What's the London Gazette

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A.� Well, it's not a local paper that you'll see on the news-stands - that's for sure. It started as a king's private publication and is now the official voice of the government. You can log into it on the web.< xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

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Q.� So what's its origin

A.� It goes back to the Great Plague. In the autumn of 1665, when Charles II sought shelter in Oxford from the plague, he and his courtiers wanted newspapers to read, yet wouldn't touch papers coming from London - because they feared they might be infected. Charles therefore ordered Leonard Litchfeld, the university printer, to bring out a local paper. On 14 November, 1665, the first edition of The Oxford Gazette appeared - and it continued for 11 weeks on Thursdays and Mondays.

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Q.� So that started something

A.� Undoubtedly. Charles went back to Whitehall after the plague was over, but he was pleased with the Oxford effort and thought it should continue. The London Gazette, labelled as number 24, first appeared on 5 February, 1666. And it has been going ever since.

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Q.� Surely it's a bit of an anachronism We have plenty of other newspapers and - dare I say it - radio, television and the web to report on the government's doings

A.� Don't you believe it. The London Gazette often publishes things that nobody else would bother with. And it is the voice of the government - of the Crown, even. Under its banner it says: Published by authority. And it means it.

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Q.� So what does it publish

A.� You've heard of the expression gazetted As in his award was gazetted That's what it means. Service and civilian awards are announced first in the London Gazette. The Victoria Crosses awarded to Lieut-Col H Jones and Sgt McKay in the Falklands War were mentioned first in the Gazette. (Click here for a feature on these two heroes)

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Q.� Anything else

A.� Honours - the full list of the New Year's Honours List, for example. It also contains all state, parliamentary and ecclesiastical notices, transport and planning notices as well as corporate and personal insolvency notices. In addition, a number of supplements are published covering armed forces promotions and companies information.

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Q.� But not the National Lottery

A.� Nothing so vulgar. It lists Premium Bond winners, though.

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Q.� Any famous snippets

A.� I'm glad you asked me that. Here are two offerings from the Gazette in November 1674:

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Vienna ... arrived here an Ambassador from the Czar of Moscovy with a Train of 50 persons, he brings with him several rich Presents for the Emperor and the Empress, and it is said, his business is to propose a Triple League, between the Czar, the Emperor, and the King of Poland, for the prosecuting the War against the Grand Signior...

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And here's a small ad from the days when you could call a spade a spade:

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Stolen from Dover, November the seventh, by a tall black haired man, about 32 years of age, and an ill countenance; a Dun Nag about 7 years old and 15 hands high, with the Fashions on the further side, from the spurring place to the Breast, and a black Lift down his back. Whoever shall discover the one or the other, and give immediate notice to Mr. William Brockest, at the general Letter-Office, London, shall be extraordinary well rewarded.

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By Steve Cunningham