'That excellent and by all Physicians approved _China_ Drink, called by the _Chineans, Tcha_, by other Nations _Tay_, alias _Tee_, is sold at the _Sultaness' Head Cophee House_, in _Sweeting's_ Rents, by the Royal Exchange, _London_.'
The earliest illustrated paper is _Mercurius Civicus, London's Intelligencer_, in 1643. The first commercial newspaper was a venture of L'Estrange's in 1675, and was styled _The City Mercury, or Advertisements concerning Trade_. The first literary paper issued from the press in 1680, under the denomination of _Mercurius Librarius, or a Faithful Account of all Books and Pamphlets_. The first sporting paper was _The Jockey's Intelligencer, or Weekly Advertisements of Horses and Second-hand Coaches to be Bought or Sold_, in 1683. The first medical paper, _Observations on the Weekly Bill, from July 27 to August 3, with Directions how to avoid the Dis eases now prevalent_, came out in 1686; and the first comic newspaper, _The Merrie Mercury_, in 1700. Notwithstanding these 'first appearances on any stage,' there never was a darker or more dismal period in the history of journalism. A great number of newspapers had sprung up in consequence of the Popish Plot, and the exclusion of the Duke of York--the respectable admiralty clerk of Macaulay--from the throne; and with the intention of sweeping these away, a royal 'proclamation for suppressing the printing and publishing unlicensed news books and pamphlets of news' was put forth in 1680. Vigorous action against recalcitrants followed, and with such pliant tools as those perjured wretches, Scroggs and Jeffreys, for judge and prosecutor, convictions and the 'extremest punishment of the law' became a foregone conclusion. Doubtless there were many vile scribblers who deserved to have the severest penalties inflicted upon them, but no discrimination was used, and good and bad alike experienced the vengeance of 'divine right.' The aim of the abandoned monarch and his advisers was manifestly total extermination, and journalism appeared to be at its last gasp. But though crushed and mutilated in every limb, and bleeding at every pore, faint respirations every now and then showed that the vital spark still lingered. But brighter days were at hand. That festering mass of mental and bodily corruption which had once worn a crown, was buried away out of the sight of indignant humanity, and the vacillating James with feeble steps mounted the tottering throne. The licensing act had expired in 1679, and had not been again renewed, for there were no newspapers to license. Upon the alarm of Monmouth's invasion, James renewed it temporarily for seven years. Journalism reared its head again, and the court party, instead of persecuting, found itself compelled to fawn and flatter and sue for its protection and support. Newspapers, both native and imported from Holland in large numbers, played an important part in the Revolution, and paved the way for the downfall of the Stuarts and the advent of William and the Protestant Succession.