Newspaper Sunday The Weekly Register and the War of 1812

This week in Newspaper Sunday we're taking a detour to look at how an early news magazine, the Weekly Register, which was published in Baltimore by editor and printer Hezekiah Niles, covered events 200 years ago this summer.

Niles, who had been publishing a Baltimore newspaper in the early years of the 19th century, began publishing his magazine at the end of 1811. He sought to publish items about current news while also creating a permanent record of important documents.

A typical issue of the Weekly Register would contain news items collected from various regional newspapers, the text of speeches or letters from political figures, and a smattering of feature items about unusual events, foreign travel, or historical events.

Just as Niles was getting his magazine started, tensions between the United States and Britain escalated toward war. And during the eventful summer of 1812, issues of the Weekly Register mailed to subscribers informed a very curious public.

• The Weekly Register, June 27, 1812: After war was declared, President James Madison issued a public proclamation, which Niles printed on the front page of his magazine.
• The Weekly Register, June 27, 1812: Reflecting the diversity of Niles' magazine, a feature on "Roads in Spain" was published in the same issue as Madison's proclamation.
• The Weekly Register, June 27, 1812: An article headlined "Spirit of the Times" detailed military preparations.
• The Weekly Register, June 27, 1812: An article headlined "Upper Canada" openly described American plans to invade Canada. In reality, the invasion of Canada by General Hull would turn out to be a military disaster when Hull surrendered Detroit to British forces weeks later.
• The Weekly Register, July 18, 1812: The front page of the magazine a month into the war reflected a more sober mood: President Madison, after urging by Henry Clay and members of Congress, issued a proclamation calling for a national day of "Humiliation and Prayer."

Hezekiah Niles continued publishing his magazine throughout the War of 1812. During the Battle of Baltimore in September 1814 the magazine missed two issues, as the magazine staff was involved in efforts to defend the city. But Niles made up for it later in the year by publishing extra issues.

In the years following the war the magazine was renamed Nile's Weekly Register, and Hezekiah Niles continued to publish and mail out his magazine every week until his death in 1839. His son and other heirs sold the magazine, which continued publication until 1849.

Many, though unfortunately not all, of the bound volumes of Hezekiah Niles' magazine can be located today at Google Books. The magazines stand out as an amazing record of American life and thought in the early 19th century.

Illustration: President James Madison/Library of Congress

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Newspaper Sunday The Weekly Register and the War of 1812

This week in Newspaper Sunday we're taking a detour to look at how an early news magazine, the Weekly Register, which was published in Baltimore by editor and printer Hezekiah Niles, covered events 200 years ago this summer.

Niles, who had been publishing a Baltimore newspaper in the early years of the 19th century, began publishing his magazine at the end of 1811. He sought to publish items about current news while also creating a permanent record of important documents.

A typical issue of the Weekly Register would contain news items collected from various regional newspapers, the text of speeches or letters from political figures, and a smattering of feature items about unusual events, foreign travel, or historical events.

Just as Niles was getting his magazine started, tensions between the United States and Britain escalated toward war. And during the eventful summer of 1812, issues of the Weekly Register mailed to subscribers informed a very curious public.

• The Weekly Register, June 27, 1812: After war was declared, President James Madison issued a public proclamation, which Niles printed on the front page of his magazine.
• The Weekly Register, June 27, 1812: Reflecting the diversity of Niles' magazine, a feature on "Roads in Spain" was published in the same issue as Madison's proclamation.
• The Weekly Register, June 27, 1812: An article headlined "Spirit of the Times" detailed military preparations.
• The Weekly Register, June 27, 1812: An article headlined "Upper Canada" openly described American plans to invade Canada. In reality, the invasion of Canada by General Hull would turn out to be a military disaster when Hull surrendered Detroit to British forces weeks later.
• The Weekly Register, July 18, 1812: The front page of the magazine a month into the war reflected a more sober mood: President Madison, after urging by Henry Clay and members of Congress, issued a proclamation calling for a national day of "Humiliation and Prayer."

Hezekiah Niles continued publishing his magazine throughout the War of 1812. During the Battle of Baltimore in September 1814 the magazine missed two issues, as the magazine staff was involved in efforts to defend the city. But Niles made up for it later in the year by publishing extra issues.

In the years following the war the magazine was renamed Nile's Weekly Register, and Hezekiah Niles continued to publish and mail out his magazine every week until his death in 1839. His son and other heirs sold the magazine, which continued publication until 1849.

Many, though unfortunately not all, of the bound volumes of Hezekiah Niles' magazine can be located today at Google Books. The magazines stand out as an amazing record of American life and thought in the early 19th century.

Illustration: President James Madison/Library of Congress

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Newspaper Sunday The Weekly Register and the War of 1812

This week in Newspaper Sunday we're taking a detour to look at how an early news magazine, the Weekly Register, which was published in Baltimore by editor and printer Hezekiah Niles, covered events 200 years ago this summer.

Niles, who had been publishing a Baltimore newspaper in the early years of the 19th century, began publishing his magazine at the end of 1811. He sought to publish items about current news while also creating a permanent record of important documents.

