The History of the Magazine

The Rise and Fall of the Journalistic Platform and Soft News

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The Oriental Magazine or Calcutta Amusement; being a universal repository of knowledge, instruction and entertainment. (1785-1799)

Founder(s): Gordon and John Hay

  Printed in Calcutta (Kolkata), India, monthly issues which contained information about the life and career of Warren Hastings (Governer-General at Fort William), reports on current legislation, bookseller advertisements for John Andrews - with the planned audience of employees in Bengal working for the East India Company.

  Of Interest; closed it run due to political influences, and when Governor-General Wellesley enacted press regulations.

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The Bengal Journal (1785-1791)

Founder(s): Thomas Jones and William Duane

  Printed in Calcutta (Kolkata), India, the weekly Journal presented the news for the perspective of the British colonial settler with its base readership residing at Fort William. Thomas Jones had arranged a deal to print Government Advertisement in order to forgo the Postal concession tax.  Despite the above, and being written in English - the journal pushed the envelope when being accused of publishing a false report on Lord Cornwallis' death during the Maratha War and refusing to issue an apology. This resulted in a closure of the publication.

  Influences, after the closure of the journal William Duane was saved from deportation and created a new publication 'Indian World' until 1794. Of which the government managed to deport him to England.

  Of Interest;  William Duane returned to America and in 1798 worked as editor alongside Benjamin Franklin Bache on 'Aurora' in Philadelphia, and a stronger supporter of Thomas Jefferson.

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The Novelist's Magazine (1779-1789)

Founder: James Harrison, bookseller

  Printed in London, the magazine was devoted to the novel, despite the medium still consider a contemptuous and low art form. 

 By devoting a magazine to the novel, the magazine successful established a canon for the English and continental fiction and exposed earlier works to a much larger audience then the original prints received.  Each weekly issue cost sixpenny and contain a reproduction of two to six texts, and in certain cases whole issues devote to the works from Samuel Richardson. The works were typically reprinted off of source material that was created prior to 1770, to avoid any concerns with copyright infringement. The reproductions of these novels appear in octavo, double column presentation, and with a complimentary set of engravings, which made the material more accessible to the audience.

 Notable Contributors; Engraver was James Heath, William Sharp, Charles Grignion, James Neagle. Artists include Edward Burney, R. Corbould, Robert Smirke, Thomas Stothard and even William Blake finished some of Stothard's work.

Influences; James Harrison's 'The New Novelist's Magazine', 'British Classics', and 'The Sacred Classics'.

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The Macaroni (Scavoir Vivre) and Theatrical Magazine or Monthly Register of Fashions and Diversions of the Times (1772-1774)

  Founder: John Williams

 Launched in October in London, England, the magazine pieced together articles from high fashion and the theatre scene, with the perspective of the Macaroni sub-culture establishing in London.

  The magazine presented reviews on theatrical plays in London, tidbits of theatre scene gossip, essays on etiquette for men and women and methods to culture ones behaviour. Each issue would publish at least one print of local 'macaroni' citizen and provide description and clues of who this person was, but left them unnamed.

 The dialogue set forth by the magazine allowed for Britons to discuss the grounds of masculinity, politeness and nationalism. It assisted to expose the falseness in being over polite, previously noted David Hume (1742), and the use of social masks for hiding one's true intentions. There were also raised discussion on the difference in masculinity on the Continent versus England.   

  Of Interest; The term Macaroni refers to a man 'who exceeded the ordinary bounds of fashion', and typically an Englishman who behaves like a Continental Italian or Frenchman. A Macaroni may speak in verse of comic satire in a combination of English and Latin. The fashion would be 'tight clothes, fine fabrics, elegant shoes, walking stick, ceremonial sword, and an enormous wig' (made of a women's hair).

  The term was coined by a group of European travellers completing the 'Grand Tour', who were taken by the pasta of the time being served in Italian, and Macaroni became synonymous with high fashion and good taste. 

 Personalized caricature's were also an Italian import, which were sweeping a craze amongst the British Elite, made pioneered by James Bretherton, made popular by  Matthew and Mary Darly

Referenced from https://abeautifulbook.wordpress.com/2011/12/ 

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Independent Reflector (1752-1753)

  Founder: William Livingston, William Smith Jr., and John Morin Scott

 Launched in November, under the single essay format with original composition. This was the first magazine to be published in New York, and continued up to 52 issues until the printer James Parker felt political pressure to close the run. 

 The goal of the magazine was not to entertain, but to correct the tastes and improve the minds of their fellow citizens. The articles and tone of the magazine raised American intellectual dialogue and was represented back in England to reveal the seeds of an intellectual society were flourishing in the colonies.

