JF Ptak Science Books Quick Post
This is really very good: on distinguishing the free press with what it is and what it isn't. The art icle appeared a few months before the official declaration of war between the U.S. and the U.K. (June 1812) in Cobbett's Weekly Political Register. It was written by William Cobbett (1763-1835) and I think that this was a direct and very vocal reaction to the government's instituting a tax on newspapers such as this--adding a tax made the journal not affordable to but a select class, thereby limiting circulation and being a de facto censor for the distribution of information.
He was also writing this from prison. Cobbett was sentenced to a two years' term in famous/infamous Newgate, sent their for treasonous libel after having written an anti-flogging article. He was also by that point a pain in the side of the government, and was paying for other perceived transgressions as well.
Evidence of the 'crime"--the limiting tax stamp:
And the article:
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