A typical issue of the Weekly Register would contain news items collected from various regional newspapers, the text of speeches or letters from political figures, and a smattering of feature items about unusual events, foreign travel, or historical events.

Just as Niles was getting his magazine started, tensions between the United States and Britain escalated toward war. And during the eventful summer of 1812, issues of the Weekly Register mailed to subscribers informed a very curious public.

• The Weekly Register, June 27, 1812: After war was declared, President James Madison issued a public proclamation, which Niles printed on the front page of his magazine.
• The Weekly Register, June 27, 1812: Reflecting the diversity of Niles' magazine, a feature on "Roads in Spain" was published in the same issue as Madison's proclamation.
• The Weekly Register, June 27, 1812: An article headlined "Spirit of the Times" detailed military preparations.
• The Weekly Register, June 27, 1812: An article headlined "Upper Canada" openly described American plans to invade Canada. In reality, the invasion of Canada by General Hull would turn out to be a military disaster when Hull surrendered Detroit to British forces weeks later.
• The Weekly Register, July 18, 1812: The front page of the magazine a month into the war reflected a more sober mood: President Madison, after urging by Henry Clay and members of Congress, issued a proclamation calling for a national day of "Humiliation and Prayer."

Hezekiah Niles continued publishing his magazine throughout the War of 1812. During the Battle of Baltimore in September 1814 the magazine missed two issues, as the magazine staff was involved in efforts to defend the city. But Niles made up for it later in the year by publishing extra issues.

In the years following the war the magazine was renamed Nile's Weekly Register, and Hezekiah Niles continued to publish and mail out his magazine every week until his death in 1839. His son and other heirs sold the magazine, which continued publication until 1849.

Many, though unfortunately not all, of the bound volumes of Hezekiah Niles' magazine can be located today at Google Books. The magazines stand out as an amazing record of American life and thought in the early 19th century.

Illustration: President James Madison/Library of Congress

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Follow on Twitter: @History1800s

Newspaper Sunday The Weekly Register and the War of 1812

This week in Newspaper Sunday we're taking a detour to look at how an early news magazine, the Weekly Register, which was published in Baltimore by editor and printer Hezekiah Niles, covered events 200 years ago this summer.

Niles, who had been publishing a Baltimore newspaper in the early years of the 19th century, began publishing his magazine at the end of 1811. He sought to publish items about current news while also creating a permanent record of important documents.

A typical issue of the Weekly Register would contain news items collected from various regional newspapers, the text of speeches or letters from political figures, and a smattering of feature items about unusual events, foreign travel, or historical events.

Just as Niles was getting his magazine started, tensions between the United States and Britain escalated toward war. And during the eventful summer of 1812, issues of the Weekly Register mailed to subscribers informed a very curious public.

• The Weekly Register, June 27, 1812: After war was declared, President James Madison issued a public proclamation, which Niles printed on the front page of his magazine.
• The Weekly Register, June 27, 1812: Reflecting the diversity of Niles' magazine, a feature on "Roads in Spain" was published in the same issue as Madison's proclamation.
• The Weekly Register, June 27, 1812: An article headlined "Spirit of the Times" detailed military preparations.
• The Weekly Register, June 27, 1812: An article headlined "Upper Canada" openly described American plans to invade Canada. In reality, the invasion of Canada by General Hull would turn out to be a military disaster when Hull surrendered Detroit to British forces weeks later.
• The Weekly Register, July 18, 1812: The front page of the magazine a month into the war reflected a more sober mood: President Madison, after urging by Henry Clay and members of Congress, issued a proclamation calling for a national day of "Humiliation and Prayer."

Hezekiah Niles continued publishing his magazine throughout the War of 1812. During the Battle of Baltimore in September 1814 the magazine missed two issues, as the magazine staff was involved in efforts to defend the city. But Niles made up for it later in the year by publishing extra issues.

In the years following the war the magazine was renamed Nile's Weekly Register, and Hezekiah Niles continued to publish and mail out his magazine every week until his death in 1839. His son and other heirs sold the magazine, which continued publication until 1849.

Many, though unfortunately not all, of the bound volumes of Hezekiah Niles' magazine can be located today at Google Books. The magazines stand out as an amazing record of American life and thought in the early 19th century.

Illustration: President James Madison/Library of Congress

---

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Follow on Twitter: @History1800s

Newspaper Sunday The Weekly Register and the War of 1812

This week in Newspaper Sunday we're taking a detour to look at how an early news magazine, the Weekly Register, which was published in Baltimore by editor and printer Hezekiah Niles, covered events 200 years ago this summer.

Niles, who had been publishing a Baltimore newspaper in the early years of the 19th century, began publishing his magazine at the end of 1811. He sought to publish items about current news while also creating a permanent record of important documents.

A typical issue of the Weekly Register would contain news items collected from various regional newspapers, the text of speeches or letters from political figures, and a smattering of feature items about unusual events, foreign travel, or historical events.

Just as Niles was getting his magazine started, tensions between the United States and Britain escalated toward war. And during the eventful summer of 1812, issues of the Weekly Register mailed to subscribers informed a very curious public.