The essays were designed to expose, attack and reform New York politics and affairs. The magazine steered towards controversy by commenting on civic developments, provincial politics and religious groups (particularly the Moravian Brethren).

  Of Interest; William Livingston was a lawyer, but also had written pamphlets under the pseudonym 'Tribunus Populi'. After the run of the magazine he continued on to become Governor of New Jersey and a signing official of the United States Constitution.

   Prior to Independent Reflector's run, James Parker was almost placed in jail from Blasphemous Libel against Christianity in the newspaper 'the Gazette', but Benjamin Franklin spoke up on his behalf. 

   Influences; 'The Spectator' and 'The Tatler', however, the tone of the 'Independent Reflector' was less comical satire and more critical of modern social groups. 

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The Tatler (1709-1711)

  Founder: Richard Steele

 Launched in April, the magazine was publish three times a week. It was released to add to the gossip of the London (England) coffeehouses. 

  The magazine left politics to the newspapers - and focused attention on the middle-class interests, with the goal to influence culture through gossip. 

  The magazine stationed reporters in the popular coffeehouse to procure the most current gossip. Information was pulled from White's (social etiquette), Will's (literary review), Grecian Coffee House (historical interests) and St. James Coffee House (traditional news). 

   Notable Contributor's;  Published works by Jonathan Swift and Joseph Addison

   Of Interest; Richard Steele took on the name "Isaac Bickerstaff, Esquire", one of the first consistently applied Journalistic persona's.

   Influences; The Spectator; Richard Steele and Joseph Addison, immediately took to publishing two months after it stopped its run.

   The 'Tatler' name was re-initiated in 1901, still in publication, with a new agenda and slightly nod to the historical publication.

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**Academic Journal**

De Boekzaal van Europe (1692-1702)

Founder: Pieter van der Slaart and Pieter Rabus

    The First Dutch Scientific Journal, with a goal to extend enlightenment and extend knowledge to the masses. The publication faced some controversial reaction by the establishment; both within the government and the church.

  The outspoken opinion of the journal and its focus on science and logic heavily criticized superstitious beliefs; whether it be divining rods or unfounded religious beliefs. Strong opinions caused the journal many subscriptions to be cancelled. 

  The Journal focused on Literary Criticism, Philosophy, Historical Exploration, Modern-day Colonization in South America, alongside random human interest stories. 

  In 1700, Rabus and Van der Slaat began to conflict and each went on to publish their own magazines; Rabus (Twee-Maandelijke Uittreksels) and Vander Slaat (Boekzaal der Geleerde Waereld). Tensions were brought to the courts when Van der Slaat would not pay Rabus his remaining salary after the split.

 In 1702, the publication changed names to Stemmen voor Waarheid en Vrede and Boekzaal der Geleerde Waereld (1702-1864)

 Of Interest; Pieter Rabus, a public notary and teacher at Erasmian High School of Rotterdam.

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**Academic Journal**

Acta Eruditorum; (1682 - 1782) 

 In (1732) changed name to Nova Acta Eruditorum

Founder(s): Otto Mencke and Gotrtfired Leibniz.

       Written in Latin, in which its name means 'Reports/Acts of the Scholar'. The periodical contained excerpts from reviews, writtings and essays about the Natural Sciences and Mathematics. This is the first scientific journal of the Germanic region, based on the model of 'Journal de Savants' and 'Giornale de Letterati'.

 In 1707, Mencke's son Johann Burkhardt Mencke took control, and upon his death the name was changed to Nova Acta Eruditorum. In 1754 - Karl Andreas Bel took control of the publication

    Notable Contributors, Jakob Bernoulli, Leonhard Euler, Pierre-Simon Laplace, Jerome Lalande, Stephan Bergler, Christian Wolff

    Of Interest: 1697, Fatio De Dullier accused Liebniz that he stole his work on differential calculus from Isaac Newton. The dispute was carried out between Acta and the journal Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society. And debate continued on for years, with doubts still lingering today, challenging whether Leibniz had made his discoveries independently. 

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**Academic Journal**

Philosophical Transaction; giving some account of the prefent undertakings, studies and labours of the ingenious in many confiderable parts of the world (1665 - present) 

 In (1887) split to become known as Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A and Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B

Founder(s): The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge. Particularly Henry Oldenburg, who personally funded the production of the journal.

 In March 1665, the rights to publish the journal were given by King Charles II. The Journal would like to lay claim to the world's oldest scientific journal, with a strong focus on science as its foremost subject. The word 'Philosophical' is intended to refer to 'Natural Philosophy' or Science. The periodical helped to establish scientific priority and peer review.

    Notable Contributors, Isaac Newton, Benjamin Franklin, Niels Bohr, Stephen Hawking, James Clerk, Michael Faraday, and Charles Darwin.

