The Athenian Mercury

Dunton explains in his autobiography Life and Errors he had an inspiration for the title one day while he was walking home that he would "not exchange for 50 guineas."

[6] The "most nice and curious questions" ran from natural sciences to religion to literature to politics.

The Athenian Gazette, as these first two issues were called, produced such a large readership that an increase in their Society membership of "experts" was required.

As readership increased and the amount of inquiries became overwhelming, they added another member, Dunton's brother-in-law the poet Reverend Samuel Wesley.

[9] Because Dunton's "answers to correspondents" were "universally received" his "Children of the Brain" were being plagiarized by a copycat publication called The Lacedemonian Mercury.

[12] Dunton was surprised one day early on into his "question project" with a letter that came from a "gentle-woman" who wish to know if ladies could submit inquiries also.

One thing lead to another and on 28 February 1693 The Ladies' Mercury, a spin-off, started its own publication, a periodical exclusively for women.

[15] Additionally, analysis of the questions in the Athenian Mercury has been focused on the political and scientific content portrayed by the authors.