Rambles about Portsmouth. Sketches of persons, localities, and incidents of two centuries: principally from tradition and unpublished documents. By Charles W. Brewster.

18 RAMBLES ABOUT PORTSMOUTH.
It was formerly the custom among the publishers of newspapers,
to circulate, in or with the number of the paper issued on the first of
January in each year, a poetical address to their patrons, called the
Carrier's Address. Many years ago, and while the late Isaac Hill
published the New Hampshire Patriot, he offered a set of Sir Walter
Scott's Poetical Works for the best "(Carrier's Address" for the then
approaching first of January. Mr. Brewster with several others competed for this prize. Among the many Addresses offered was one to
which Mr. Hill, himself a poet, gave the decided preference, and it
was the same to which the Committee afterwards awarded the prize.
Mr. Hill, supposing the successful Address to have been the production of a lady, remarked that this circumstance would somewhat moderate the disappointment of the unsuccessful competitors. When the
award was made and the opening of the envelope revealed Mr. Brewster as the writer, Mr. Hill was quite as much disappointed as any of
the authors of the "rejected addresses." He was not more surprised
to find that the prize was not to be given to a lady than that it was to
be given to an editor and a political opponent. The reader will see that
he judged much better of the merits than of the source of the successful Address. The prize was duly forwarded, and is now a cherished
treasure in the library of the family of Mr. Brewster.
This successful Address was the " History of News-Birth of thePress;" and it is presented here as being appropriate, alike from its
origin and subject, to the profession of the writer, and as giving a fair
specimen of his poetical writings.
-IISTORYr O:F NEIETWS. —BIIRTt T OWE TI-IE CPIRESS.
Lo! when the Eternal planned his wise design,
Created earth, and, like his smile benign,
With splendor, beauty, mildness, decked the skies,Waked from eternal sleep, with wondering eyes
Mlan viewed the scene, and gave to News its rise.
New of himself, to Adam all was new,The concave canopy, the landscape's view;
The murmuring rivulet, and the zephyr's sound;
The songster's carol, and the deer's light bound;
The fruit luxuriant, where no brier sprung;
No weary toil, from morn to setting sun;
But every gale sweet odors wafted on,
His joys to freshen. Though he yet was lone,
This news was good indeed: such riches given,
Enough almost to make of earth a heaven,