The Athenian Mercury
Encyclopedia
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The Athenian Mercury, or The Athenian Gazette or The Question Project or The Casuistical Mercury, was a periodical written by The Athenian Society
and published in London twice weekly between 17 March 1690 [i.e. 1691 new Calendar] and 14 June 1697. John Dunton
was the editor in chief
.
After the first issue was published, concerns were raised about Dunton's use of the word "Gazette", to which the 25-year-old London Gazette
could be considered to have prior claim; in response, Dunton changed "Gazette" to "Mercury".
format. It was first used in The Athenian Mercury in 1691. He formed a "society of experts", which he called The Athenian Society
, to give their knowledgeable advice on questions submitted by the magazine's readers. The magazine had an announcement at the end encouraging readers to send in their questions,
All Persons whatever may be resolved gratis in any Question that their own satisfaction or curiosity shall prompt 'em to, if they send their Questions by a Penny Post letter to Mr. Smith at his Coffee-house in Stocks Market in the Poultry, where orders are given for the reception of such Letters, and care shall be taken for their Resolution by the next Weekly Paper after their sending. The "most nice and curious questions" ran from natural sciences to religion to literature to politics. During the lifetime of the magazine "the experts" grappled with thousands of questions. The readers submitted questions like:
Dunton's "question-answer project", as he referred to his new format, needed people to help publish it. The first person that partnered with him was Richard Sault
, a mathematics teacher. Sault understood the philosophy of Nicolas Malebranche
and could convey it to Dunton. The first two issues of the magazine were composed and published by these two only. The "surprising and unthought of" magazine's style produced a response of hundreds of letters of inquiries. The Athenian Gazette, as these first two issues were called, produced such a large readership that an increase in their Society membership of "experts" was required.
The next person to join the "secret" society of the Athenians was philosopher Dr. John Norris, who devoted his assistance without any compensation or recognition. As readership increased and the amount of inquiries became overwhelming, they added another member, Dunton's brother-in-law the poet Reverend Samuel Wesley
. The Society consisted of these four real members and several fictional members.
Because Dunton's "answers to correspondents" were "universally received" his "Children of the Brain"
were being plagiarized by a copycat publication called The Lacedemonian Mercury. He fought this with advertising that said any queries that they had replied to should be resubmitted to his magazine for amendments. Dunton referred to Tom Brown, chief editor of The Lacedemonian Mercury, as "the chief Antagonist."
Some of the people who read the advice column in The Athenian Mercury, and sometimes submitted questions and comments of their own, according to Dunton, were Sir William Temple (pertaining to Talismans, amongst other things), Jonathan Swift
, Marquess of Halifax
, Sir Thomas Pope Blount
, Sir William Hedges, and Sir Peter Pett.
" who wish to know if ladies could submit inquires also. He assured them that their questions would be seriously considered, as on 23 May 1691 The Athenian Mercury printed the "gentle-woman's" questions. One thing lead to another and on 28 February 1693 The Ladies' Mercury
, a spin-off, started its own publication, a periodical exclusively for women.
Dunton followed in 1703 with a collection of the questions and answers from The Athenian Mercury called the Athenian Oracle. The concept of questions submitted by readers of a periodical and free "expert advice" given was then followed by writer Daniel Defoe
with his Review in 1704, followed by The little Review. Then in 1708 came The British Apollo.
The Athenian Mercury, or The Athenian Gazette or The Question Project or The Casuistical Mercury, was a periodical written by The Athenian Society
The Athenian Society
The Athenian Society was an organization founded by John Dunton in 1691 to facilitate the writing and publication of his weekly periodical The Athenian Mercury. Though represented as a large panel of experts, the society reached its peak at four members: Dunton, Dr. John Norris, Richard Sault and...
and published in London twice weekly between 17 March 1690 [i.e. 1691 new Calendar] and 14 June 1697. John Dunton
John Dunton
John Dunton was an English bookseller and author. In 1691, he founded an Athenian Society to publish The Athenian Mercury, the first major popular periodical and first miscellaneous periodical in England.-Early life:...
was the editor in chief
Editor in chief
An editor-in-chief is a publication's primary editor, having final responsibility for the operations and policies. Additionally, the editor-in-chief is held accountable for delegating tasks to staff members as well as keeping up with the time it takes them to complete their task...
.
Title
The magazine was first called The Athenian Gazette or The Casuistical Mercury when it was first printed. Dunton explains in his autobiography Life and Errors he had an inspiration for the title one day while he was walking home that he would "not exchange for 50 guineas." He continues that a reader of his magazine need only consult Acts 17:21 to see the reasoning behind the title.After the first issue was published, concerns were raised about Dunton's use of the word "Gazette", to which the 25-year-old London Gazette
London Gazette
The London Gazette is one of the official journals of record of the British government, and the most important among such official journals in the United Kingdom, in which certain statutory notices are required to be published...
could be considered to have prior claim; in response, Dunton changed "Gazette" to "Mercury".
Advice column
Scholars credit Dunton with initiating the advice columnAdvice column
An advice column is a column in a magazine or newspaper written by an advice columnist . The image presented was originally of an older woman providing comforting advice and maternal wisdom, hence the name "aunt"...
format. It was first used in The Athenian Mercury in 1691. He formed a "society of experts", which he called The Athenian Society
The Athenian Society
The Athenian Society was an organization founded by John Dunton in 1691 to facilitate the writing and publication of his weekly periodical The Athenian Mercury. Though represented as a large panel of experts, the society reached its peak at four members: Dunton, Dr. John Norris, Richard Sault and...
