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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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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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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Learning History From an Old Friend at Yosemite

I just spent a week camping in Yosemite National Park, one of the greatest places on the planet, and a highlight of the visit was having a chance to meet up with an old friend I hadn't seen in ages, Pete Devine, who works for the Yosemite Conservancy.

The conservancy is the non-profit support group which encourages and funds education and conservation projects in the park. Pete is the conservancy's Resident Naturalist, and by keeping alive the work of such giants as John Muir, Pete may have one of the best jobs in America.

On the evening I met up with Pete, he was leading a "Walk With a Naturalist" program that began on the back lawn of Yosemite's historic Awahnee Hotel. On the hour-long walk — just one of many free programs Yosemite offers for visitors every day — Pete talked about some of the history of Yosemite Valley.

I was naturally very interested to hear stories of Yosemite in the 19th century. Some of the history Pete related involved unfortunate encounters between white explorers and the Indians who called Yosemite Valley home in the 1850s. But some of the history of Yosemite also reflects the better parts of human nature, including the efforts to preserve the valley's natural beauty, which began in the late 1800s.

I strongly encourage you to visit an American National Park, and try to visit Yosemite if you can. I'd also suggest you read Pete's Yosemite Nature Notes blog. Pete's a very engaging blogger, and it's heartening to see him sharing his great depth of knowledge about Yosemite's spectacular natural world with the entire web.

And if you're interested in helping preserve Yosemite for future generations, please get involved with the Yosemite Conservancy. The people at the conservancy do a fine job, and they can use your help to fund important projects that teach today's visitors about Yosemite while also protecting the park so it will inspire future generations.

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Photo: Pete Devine leading a "Walk With a Naturalist" group at Yosemite, with Half Dome in the background/photograph by Robert McNamara

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Tupac Illusion Is Rooted in the 19th Century

Pop culture received a startling infusion from the 19th century this week: the purported hologram of rapper Tupac Shakur that made news at the Coachella music festival on Sunday night was really based on an illusion devised in the mid-1800s.

The image of Tupac was not really a hologram, it was a bit of elaborate stagecraft known as a Pepper's Ghost. The illusion was first created by a British inventor named Henry Dircks, who called the trick The Dircksian Phantasmagoria.

The technique was clever, but difficult to implement in a normal theater, as an actor had to be in a special compartment under a hole cut in the stage. As he performed, stagehands would manipulate mirrors to project his image upward, onto panes of glass. The actor would appear as a translucent figure onstage.

The method of Dircks was improved upon by a British scientist, John Henry Pepper. With some modifications, the illusion could be performed in an ordinary theater, and it was used in a production of The Haunted Man, a play based on a Christmas tale by Charles Dickens.

Over time the illusion has been employed in theme parks and museums. And modern teleprompters are based on the principle first used in the Dircksian Phantasmagoria.

Modern versions of the Pepper's Ghost — the name which stuck — employ modern materials which were obviously not available in the 19th century. The image of Tupac Shakur which appeared to be performing onstage was apparently a film projected onto a clear sheet of Mylar, lightweight plastic with a reflective surface.

Illustration: Diagram from a book by Henry Dircks relating principles of the Dircksian Phantasmagoria/E. and F.N. Spon, now in public domain

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Newspaper Sunday Frederick Douglass in Ireland and England

A fascinating episode from the period before the Civil War concerns a trip the escaped slave and abolitionist Frederick Douglass took to England and Ireland in the mid-1840s.

Douglass left the United States for two reasons: he wanted to raise funds for the American abolitionist movement, and he wanted to put himself outside of U.S. legal jurisdiction. Under American law, he was still considered property belonging to a slave owner in Maryland.

Douglass often found a welcoming audience among the English and Irish, and some sympathetic American newspapers reported on his appearances.