    Of Interest: (1672) Published the work of Isaac Newton's 'New Theory about Light and Colours' in the magazine.

(1714) reports the first English account of Inoculation to fight disease

(1806) Matthew Flinders suggest New Holland should be named Australia in periodical to president of the society.

(1887) - expanded into two periodicals (Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Physical, Mathematical and Engineering Sciences, and Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences).

   Sister Periodicals; which house source material and expanded topics on subjects within the journal. These are Proceedings of the Royal Society, Biology Letters, Journal of the Royal Society Interface and Interface Focus.

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**Academic Journal**

Journal des Scavans; ou recueil succint et abrege de tout ce qui arrive de plus surprenant dans la nature , et de ce qui se fait et se decouvre de plus curieux dans la arts et les sciences. (1665 - present) 

  Eventually known as Journal des Savants (1816)  

Founder: Denis De Sallo, (aka Dionysius De Sallo) under psydenoum Sieur D'Hendonville

  Printed in Paris in January 1665, it was released was a 12 page pamphlet, and continued release each Monday. It was Europe's first scientific journal.

   De Sallo was the Parlimentary Adviser to Jean-Baptiste Colbert (Minister of Finance under Louis XIV). The publication had a Royal patronage, and some oversight. The tone and topics focused on obituaries for well-known men in society, the history of the church, legal decisions of the court, alongside new discoveries in both arts and sciences; particularly physics, chemistry, mechanical engineering, mathematics, celestial observation, anatomy.  

   The publication was controversial but also quite popular, to the point when Thomas Amaury developed counterfeit version for local scholars in Lyon, while others made copies throughout Europe - all the way up to Amsterdam.

Throughout the years, the publication changed tone and focus on topics but always had a focus on scientific discovery. In 1792 - the publication was suspended in 1792, due to the French Revolution. It restarted in 1797 for a short period under Journal des Savants, but was not fully restored into publication until 1816. Ever since, the expense for publication has changed hands from the Ministry of Justice, to Ministry of Education and The Institut de France. In 1909, The Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres took over with subsides from the Foundation Dourlans.

Of Interest;  Within the first 3 months, the journal carried a critique on Descartes 'Traite de L'Homme'

1676 - Journal published 4 pages on the work of Ole Roemer (while under the direction of Dominique Cassini) regarding his observations on Jupiter and its connections to determining the speed of light. 

1738 - Voltaire's 'Elements de la philosophie de Newton mis a la porte de tout le monde' was printed and critiqued in the journal

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**Academic Journal**

Miscellanea Curiosa; medico-sive Ephemeridum physicarum Germanicarum Academaiae Naturae Caesareo-Leopoldinae Curisorum (1670 - present)  

Founder(s): The Academia Natura Consorum

  Originally printed in Schweinfurt, and published the oldest medical society in Germany, the 'Leopoldina, Nationale Akademie der Wissenschaften'. The magazine focused as Medicine and Natural Sciences, with varying emphasis' on the subjects throughout its run.

 Name Changes 

(1712) - 'Academiae Naturae Caesareo-Leopoldinae Curiosorum ephemerides, immersive, observationum Medico-Physicarum à Celeberrimis Viris growth Medicis, growth aliis Eruditis in Germania & extra-eam communicatarum'

(1727-54) - 'Acta Physico-Medica Academiae Caesareae Leopoldino-Carolinae Naturae Curiosorum exhibentia Ephemerides, immersive, Observationes Historias et Experimenta Celeberrimis Germaniae et Exterarum Regionum Viris Habita & Communicata, Singulari Studio Collecta' 

(1757) - 'Nova Acta Physico-Medica Academiae Caesareae Leopoldino-Carolinae Naturae Curiosorum'

(1843) -'Nova acta Academiae Caesareae Leopoldino-Carolinae Germanicae Naturae Curiosorum'

(1928) - 'Nova Acta Leopoldina: Abhandlungen der Deutschen Akademie der Naturforscher Leopoldina'

Present - 'Abhandlungen der Deutschen Akademie der Naturforscher Leopoldina'

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**Academic Journal**

Giornale de’letterati (1668 - 1683), 

  Founder: Francesco Nazzari and Salvatore Serra (Officer for Cardinal Carlo Pio di Savoia), 

   Published in Rome, Italy with a goal to provide summaries of literary and scientific works being released in Europe. Nazzari wrote the majority of the articles, while retaining tenure as a Professor at La Sapienza from 1670-1712.

Notable contributors: Cardinal Michelangelo Ricci, Giovanni Giustino Ciampini, Francesco Serra, John Light, Tommaso de 'Guili, John Patrizi. 

Of Interest; (1675) the publication split into two different magazines, a monthly and quarterly.