• The Weekly Register, June 27, 1812: After war was declared, President James Madison issued a public proclamation, which Niles printed on the front page of his magazine.
• The Weekly Register, June 27, 1812: Reflecting the diversity of Niles' magazine, a feature on "Roads in Spain" was published in the same issue as Madison's proclamation.
• The Weekly Register, June 27, 1812: An article headlined "Spirit of the Times" detailed military preparations.
• The Weekly Register, June 27, 1812: An article headlined "Upper Canada" openly described American plans to invade Canada. In reality, the invasion of Canada by General Hull would turn out to be a military disaster when Hull surrendered Detroit to British forces weeks later.
• The Weekly Register, July 18, 1812: The front page of the magazine a month into the war reflected a more sober mood: President Madison, after urging by Henry Clay and members of Congress, issued a proclamation calling for a national day of "Humiliation and Prayer."

Hezekiah Niles continued publishing his magazine throughout the War of 1812. During the Battle of Baltimore in September 1814 the magazine missed two issues, as the magazine staff was involved in efforts to defend the city. But Niles made up for it later in the year by publishing extra issues.

In the years following the war the magazine was renamed Nile's Weekly Register, and Hezekiah Niles continued to publish and mail out his magazine every week until his death in 1839. His son and other heirs sold the magazine, which continued publication until 1849.

Many, though unfortunately not all, of the bound volumes of Hezekiah Niles' magazine can be located today at Google Books. The magazines stand out as an amazing record of American life and thought in the early 19th century.

Illustration: President James Madison/Library of Congress

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A Call to Return the KohiNoor Diamond

Following the media focus on Britain for the Diamond Jubilee, the international edition of Time magazine has published a call for a return to India of an actual diamond, the famed gem known as the Koh-i-Noor.

The Koh-i-Noor, which has also been called the "Mountain of Light," has a long and complicated history. It was mined close to a thousand years ago, though some legends claim it is much older. It has turned up, at various times, in Persia and India.

In 1850, when the Punjab was conquered by the British in India, it was surrendered to the East India Company, which presented it to Queen Victoria.

The fabled jewel was displayed at the Great Exhibition of 1851. Crowds of the curious waited on line to see it. Many visitors, including the American editor Horace Greeley, reported being unimpressed with the gem, despite its legendary reputation.

A year later, the famous stone was cut by the firm of Coster of Amsterdam. It was reduced in size, but was said to exhibit more brilliance afterward.

The large diamond was worn at times by Queen Victoria, and was set into a crown worn by the mother of the present queen. It was seen by a vast television audience during the Queen Mother's funeral in 2002, as her crown, adorned with the Koh-i-Noor, was placed atop her coffin during the state ceremonies.

Among the legends surrounding the Koh-i-Noor is that males who wear it lose their thrones, while females are immune from any curse the diamond may exert. That may explain why only female members of Britain's Royal Family have ever worn it.

In the 19th century the diamond was often written about, as something might be said to be as priceless as the Koh-i-Noor. And in recent decades the Indian government has occasionally asked for its return, claiming that its removal from India was an act of unlawful plunder. For now, the fabled gem remains in London, but given how much it has moved during its long history, it is conceivable that the Koh-i-Noor could someday find a new home.

Illustration: The Koh-i-Noor as depicted on a trading card produced by an English tobacco company, circa 1890s/courtesy New York Public Library Digital Collections

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History With Crab Cakes On Marylands Eastern Shore

I had the great pleasure this past Saturday of enjoying a crab cake lunch with Burt Kummerow, the affable president of the Maryland Historical Society, and Mary Margaret Revell Goodwin, a lover of history who has been creating a very engaging web site.

Burt is the co-author, with historian Ralph Eshelman, of In Full Glory Reflected: Discovering the War of 1812 in the Chesapeake. I got a peek at Burt's advance proof of the book, which will be published this summer, and I'm looking forward to reading the entire text.

The Chesapeake campaign waged by the Royal Navy and British Army is generally remembered for the burning of Washington and for the attack on Baltimore's Fort McHenry, which, of course, led to the writing of the "Star-Spangled Banner." But a series of raids and invasions up and down the Chesapeake Bay deserve a closer look which the new book will provide.

Mary Margaret's charmingly informative web site puts a focus on War of 1812 action on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. When the British sailed into Kent Island they seized provisions and livestock and liberated about 80 slaves.

In often overlooked episodes, British officers would guarantee freedom to slaves they liberated in Maryland. Mary Margaret told me the story of how some officers of the Royal Navy were good to their word after the war, making sure former slaves received land in British colonies such as Jamaica, Trinidad, or Canada.

The State of Maryland has big plans to commemorate the War of 1812 Bicentennial, and it was a pleasure to spend time with Burt and Mary Margaret and hear some of what they have in the works.

Savoring their stories, along with fresh crab cakes and draft beer at a traditional crab house on Maryland's Eastern Shore, I could not have asked for a more pleasant Saturday afternoon.

Illustration: Commodore Joshua Barney of the U.S. Navy, a Baltimore native who bravely defended the Chesapeake Bay in 1814/Library of Congress

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