• New York Tribune, November 19, 1845: A brief account of the welcome Douglass received in the Irish cities of Dublin and Cork.
• New York Tribune, February 2, 1846: A letter from Ireland Douglass had written to The Liberator, the fiery abolitionist newspaper published by William Lloyd Garrison, was reprinted in one of New York's leading papers.
• The Anti-Slavery Bugle, April 10, 1846: A letter from Douglass to William Lloyd Garrison appeared in an Ohio abolitionist newspaper. Douglass described the poverty and oppression he witnessed in Ireland.
• New York Tribune, June 16, 1846: A description of an address Douglass gave in England provided dramatic details about the content of his speeches.
• Anti-Slavery Bugle, May 28, 1847: An American abolitionist newspaper reprinted a story, from the Times of London, concerning the controversy that erupted when Douglass left Britain in the spring of 1847. As he boarded the Cunard liner Cambria he was told he could not stay in the first class cabin he had paid for. Douglass was eventually able to use his cabin, but was forced to eat alone on the ship. The British public was offended that American prejudices had intruded on a British liner.

Upon returning to America, Douglass, with money he had raised overseas, purchased his freedom. It was a controversial move among ardent abolitionists, who considered the buying of freedom an acceptance of the legality of slavery. But Douglass wanted to ensure he could continue his speaking and writing without fear of being abducted.

And, of course, he continued to rise to prominence as one of the great voices of freedom in 19th century America.

Note: after visiting the links at the Chronicling America site of the Library of Congress, use the "persistent link" to view the entire page of the newspaper.

More:

• Frederick Douglass biography
• William Lloyd Garrison biography

Illustration: Frederick Douglass/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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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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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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Learning History From an Old Friend at Yosemite

I just spent a week camping in Yosemite National Park, one of the greatest places on the planet, and a highlight of the visit was having a chance to meet up with an old friend I hadn't seen in ages, Pete Devine, who works for the Yosemite Conservancy.

The conservancy is the non-profit support group which encourages and funds education and conservation projects in the park. Pete is the conservancy's Resident Naturalist, and by keeping alive the work of such giants as John Muir, Pete may have one of the best jobs in America.

On the evening I met up with Pete, he was leading a "Walk With a Naturalist" program that began on the back lawn of Yosemite's historic Awahnee Hotel. On the hour-long walk — just one of many free programs Yosemite offers for visitors every day — Pete talked about some of the history of Yosemite Valley.

I was naturally very interested to hear stories of Yosemite in the 19th century. Some of the history Pete related involved unfortunate encounters between white explorers and the Indians who called Yosemite Valley home in the 1850s. But some of the history of Yosemite also reflects the better parts of human nature, including the efforts to preserve the valley's natural beauty, which began in the late 1800s.

I strongly encourage you to visit an American National Park, and try to visit Yosemite if you can. I'd also suggest you read Pete's Yosemite Nature Notes blog. Pete's a very engaging blogger, and it's heartening to see him sharing his great depth of knowledge about Yosemite's spectacular natural world with the entire web.

And if you're interested in helping preserve Yosemite for future generations, please get involved with the Yosemite Conservancy. The people at the conservancy do a fine job, and they can use your help to fund important projects that teach today's visitors about Yosemite while also protecting the park so it will inspire future generations.

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Photo: Pete Devine leading a "Walk With a Naturalist" group at Yosemite, with Half Dome in the background/photograph by Robert McNamara

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Tupac Illusion Is Rooted in the 19th Century

Pop culture received a startling infusion from the 19th century this week: the purported hologram of rapper Tupac Shakur that made news at the Coachella music festival on Sunday night was really based on an illusion devised in the mid-1800s.

The image of Tupac was not really a hologram, it was a bit of elaborate stagecraft known as a Pepper's Ghost. The illusion was first created by a British inventor named Henry Dircks, who called the trick The Dircksian Phantasmagoria.

The technique was clever, but difficult to implement in a normal theater, as an actor had to be in a special compartment under a hole cut in the stage. As he performed, stagehands would manipulate mirrors to project his image upward, onto panes of glass. The actor would appear as a translucent figure onstage.

The method of Dircks was improved upon by a British scientist, John Henry Pepper. With some modifications, the illusion could be performed in an ordinary theater, and it was used in a production of The Haunted Man, a play based on a Christmas tale by Charles Dickens.

