This day is published, and delivered gratis, number 1, of a new paper, entitled, The Public Ledger, or Daily Register of Commerce and Intelligence; containing a judicious and accurate arrangement of the most early and authentic news, besides many other articles that are very essential, and even of great importance to all those who are engaged in trade and commerce, or otherwise interested in public affairs, either political or literary. Printed for W. Bristow, publisher, next the great toy shop, in St. Paul’s Church Yard, London.2

Though what is already said may be sufficient to explain so much of our scheme as is at present necessary to be known, yet custom has established a kind of law, that he who sollicits the public favour should lay before the public his pretensions, that they may know on what terms they are to receive him into their service; and the pretensions and promises made on these occasions have often been so complex or extensive, as not to be fulfilled even with the utmost skill and assiduity.

This perhaps may be suspected of the paper here proposed; for the public has a right to suspect, and to be satisfied; but the projectors have also a right to propose, and to be heard: where the benefit is reciprocal, and a man serves others with an equal advantage to himself, the obligation is equal; but if he conveys more benefit than he receives, he has merit to plead in his favour, and is not only entitled to attention, but to encouragement.

This attention the proprietors of the above paper claim, and some encouragement they hope for; as their scheme, they apprehend, is not only new, but of a nature more generally useful to mankind than any publication which has hitherto been offered: for a particular explanation of it, however, they refer the reader to the first paper, which will be delivered gratis at the place above-mentioned.