     (Monthly) printer Nicholas Angelo Tinassi. Editor Giovanni Giustino Ciampini (1675-81) and Francesco Maria Vettori (1681-83). The tone was influenced by Jesuits of Collegio Romano with a focus on modern scientific and technical developments, medieval history and news from Northern Europe.

     (Quarterly) printer James Mascardi, financed by Benedict Carrara - 1675-79

Influenced;  This publication(s) influenced a series of follow up magazine, that not only utilized its format but also its name.

Giornale de Letterati (1686-1690) printed in Parma by Benedict Bacchini

Giornale de Letterati (1692-1698) printed in Modena, continued from run in Parma. The focus of these versions were more on Theology, Medicine and Mathematics with a focus on Galilean observation.

Giornale de Letterati D'Italia (1710-1740) publish by Scipione Maffei, Antonioe Vallisneri and Apostolo Zeno in Venice. Run was placed on hold 1719-20 and 1727-31.

Giornale de Letterati (1742-45) released in Florence

Giornale de Letterati (1712-1759) printed by the Pagliarini Brothers

Giornale de Letterati (1771-96) released in Pisa

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The Critical Reviews; or Annals of Literature (1766 - 1817), by a Society of Gentlemen.

  Founder: Archibald Hamilton

   Published in Edinburgh, Scotland as a Literary review with lengthy articles, complete with Quotations from the source. The 'magazine' held a biased towards the Tory and Anglican perspective. During the Seven Years War in Britain, the 'magazine' focused on the political and military events with controversial sympathies towards the Jacobites.

Notable contributors: David Hume, Samuel Johnson, Oliver Goldsmith and Tobias Smollett as Editor (1756-1763). 

Of Interest; (1757) Tobias Smollett was fined 100 pounds and served three months in prison, for a libel against Admiral Sir Charles Knowles

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American Magazine or Historical Chronicle (1743 - 1746),

  Founder / Printer's: Rogers and Fowles, who also printed 'Boston Weekly Magazine' in 1743

  Editor: James Gridley

   One of the more successful Magazines in the British Colonial, despite only running for 3 years - this was quite a long run amongst similar periodicals.  

   Published in Boston, Massachusetts - the magazine took on the model and even borrowed content from the British Magazines, such as London Magazine. The content focused on biographies, political news and military developments (e.g. including the siege and capture of Louisburg), moral essays, and poems.

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Arminian Magazine; Consistent of Extracts and Original Treatises on Universal Redemption (1778 - 1969),

    However, throughout its run changed names to 'Methodist Magazine' (1798) and to ''Wesleyan-Methodist Magazine' (1822)

  Founder: John Welsey, and the magazine is named after the Dutch theologian Jacobus Arminius (1560-1609)

  The magazine's goal was to present the Methodist's idea of predestination and reaffirm Universal Redemption. The English Methodist church was held together a respect for George Whitefield and after his death - the Magazine's positions often resulted in ongoing debates with Gospel Magazine representing the Calvinist Anglican perspective.

   As apart of his approach to spiritualism, Wesley encourage is members to capture their experiences and anxieties in writing. He often requested correspondence and contributions to the magazine to support this position.

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The Gospel Magazine (1766 - Present), there was a break during 1783-1796 with links to 'New Spiritual Magazine' carrying on the spirit of the magazine.

  Founder: Joseph Gurney, with funding by Selina Hastings; Countess of Huntingdon.

  Launched, with the objective to share "the uncompromising declaration of the Gospel of Free Grace, both in belief and in practice" The tone of the magazine is Calvinist, Evangelical magazine, in which the majority of the editors are Anglican.

Notable contributors George Whitefield, John Newton, Augustus Toplady.   

Of Interest; (1775) Augustus Montague Toplady's hymn 'Rock of Ages' was published.

Due to debates with the Methodists, Selina Hastins; Countess of Huntingdon encouraged authors to lampoon John Wesley and his take on Predestination and Universal Redemption.

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The Bee; Literary Intelligencer (1790-1794)

 Founder: James Anderson

1790 - 1794 (James Anderson)

    Ran the magazine with the objective to open the keys of knowledge from the literary circles and open this up to the manufacturing and farming circles as well; to allow for Britain's growth and development.

  Influences stem from previous magazines/pamphlets run under this same title, 

1733-35 (Eustace Budgell), The Bee; or the Universal Weekly Pamphlet; Containing something to hit every man's taste and principals. Where Budgell compiled extracts from contemporary works and provides his opinion. He also published work for Richard Steele and Joseph Addison's 'The Spectator'.

1759 (Oliver Goldsmith) The Bee; Literary Intelligencer; Consisting of Original Pieces, and Selections from Performances of Merit, Foreign and Domestic. Where Goldsmith, original published his first set of works 'Citizen's of the World' along with other essays.