Nearing the end of 1818, Stephen Miles, a founder and then current publisher of The Kingston Gazette, had become embroiled with local trouble.
A Scottish land agent named Robert Gourley, whose anti-Family Compact views Miles had supported, had become increasingly violent in his dealings with Kingston locals.
As his entrenchment in the politics of the situation deepen, Miles decided to oust himself and sell his stake to Macauley and Pringle, whom kept him on as printer.
[2] Macauley served as Deputy Postmaster of Kingston and a Justice of the Peace during his time owning and editing the Chronicle.
Like Miles, he too had had run-ins with Gourley, and espoused his views in a letter in the Gazette, as well as editorials for the Chronicle.