Over time the illusion has been employed in theme parks and museums. And modern teleprompters are based on the principle first used in the Dircksian Phantasmagoria.

Modern versions of the Pepper's Ghost — the name which stuck — employ modern materials which were obviously not available in the 19th century. The image of Tupac Shakur which appeared to be performing onstage was apparently a film projected onto a clear sheet of Mylar, lightweight plastic with a reflective surface.

Illustration: Diagram from a book by Henry Dircks relating principles of the Dircksian Phantasmagoria/E. and F.N. Spon, now in public domain

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Newspaper Sunday Frederick Douglass in Ireland and England

A fascinating episode from the period before the Civil War concerns a trip the escaped slave and abolitionist Frederick Douglass took to England and Ireland in the mid-1840s.

Douglass left the United States for two reasons: he wanted to raise funds for the American abolitionist movement, and he wanted to put himself outside of U.S. legal jurisdiction. Under American law, he was still considered property belonging to a slave owner in Maryland.

Douglass often found a welcoming audience among the English and Irish, and some sympathetic American newspapers reported on his appearances.

• New York Tribune, November 19, 1845: A brief account of the welcome Douglass received in the Irish cities of Dublin and Cork.
• New York Tribune, February 2, 1846: A letter from Ireland Douglass had written to The Liberator, the fiery abolitionist newspaper published by William Lloyd Garrison, was reprinted in one of New York's leading papers.
• The Anti-Slavery Bugle, April 10, 1846: A letter from Douglass to William Lloyd Garrison appeared in an Ohio abolitionist newspaper. Douglass described the poverty and oppression he witnessed in Ireland.
• New York Tribune, June 16, 1846: A description of an address Douglass gave in England provided dramatic details about the content of his speeches.
• Anti-Slavery Bugle, May 28, 1847: An American abolitionist newspaper reprinted a story, from the Times of London, concerning the controversy that erupted when Douglass left Britain in the spring of 1847. As he boarded the Cunard liner Cambria he was told he could not stay in the first class cabin he had paid for. Douglass was eventually able to use his cabin, but was forced to eat alone on the ship. The British public was offended that American prejudices had intruded on a British liner.

Upon returning to America, Douglass, with money he had raised overseas, purchased his freedom. It was a controversial move among ardent abolitionists, who considered the buying of freedom an acceptance of the legality of slavery. But Douglass wanted to ensure he could continue his speaking and writing without fear of being abducted.

And, of course, he continued to rise to prominence as one of the great voices of freedom in 19th century America.

Note: after visiting the links at the Chronicling America site of the Library of Congress, use the "persistent link" to view the entire page of the newspaper.

More:

• Frederick Douglass biography
• William Lloyd Garrison biography

Illustration: Frederick Douglass/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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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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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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Learning History From an Old Friend at Yosemite

I just spent a week camping in Yosemite National Park, one of the greatest places on the planet, and a highlight of the visit was having a chance to meet up with an old friend I hadn't seen in ages, Pete Devine, who works for the Yosemite Conservancy.

The conservancy is the non-profit support group which encourages and funds education and conservation projects in the park. Pete is the conservancy's Resident Naturalist, and by keeping alive the work of such giants as John Muir, Pete may have one of the best jobs in America.

On the evening I met up with Pete, he was leading a "Walk With a Naturalist" program that began on the back lawn of Yosemite's historic Awahnee Hotel. On the hour-long walk — just one of many free programs Yosemite offers for visitors every day — Pete talked about some of the history of Yosemite Valley.

I was naturally very interested to hear stories of Yosemite in the 19th century. Some of the history Pete related involved unfortunate encounters between white explorers and the Indians who called Yosemite Valley home in the 1850s. But some of the history of Yosemite also reflects the better parts of human nature, including the efforts to preserve the valley's natural beauty, which began in the late 1800s.

I strongly encourage you to visit an American National Park, and try to visit Yosemite if you can. I'd also suggest you read Pete's Yosemite Nature Notes blog. Pete's a very engaging blogger, and it's heartening to see him sharing his great depth of knowledge about Yosemite's spectacular natural world with the entire web.

