Magazines

Letter 83

Kind Reader,

In January of 1731, when I was 25, Edward Cave began in London the publication of something new: a monthly compendium of news, literature, the arts, theater, science, &c. Subscribers were expected to collect together all twelve monthly numbers at the end of each year and have them bound into a single thick volume, a storehouse for all the articles with which a gentleman’s mind ought to be stocked. The title page of each volume was graced with a Latin motto: E Pluribus Unum, “from many, one”: a single volume made up of a vast array of different articles.

Metaphorically, Mr. Cave called his new-fangled publication The Gentleman’s Magazine. Until then, the word “magazine” had only been applied to warehouses and storehouses of a more material kind. Soon the word “magazine” had a new meaning in the popular mind, many other such periodical publications were begun that called themselves magazines, and now they are legion. For the purpose of the magazine, Mr. Cave adopted the name Sylvanus Urban, to suggest the publication was suited for both town and country gentlemen.

Mr. Cave paid the debt of nature in 1754, and was succeeded by his brother-in-law David Henry, who has continued it publish The Gentleman’s Magazine to the present day. David Henry’s grandfather was Patrick Henry, of Aberdeen, Scotland. Another of Patrick Henry’s grandsons, and thus David Henry’s cousin, is their grandfather’s namesake, Patrick Henry of Virginia.

In 1741, I projected a magazine for America. I called it The General Magazine in imitation of the original. My competitor Andrew Bradford (through the perfidy of a supposed friend) got wind of my plans and determined to forestall me. Thus did Bradford’s The American Magazine appear three days before mine.

Neither venture succeeded. The American Magazine was abandoned after three months. The General Magazine lasted but six. I suppose the continent was not yet ready for such a venture. Or perhaps the magazines we produced were not good enough!

There are now several fine American magazines, and a great many British ones, even one for the fair sex. The first number of The Lady’s Magazine appeared in London in 1770. But no magazine I ever saw looked anything like the ones now laid before you by

your friend and humble servant,

B. Franklin
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Here is a recent magazine that treats of your humble servant.

And here is the magazine that started it all.