shown in two indirect ways. On May 13, 1725, the Council had ordered that the newspapers must not print "anything of the Publick Affairs of this Province relating to the war without the order of the government," which order by implication meant that the printers might print anything eke that they chose.[1]
On September 2nd of the same year the council, on the complaint of a minister who declared that he had been wrongfully treated in the Boston News-Letter, ordered that "His Honor the Lieut. Governour give his orders to the publishers of the several newspapers not to insert in their papers these words—published by authority—or words to the like import for ye future."[2] This indicated that the government did not intend to assume the responsibility of supervision, nor did it desire such control; but the old habit of leaning on the government was still so strong that, in December, 1729, it was necessary for the Council again to order the printers of the newspapers not to state that they were published by authority.[3]
With the departure of James Franklin, there was a short period of colorless newspapers, and although there were sharp political disputes, such as those over the Governor's salary and the issue of Bills of Credit, the editors themselves took no sides, acting merely as printers or publishers of the papers.
Not until Thomas Fleet appeared as the printer and publisher of the Evening Post did the press of Boston again become interesting. He conducted this paper from 1735 to 1758, with sarcasm and vivacity—so much so that he was declared by the preachers to be "a dangerous
