Sherwood Forest
March 17, 1846

My Dear Sir;

Julia has informed me of her 
intention to enclose to you a number of 
a newspaper published in Portsmouth Va 
called the "New Era" and I desire to say that 
the paper has been uniformly candid and 
just towards me and now does not hesi-
tate upon all occasions to defend me against 
the assaults of my enemies. It is a daily 
or triweekly, and is the adjunct to "the Old 
Dominion," a weekly paper published 
and edited by the same person. Its defence 
of me from the first is visible in all the 
region of its circulation in the course of 
public opinion which is decidedly favorable. 
But still its circulation is limited and the 
Editor barely sustains himself. There is con
sequently no markd ability about its editorials 
or contributing of any great value, and yet 
its importance to the cause of truth and justice over a 
somewhat extensive region embraced in 
Virginia and N. Carolina cannot be well 
overestimated. The subscription to the

Old Dominion is two Dollars per annum 
and to the New Era $5- Now it has occurd 
to me that if a subscription list of some 
12, 15 or 20 subscribers even, to "The Old Domi
nion" could be obtaind in New York, and a 
letter was addressd to Mr. Cunningham the 
Editor in company with it expressive of 
the appreciation of his frank and fearless 
course, it would not fail to be highly gratifying 
to him while it would have the effect of giving 
him greater confidence in himself and the 
course he is pursuing. It is moreover of 
the greatest importance to me that there should 
be a paper in Virginia to repel assaults 
made upon me. It is natural that I should 
here desire to stand well and my misfortune 
from the first has been that I have had no 
press in the state to speak out openly and 
fairly. May not the Old Dominion or New 
Era supply this great want? It has occurd 
to me that if a handful of friends in the 
principal cities would become subscribers, 
this [?] might be attaind. The tax 
of the subscription viz. $2 per annum for the 
Old Dominion or $5 for the New Era is but 
a small affair. Would not Mr. Brodevich 
or some other of your friends in the City as
sist in obtaining a small number of sub
scribers. I have thought that I would make 
these suggestions to you to be acted upon 
or not as you may think best. It is alto
gether a suggestion of my own mind, nor 
does the Editor "dream of such a thing-"
Julia's letters will convey full in
telligence of all that we are about-and I 
need not enlarge upon them.
With best regards to all of the family
I am truly yours
John Tyler

Alan Gardiner Esqr
P.S. a subscription to the 
New Era would be best, but if the price be 
objectionable one to the Old Dominion would 
answer.

Cha. 5 At CH.VS
18th, March

J Tyler

Alexander Gardiner Esqr
No 43 Lafayette Place
New York