tus and his Thirteen
Friends_, was published by W. Brown, and began its course Wednesday,
Nov. 27, 1811. It aimed to surpass _The Spirit of the Reviews_, the
_Dramatic Censor_ and the _Port Folio_, but it is believed to have made
only two numbers. The purpose of the magazine was defined in the second
number, December 11, 1811: "We propose to develop to our readers the
machinery and composition of our Philadelphia Society."

The _Luncheon_ was a monthly satirical paper "boiled for people about
six feet high by Simon Pure." Its first appearance was in July, 1815.
The second number contained an abusive article upon William McCorkle. In
January, 1816, Lewis P. Franks, the editor of the _Luncheon_, confessed
himself the author of the libel and declared that the alleged biography
of McCorkle was false, and that the journal would be discontinued.

The _Independent Balance_ was published weekly by "Democritus the
Younger, a lineal descendant of the Laughing Philosopher." It was
established, March 20, 1817, by George Helmbold, the first editor of the
_Tickler_ and late of the United States Army.

The second volume had a vignette of a sportsman shooting a bird, with
the motto:

"Whene'er we court the tuneful nine,
Or plainer prose suits our design,
Then fools may sneer and critics frown
At every corner of the town,--
Condemn our paper or commend;
One aim is ours, our chiefest end:
With well-poised gun and surest eyes
To shoot at Folly as it flies."

Helmbold died in Philadelphia, December 28, 1821. The magazine, after
passing through several hands, finally became the property of L. P.
Franks, who published it at "No. 1 Paradise Alley, back of 171 Market
Street, between Fourth and Fifth Streets." At this time it was edited by
"Simon Spunkey, Esq., duly commissioned and sworn regulator,
weigh-master and Inspector General." Its motto proclaimed its purpose to
anatomize the wise man's folly as plain as way to parish church:

"I claim as large a charter as the wind
To blow on whom I please."

The _Critic_, by Geoffrey Juvenile, Esq., No. 1, January 29, 1820.

Every number of the _Critic_ contains some quip or satire at the expense
of James Kirke Paulding, and his "Backwoodsman" is particularly levelled
at. Paulding is dubbed "The Cabbage Bard," and the caustic reviewer
proceeds to write: "We _had_ a Dennie and a Clifton, yet the classical
elegance of the one has not availed to preserve his countrymen fr