The Documentary history of the state of New-York; arranged under direction of the Hon. Christopher Morgan, secretary of State. By E. B. O'Callaghan ...

THE SIX NATIONS. 327
can begin upon the Book as soon as Sir William thinks proper
to engage at the Prices and form mentioned.
I am, Sir,
Your obliged,
Humble Servant,
N. York, April 2d 1763. WM. WEYMAN.'
To Dr Barclay.
1 WILLIAM WEYMAN was son of the rector of the Episcopal church at Oxford,
Philadelphia Co., Pa. He served his time to Wm. Bradford in Philadelphia, and
in Jan. 1753 became a partner of Jraii Parker of New York. Weyman managed
the concerns of this firm which published a newspaper called the N. Y. Gazette
or Weekly Post Boy, and several books. A piece entitled " Observations on the
Circumstances and Conduct of the people in the counties of Ulster and Orange in
the Prov'ce of New York." from the pen of the Rev. Hezekiah Watkins of Newburgh, having appeared in the paper of the 15th March, 1765, the Assembly on
whose conduct it reflected, took umbrage and summoned the printers to their
bar. Weyman alone appeared at first, but Parker came into town immediately
and surrendered himself to the Sergeant at Arms, but on petition they were
shortly afterwards discharged. Watkins was Missionary of the Society for Propagating the Gospel; on being arrested by order of the House in the course of
the following year, he acknowledged himself the author of the piece, was reprimanded and discharged. In Jan. 1759, Weyman's partnership with Parker was
dissolved, and on 16th Feb. he commenced the publication of the N. Y. Gazette,
which was printed on a crown sheet every Monday. In Nov. 1760, he became
public printer, and was appointed to print Smith & Livingston's edition of the
Laws. In Nov. 1766 he printed in his paper the address of the Assembly to Gov.
Moore, in which the House said, among other things, "Your Excellency has
done us no more than justice in supposing that we will cheerfully co-operate with
you." Weyman by some blunder omitted the little word " no," and for this was
arraigned again before the representatives of the people. He threw the blame on
one of his journeymen, but was unable to prove the allegation. He was dismissed
on asking pardon, and promising to be more careful for the future.* Parker, his
late partner, having been appointed post-master at New York, is accused by
Weyman of suppressing the copies of the Gazette placed in the P. O. for distribution. Whether this was true or not, the circulation of his paper fell off to such
an extent that it ceased to be published Dec. 28, 1767. Its proprietor did not long
survive it. On the 15th January following he resigned his office as public printer
and after a lingering illness, which had for some time rendered him incapable of,'
business, he died in New York on the 18th July 1768. It appears by one of the
letters in this series, that he died bankrupt. ED.
- The Journal of the Assembly of the Prov. of New York for the Session of 1766, being
unfortunately omitted in the printed edition, we have no means of comparing the above
statement (made in Thomas's Hist. of Printing) with the Votes of the House.