recorded in directories but Richard Down , machine maker, Shilhay 1825d, or R.Knowling, joiner and machine maker, Bartholomew Street 1832d are examples of persons who could have made or repaired presses. Paper and rag trades separately listed.
Journals of the House of Commons
4 December, 1718.
Complaint being made to the House of Two printed Pamphlets; the one intituled "The Exeter Mercury, or Weekly Intelligence, from Tuesday November 25th, to Friday November 28th, 1718," printed and sold by George Bishop; the other, intituled, "The Protestant Mercury, or The Exeter Post-Boy, Friday, November the 28th," printed by Jos. Bliss, 1718; wherein the Resolutions and Proceedings of this House are falsly represented, and printed; in Contempt of the Order, and in Breach of the Privilege, of this House;
The said Pamphlets were delivered in at the Table; and several Paragraphs out of them were read.
Ordered, That the said George Bishop and Jos. Bliss do attend this House upon this Day Fortnight
18 December, 1718
George Bishop, Printer at Exeter, attending, according to Order;
He was called in to the Bar; Where he owned the Printing of the Pamphlet complained of; and said, He had the Intelligence from News Letters sent to Coffee-houses at Exeter; Two of which he produced, and delivered in to the House:
And several Paragraphs of them were read.
And then he withdrew.
Resolved, That George Bishop, Printer at Exeter, having printed the Proceedings of this House, in Contempt of their Order, is guilty of a Breach of privilege of this House.
Ordered, That the said George Bishop be, for the said Breach of privilege, be taken into the Custody of the Serjeant at Arms attending the House.
Jos. Bliss, Printer at Exeter, not attending;
The Serjeant at Arms, and his Mesenger, were called upon to give an Account of the Service of the Order of the Fourth Instant, upon the said Jos. Blisse: Who gave an Account, That a Copy of the Order was left at his House, with his Daughter; and read to her, he being not at home; and she saying, She did not know when he would be.
Ordered, That the said Jos. Blisse, having been summoned to attend this House the Eighteenth Instant upon a Complaint made against him the Fourth Instant, for printing the Proceedings of this House, in Contempt of their Order; and he not attending then, nor this Day; be, for his said Contempt, taken into the custody of the Serjeant of Arms attending this House.
Ordered, That a Committee be appointed, to inquire who were the Authors or Writers of the Two News-Letters delivered in by George Bishop, Printer at Exeter; and report the same to the House.
And it is referred to Mr. Comptroller, [... and 46 named persons]: And they are to meet the Afternoon at Five a Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber: And have Power to send for Persons, Papers, and Records.
Ordered, That the said Two Letters be referred to the said Committe.
A Complaint being made to the House of a printed Pamphlet; intituled "The Postmaster, or, The Loyal Mercury, Friday, November the 28th, 1718; Exon, Printed by Andrew Brice at the Head of the Serge-Market in Southgate-street:" wherein the Resolutions and Proceedings of this House are falsly represented and printed, in Contempt of the Order, and in Breach of the Privilege, of this House;
The said Pamphlet was delivered in at the Clerk's Table:
And Paragraphs whereof were read.
Ordered, That the said Andrew Brice do attend this House upon Wednesday the Fourteenth Day of January next.
14 January, 1719
The Orders of the Day being read;
And Andrew Brice the Printer at Exon, attending, according to Order;
He was called in, to the Bar: Where he owned the Printing of the pamphlet complained of; and said, He had the Intelligence from News-Letters sent to Coffee-houses at Exeter.
And he then withdrew.
Resolved, That Andrew Brice, Printer at Exeter, having printed the Proceedings of this House, in Contempt of their Order, is guilty of a Breach of the Privilege of this House.
Ordered, That the said Andrew Brice be, for the said Breach of Privilege, be taken into the Custody of the Serjeant at Arms attending this House.
The Serjeant at Arms, and his Messenger, being called upon to give an Account of what had been done upon the Order of the Nineteenth Instant, for his taking into Custody Jos. Blisse, Printer at Exeter; the Messenger acquainted the House, That he had been at the said Jos. Blisse's House, and had searched the same for him; but that he could not find him, to take him into Custody.
After which, Mr. Speaker acquainted the House, That he had received a Letter from the said Jos. Blisse; by which he owned the printing of the Pamphlet complained of: and acknowledgged his Offence in so doing, and begged the Pardon of the House for the same; faithfully promising never more to print any of their Resolutions, any part of their Votes, or any other thing whatsoever that may be in Breach of their order: And, as upon his knees at the Bar of this House, humbly prayed, That the House would not proceed any further against him; which if they did, it would end in the Ruin of himself and his children; he being wholly void of Friends and Money, and in no Condition to make Satisfaction for any part of his Fees.
Ordered, That the said Jos. Blisse be discharged of his said Commitment.
1769: Sale of several thousand new books at Turk's Head EFP 31/3/1769 3d.
1778: Auction sale of several thousand new books at Swan Inn EFP 27/11/1778 3d.
1781: Auction sale of new books EFP 30/11/1781 3d.
1792: List of persons selling Mr. Jones's solid black lead pencils EFP 24/5/1792 2d.
1829: Letter on problems of newspaper reporters obtaining public information EFP 19/11/1829 4a.
1871: Booksellers and stationers to close at 5 p.m. EFP 3/5/1871 5c, 9/4/1873 5d.
This page last updated: 3 July 2014
