The Covent-Garden Journal was an English literary periodical published
twice a week for most of 1752. It was edited and almost entirely
financed by novelist, playwright, and essayist Henry Fielding
(pictured), under a pseudonym. The Journal incited the "Paper War" of
1752–1753, a conflict between a number of contemporary literary
critics and writers, which began after Fielding declared war on the
"armies of Grub Street" in the first issue. His proclamation attracted
multiple aggressors and instigated a long-lasting debate argued in the
pages of their respective publications. Initially waged for the sake of
increasing sales, the Paper War ultimately became much larger than
Fielding had expected. Further controversy erupted in June, when
Fielding expressed support for a letter decrying the Government's 1752
Disorderly House Act in the Journal. His remarks were viewed by the
public as an endorsement of the legality of prostitution. The final
issue of the Journal was released on 25 November 1752. In its last
months, poor sales had resulted in a transition from biweekly to weekly
release. Ill-health and a disinclination to continue led Fielding to end
its run after the 72nd number.
Read more: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Covent-Garden_Journal>
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Today's selected anniversaries:
1322:
Having defeated his half-brother Stephen Constantine in battle,
Stephen Dečanski (fresco pictured) was crowned King of Serbia.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Uro%C5%A1_III_De%C4%8Danski_of_Serbia>
1839:
The most damaging storm in 300 years swept across Ireland, with
100-knot winds damaging or destroying more than 20% of the houses in
Dublin.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_of_the_Big_Wind>
1953:
The first Asian Socialist Conference, an organization of
socialist political parties in Asia, opened in Rangoon, Burma, with 177
delegates, observers and fraternal guests.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asian_Socialist_Conference>
1993:
Indian Border Security Force (BSF) units killed 55 Kashmiri
civilians in Sopore, Jammu and Kashmir, in revenge after militants
ambushed a BSF patrol.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sopore_massacre>
2005:
About 60 tons of chlorine gas were released when two Norfolk
Southern trains collided in Graniteville, South Carolina, US.
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graniteville,_South_Carolina_train_crash>
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Wiktionary's word of the day:
at first blush:
(idiomatic) Upon first impression or consideration; seemingly,
apparently, ostensibly.
<https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/at_first_blush>
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Wikiquote quote of the day:
When no risk is taken there is no freedom. It is thus that, in an
industrial society, the plethora of laws made for our personal safety
convert the land into a nursery, and policemen hired to protect us
become selfserving busybodies.
--Alan Watts
<https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Alan_Watts>
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