PETERSFIELD.
A correspondent has written to us and expressed ‟his great satisfaction at finding a publisher of sufficient enterprise to engage in producing a PETERSFIELD EXPRESS—the town having so limited a population that he could scarcely suppose it possible to find in it the materials for supporting such an undertaking.” We do not deny that our correspndent’s reasoning has the impress of well-founded truth in most analogous cases, but the publisher of the PETERSFIELD EXPRESS does not depend for support exclusively upon the population of Petersfield and its neighbourhood. This Journal forms a connecting link with an extensive system of Journalism, founded by its proprietor, extending from the borders of West Sussex to the heart of East Hampshire, and the whole of Surrey; and this again is suited with the Great County Journal—the SUSSEX EXPRESS and SURREY STANDARD, which takes the whole sweep of country from Hythe, in Kent, to Portsmouth on the coast; and from this southern line to London and the Thames, on the North, including all the provinces within this extensive margin. To show its operations, an advertisement inserted in the SUSSEX EXPRESS, referring to the locality of Petersfield, would be inserted in the PETERSFIELD EXPRESS without additional cost to the advertiser, and thus obtain, at a single charge, the influential publicity of the SUSSEX EXPRESS throughout Sussex, Surrey, Kent, and East Hants, as well as the Local circulation of the town and neighbourhood of Petersfield—a publicity equivalent to a circulation of more than 26,000 copies weekly, including every class of society, from the cottager to the nobleman.
Owing to these circumstances, and the good will of the inhabitants of Petersfield, and its influenced neighbourhood, our undertaking cannot fail of success. We at once surpass, in point of circulation, all other local contemporaries, and in point of influence are immeasurably in advance of all of them.
We believe that our exertions will be attended with benefit to the population of our town and district. We desire no prouder title Tham to be recognized by them as ‟Our Paper,” for such we wish it to be; and we shall be content to rise in influence, as the Town of Petersfield rises in importance. Historical association has given to Petersfield the impress of great antiquity. It has now had a second birth by means of the Railways around it, and no place bids higher for public transport than ‟our town,” its trade being capable by the extended facilities at our command of equalling any and surpassing most towns in England. What neighbourhood is more attractive in its scenery? Where is a purer atmosphere? Where is health to be obtained more ruddy, or where from the toils of life can a mind find more rest or quietude than is offered by our locality? These claims are acknowledged already, and a gradual development of its attractions will be recognized by increasing affluence and population. To encourage and foster these aspirations is the mission of ‟the PETERSFIELD EXPRESS,” and we trust our self-imposed duties will,—and we have no doubt of it,—be attended with signal success.