Imitating the Mercury of Hugh Gaine, the Evening Post of Philadelphia did not move out with the American troops, but remained behind to welcome the Britishers. When Washington regained his position the editor unsuccessfully endeavored to reestablish old friendship; unhke Gaine, he was not successful.
The Pennsylvania Ledger, a Tory sheet which had been suspended for a year before the occupation by the British, blossomed anew when Philadelphia changed hands, and when the British moved out of the city the paper moved with them. The Royal Pennsylvania Gazette was started by the British theniselves, which would indicate that the advice of Serle to use the newspapers as much, as possible had been transmitted to the commanding generals.
The reward of the patriotic editors at the end of the war came in the form of great influence and, in some cases,—that of Isaiah Thomas, for instance—wealth and prosperity as the country developed. A number of Tory editors sought refuge in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick and established papers there.
One or two of them remained in this country, however, and finally succeeded in hving down their reputations. A "literary fair" was held in New York in 1802 and Hugh Gaine, then acclaimed the oldest living bookseller, was chosen President of the bookselling fraternity, showing how soon the people forget,—and forgive.
