Page:Early struggles of the Australian press.djvu/22

16 In March, 1827, the publication days were changed to Tuesday and Saturday, but in April returned to Wednesday and Friday. Dr. Redfern's flogging of Mr. Howe, of the Gazette, was chronicled in January, 1828.

Mr. Edward Smith Hall was the conductor of a paper under Governor Darling's government, which was, like some others, according to Mr. Barton, not distinguished for "scrupulous regard to truth." The Rev. Dr. Braim said it was "conducted on the principles, and as much as possible in the style of, the late Mr. Cobbett, and, summoning the whole prisoner population to contemplate the contest, fiercely threw down the gauntlet of opposition." Some articles, though violent, displayed considerable literary talent.

The New South Wales Monitor commenced its being on Friday, May 19th, 1826. Its motto was—"Nothing extenuate, nor set down aught in malice." It was printed and published at the Monitor Press, no name appearing. The paper on which it was printed was 15½ inches long by 10½ broad. There were eight pages, three columns each. There was only a weekly issue. The price of a copy was one shilling. A small engraving under the title depicted an eye looking down upon instruments of agiculture, the front page of the Monitor, an inkstand, with pens, etc.

Advertisements occupied eight columns; the prospectus four and a half; English news, six and a half; and bank affairs, two. An advertisement of eight lines and under cost 3s. 6d., fourteen lines, 4s. 6d. From the prospectus the following may be cited:—

"We certainly are of opinion that, while we attribute considerable merit to the two journals which hitherto have engrossed the attention of the Australian Public, there is, nevertheless, room for improvement in some particulars; and in none more than their general dearth of Parliamentary intelligence, and of English and Foreign information. The Author of our religion did, indeed, denounce the wicked—but was not the publican, nor the harlot, nor the adulteress; these confessed they were sinners—but it was the Pharisees—the religious Pharisees—and the lordly Sadducees, men of fashion and of fame, whom the lowly Saviour condemned. We always deeply reverted that, with the sanction of the Magistrates, the names of respectable householders, men of landed property, and heads of families were omitted in the Sheriff's jury lists, merely because some ten, twenty, or thirty years ago, they came to the colony under the pressure of misfortune. His (the Governor's) errors we shall loyally attribute to his two Councils rather than to himself, and we consider his person too sacred, at all events, to become liable to the rude and familiar attacks of a newspaper. The self-important, solemn aspect we have exhibited, though it may be matter of joke to our youthful readers, both male and female, as well as to our more comic friends of adult years, will be excused; for we have felt it no joke ourselves to have been pleading before the Australian Public."

The claims of Emancipists and the rights of Catholics were not, therefore, to be neglected by this Monitor.

The libel case of Dr. Halloran, of the Grammar School, against the Gazette editor, was reported in five columns of the second number of the paper. An eclipse of the moon called forth the ethical reporter's remarks: "The judgment, the imagination, the powers of Science, the affections, our pious feelings, all were in deep exercise. The words, 'Be still, and know that I am God,' seemed to be spoken audibly to our inmost soul, while the moon was under the shade of God's earth."

On June 9th was this apology: "We have made some desperate exertions to get our journal delivered before eight in the morning these short days, and last week we presumed to advertise as though we had accomplished our wishes on that head. Experience, however, for theten-thousandth time proved us too sanguine.'" [sic] He was further induced to hint to correspondents: "In our choice of poetry we are compelled to consider poetic genius essential." Referring to some Newcastle horrors, the editor added: We shall some day open a scene respecting these very judicial penal settlements which will make men's hair stand on end." The Rev. J. J. Therry, June 16th, published his letter to Government, pitiously entreating for a few prisoner carpenters to finish the roof of his Catholic chapel. He invited attention 'to the general state of the Catholics of the colony, and more especially to the exiled portion of them, destitute, many of them are, of means to provide education for their children, or to obtain for themselves religious and moral instruction." He contrasted that neglect with the liberal aid afforded by Government to the more opulent Protestant church.

Under the head of "Anticipation," we have extracts from Sydney newspapers of January, 1900. Among other news, one reads of the probability of war with Tasmania; of one who remembers 'the old gaol in the middle of George Street; of land fetching 25 years' purchase; of a steamer going to Moreton Bay in three days; of the Legislatures of Australia; of clothing factories reducing the wool export to 20,000,000 lbs. from 22,000,000; of a ship from home through the Darien Canal in 47 days; of prisoners sent to New Zealand instead of New South Wales; of two natives exhibited for a shilling admission; of the population of Sydney being 287,652 souls, etc.

In July, the Editor declared his advertisements as numerous, and his subscribers nearly as many, as his two contemporaries had; adding "The only drawback on our pleasure is sympathy for our aged friend, the Gazette, whose columns every other day loudly proclaim the agonies with which our unparalleled success afflicts his tottering frame." A correspondent began his letter to the with, "Sir, as an old inhabitant, formerly under the law," etc.

"In the Wednesday's Gazette," said the Monitor of July 28th, "we have not merely had the honour to receive an unusual quantity of abuse, but a stab has been aimed at our office. The attempts made by the Gazette to induce the Government to take away our printers speaks foritself. We have, indeed, but two printers belonging to Government—our office will be soon filled with free Journeymen and apprentices." The death of Mrs. Hall, wife of the editor, put the first page, on August 18th, into mourning. The imprint then was, "Printed and published at the Monitor Press by Hill & Co."

An Irish wedding feast in Sydney was introduced by the following lines:—

Cobbett's "History of the Protestant Reformation" was largely quoted in the Monitor. Sabbath desecration by the running of Sunday coaches was editorially condemned.

The duel between Mr. Bannister, Attorney General, and Dr. Wardell, of the Australian, came off in October, and was the beginning of a long series of disputes. The book of the Rev. S. Marsden was being severely criticised by the Sydney press.