The first paper in the county of Columbia was printed by Webster & Stoddard at Hudson, and called tlie "Hudson Gazette." Its first impression is dated Thursday, April 7th, 1785. Mr. Webster was Charles Webster of Albany, deceased. My father, Ashbel Stoddard his partner, printed tlie paper after the first year, in his own name, as Mr. W. went to Albany. It was printed until 1803, when it was sold out to the "Ballance," printed by Croswell, Sampsofi & Chittenden. Wm. B. Stoddard, Hudson, Dec. 7th 1850.

First Printers and Printing in Albany. -- The first printing office in Albany, respecting which any information can now be gathered, was established by Alexander & James Robertson, who came up from New York for that purpose late in the year 1771. IleLce Albany was the second place in the state of New York into whicli the art of printing was introduced. Their office is said to have been in Barrack, now Chapel street.

The Mbany Gazdte, the first newspaper printed in this city, w^as commenced in November, 1771, by the Robertsons. The size of tlie sheet used by them was about one quarter that of the largest daily papers now printed here.

It is uncertain liow long this paper was continued; but it is supposed that the publication of it ceased before 1776, as in that year the printers are known to have joined the royalists in New York. On t]ie evacuation of that city by the British, they took refuge with many others at Port Roseway, Nova Scotia, where Alexander died 1784, aged 42. James died in London, many years later. The account given of them in Thomas's History of Printing is erroneous in many respects. •>