And if you're interested in helping preserve Yosemite for future generations, please get involved with the Yosemite Conservancy. The people at the conservancy do a fine job, and they can use your help to fund important projects that teach today's visitors about Yosemite while also protecting the park so it will inspire future generations.

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Photo: Pete Devine leading a "Walk With a Naturalist" group at Yosemite, with Half Dome in the background/photograph by Robert McNamara

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Tupac Illusion Is Rooted in the 19th Century

Pop culture received a startling infusion from the 19th century this week: the purported hologram of rapper Tupac Shakur that made news at the Coachella music festival on Sunday night was really based on an illusion devised in the mid-1800s.

The image of Tupac was not really a hologram, it was a bit of elaborate stagecraft known as a Pepper's Ghost. The illusion was first created by a British inventor named Henry Dircks, who called the trick The Dircksian Phantasmagoria.

The technique was clever, but difficult to implement in a normal theater, as an actor had to be in a special compartment under a hole cut in the stage. As he performed, stagehands would manipulate mirrors to project his image upward, onto panes of glass. The actor would appear as a translucent figure onstage.

The method of Dircks was improved upon by a British scientist, John Henry Pepper. With some modifications, the illusion could be performed in an ordinary theater, and it was used in a production of The Haunted Man, a play based on a Christmas tale by Charles Dickens.

Over time the illusion has been employed in theme parks and museums. And modern teleprompters are based on the principle first used in the Dircksian Phantasmagoria.

Modern versions of the Pepper's Ghost — the name which stuck — employ modern materials which were obviously not available in the 19th century. The image of Tupac Shakur which appeared to be performing onstage was apparently a film projected onto a clear sheet of Mylar, lightweight plastic with a reflective surface.

Illustration: Diagram from a book by Henry Dircks relating principles of the Dircksian Phantasmagoria/E. and F.N. Spon, now in public domain

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Newspaper Sunday Frederick Douglass in Ireland and England

A fascinating episode from the period before the Civil War concerns a trip the escaped slave and abolitionist Frederick Douglass took to England and Ireland in the mid-1840s.

Douglass left the United States for two reasons: he wanted to raise funds for the American abolitionist movement, and he wanted to put himself outside of U.S. legal jurisdiction. Under American law, he was still considered property belonging to a slave owner in Maryland.

Douglass often found a welcoming audience among the English and Irish, and some sympathetic American newspapers reported on his appearances.

• New York Tribune, November 19, 1845: A brief account of the welcome Douglass received in the Irish cities of Dublin and Cork.
• New York Tribune, February 2, 1846: A letter from Ireland Douglass had written to The Liberator, the fiery abolitionist newspaper published by William Lloyd Garrison, was reprinted in one of New York's leading papers.
• The Anti-Slavery Bugle, April 10, 1846: A letter from Douglass to William Lloyd Garrison appeared in an Ohio abolitionist newspaper. Douglass described the poverty and oppression he witnessed in Ireland.
• New York Tribune, June 16, 1846: A description of an address Douglass gave in England provided dramatic details about the content of his speeches.
• Anti-Slavery Bugle, May 28, 1847: An American abolitionist newspaper reprinted a story, from the Times of London, concerning the controversy that erupted when Douglass left Britain in the spring of 1847. As he boarded the Cunard liner Cambria he was told he could not stay in the first class cabin he had paid for. Douglass was eventually able to use his cabin, but was forced to eat alone on the ship. The British public was offended that American prejudices had intruded on a British liner.

Upon returning to America, Douglass, with money he had raised overseas, purchased his freedom. It was a controversial move among ardent abolitionists, who considered the buying of freedom an acceptance of the legality of slavery. But Douglass wanted to ensure he could continue his speaking and writing without fear of being abducted.

And, of course, he continued to rise to prominence as one of the great voices of freedom in 19th century America.

Note: after visiting the links at the Chronicling America site of the Library of Congress, use the "persistent link" to view the entire page of the newspaper.

More:

• Frederick Douglass biography
• William Lloyd Garrison biography

Illustration: Frederick Douglass/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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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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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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