The first articles of the "Dartmouth Gazette" focused on local news, but also printed two pages of foreign and national news. The "Gazette"s aim was to print news articles that were of practical use to readers, often covering information about local events, laws that would affect local residents, and imminently dangerous sicknesses. The first issue of the "Dartmouth Gazette" contains a poem and short story signed by "Icarus", who was later found to be Daniel Webster. Issues of the "Dartmouth Gazette" demonstrate that the newspaper provided a record of local events relating both to the town and to the college. For example, "the second issue has a long and rather tediously written discussion of New Hampshire school laws, and a report of Dartmouth's Commencement activities from Wednesday, August 28, 1799." It is also clear that mischief consistent with undergraduate students was not eliminated from the "Dartmouth Gazette" entirely by the editing process.