, to give their knowledgeable advice on questions submitted by the magazine's readers. The magazine had an announcement at the end encouraging readers to send in their questions,
All Persons whatever may be resolved gratis in any Question that their own satisfaction or curiosity shall prompt 'em to, if they send their Questions by a Penny Post letter to Mr. Smith at his Coffee-house in Stocks Market in the Poultry, where orders are given for the reception of such Letters, and care shall be taken for their Resolution by the next Weekly Paper after their sending. The "most nice and curious questions" ran from natural sciences to religion to literature to politics. During the lifetime of the magazine "the experts" grappled with thousands of questions. The readers submitted questions like:
- Were there any men before Adam?
- Is there an impartial and true history of the world?
- How can a man know when he dreams or when he is really awake?
Dunton's "question-answer project", as he referred to his new format, needed people to help publish it. The first person that partnered with him was Richard Sault
Richard Sault
Richard Sault was an Englishmathematician, editor and translator, one of The Athenian Society. On the strength of his Second Spira he is also now credited as a Christian Cartesian philosopher.-Life:...
, a mathematics teacher. Sault understood the philosophy of Nicolas Malebranche
Nicolas Malebranche
Nicolas Malebranche ; was a French Oratorian and rationalist philosopher. In his works, he sought to synthesize the thought of St. Augustine and Descartes, in order to demonstrate the active role of God in every aspect of the world...
and could convey it to Dunton. The first two issues of the magazine were composed and published by these two only. The "surprising and unthought of" magazine's style produced a response of hundreds of letters of inquiries. The Athenian Gazette, as these first two issues were called, produced such a large readership that an increase in their Society membership of "experts" was required.
The next person to join the "secret" society of the Athenians was philosopher Dr. John Norris, who devoted his assistance without any compensation or recognition. As readership increased and the amount of inquiries became overwhelming, they added another member, Dunton's brother-in-law the poet Reverend Samuel Wesley
Samuel Wesley (poet)
Samuel Wesley was a poet and a writer of controversial prose. He was also the father of John Wesley and Charles Wesley, founders of the Methodist Church.-Family and early life:...
. The Society consisted of these four real members and several fictional members.
Because Dunton's "answers to correspondents" were "universally received" his "Children of the Brain"
Intellectual property
Intellectual property is a term referring to a number of distinct types of creations of the mind for which a set of exclusive rights are recognized—and the corresponding fields of law...
were being plagiarized by a copycat publication called The Lacedemonian Mercury. He fought this with advertising that said any queries that they had replied to should be resubmitted to his magazine for amendments. Dunton referred to Tom Brown, chief editor of The Lacedemonian Mercury, as "the chief Antagonist."
Some of the people who read the advice column in The Athenian Mercury, and sometimes submitted questions and comments of their own, according to Dunton, were Sir William Temple (pertaining to Talismans, amongst other things), Jonathan Swift
Jonathan Swift
Jonathan Swift was an Irish satirist, essayist, political pamphleteer , poet and cleric who became Dean of St...
, Marquess of Halifax
George Savile, 1st Marquess of Halifax
George Savile, 1st Marquess of Halifax PC was an English statesman, writer, and politician.-Family and early life, 1633–1667:...
, Sir Thomas Pope Blount
Sir Thomas Blount, 1st Baronet
Sir Thomas Pope Blount, 1st Baronet was an English baronet.Thomas Pope Blount was born on 12 September 1649 in Islington, London, son of Sir Henry Blount and Hester Wane. He married on July 22, 1669 Jane Caesar, the daughter of Sir Henry Caesar.He was admitted to Lincoln's Inn on December 1, 1668...
, Sir William Hedges, and Sir Peter Pett.
Periodicals
Dunton was surprised one day early on into his "question project" with a letter that came from a "gentle-womanGentlewoman
A gentlewoman in the original and strict sense is a woman of good family, analogous to the Latin generosus and generosa...
" who wish to know if ladies could submit inquires also. He assured them that their questions would be seriously considered, as on 23 May 1691 The Athenian Mercury printed the "gentle-woman's" questions. One thing lead to another and on 28 February 1693 The Ladies' Mercury
The Ladies' Mercury
The Ladies' Mercury was the first periodical published that was specifically designed just for women. It contained an advice column in the periodical. It was first published in London on February 27, 1693. - History :...
, a spin-off, started its own publication, a periodical exclusively for women.
Dunton followed in 1703 with a collection of the questions and answers from The Athenian Mercury called the Athenian Oracle. The concept of questions submitted by readers of a periodical and free "expert advice" given was then followed by writer Daniel Defoe
Daniel Defoe
Daniel Defoe , born Daniel Foe, was an English trader, writer, journalist, and pamphleteer, who gained fame for his novel Robinson Crusoe. Defoe is notable for being one of the earliest proponents of the novel, as he helped to popularise the form in Britain and along with others such as Richardson,...
with his Review in 1704, followed by The little Review. Then in 1708 came The British Apollo.