Boxing Day clever

In 1731 plays written or performed included The Letter Writers, The London Merchant, The Tragedy of Tragedies and The Welsh Opera. It was the year of real life vampire hysteria. 

You could read An Epistle from a Footman in London to the Celebrated Stephen Duck by Robert Dodsley. Right from the beginning of the year you could peruse Trader's monthly intelligencer thanks to Edward Cave of London. In it's better known title it is cited as the first general interest magazine.

Benjamin Franklin and fellow subscribers start the Library Company of Philadelphia

Alexander Pope completes the original writing of his poem An Essay on Man and Hollandsche Spectator can't decide if it's a magazine or newspaper.