AustLit

An advertisement for the Royal Victoria Theatre production of Tom Taylor's Our American Cousin and Mark Lemon's The Ladies' Club on 30 and 31 July 1868.

An advertisement for Joseph Simmons benefit night at the Royal Victoria Theatre on 3 August 1868.

An advertisement, probably placed by Samuel Bennett (sole proprietor, printer and publisher of the Empire), for the sale of a single cylinder printing machine. The sale is being offered 'to make room for a new machine daily expected from England'.

A column detailing the final ministrations of the Church of England to the late Dr William Bland. (The column provides a counterpoint to claims – published in the Empire on 28 July 1868 under the title 'Alleged Deathbed Admission of Dr. Bland to the Roman Catholic Church 1868' – that Dr Bland had converted to Roman Catholicism on his deathbed.)

The Empire reports that 'Mr. James Allen, a well known member of the press in Southern Australia, 'formerly proprietor of the South Australian Register' and, more recently, editor of the Hobart Mercury, 'has seceded from that journal [the Mercury], and is about to establish ... a daily evening paper, and morning weekly on his own account.'

A report from the Empire's West Maitland correspondent informing readers that the 'series of amusing and instructive entertainments' at the School of Arts will be continued on a monthly, rather than weekly, basis. The correspondent commends the venue's Penny Readings for providing several lads with a public platform on which they acquitted themselves admirably.

An advertisement for the sale by auction of 'an extensive library of valuable books', together with a collection of surgical instruments.