AustLit

An advertisement for a 'meeting of the Friends and Supporters of the Sydney Freeman's Journal'. The meeting coincided with the prosecution of the Freeman's Journal's proprietors, by Attorney General James Martin, over their non-compliance with registration regulations.

The Freeman's Journal expresses its gratitude for the support being offered by that 'noble set of men', the 'warm -hearted Catholics of Bathurst'. The support, in the form of a public meeting, coincided with the prosecution of the Freeman's Journal's proprietors, by Attorney General James Martin, over non-compliance with registration regulations.

In order to properly defend itself in the case, the journal asks that 'those who may be in arrears with their subscriptions ...show their interest in the journal by settling their accounts with as little delay as possible'.

Buggins first discusses a case in which the acting police surgeon failed to attend, in a timely manner, an ill man (who later died) in the police cells.

Buggins then reflects on Mr Burford's benefit night at the Royal Victoria Theatre on 28 July 1868. The selected plays were Tom Taylor and Charles Reade's The King's Rival and Douglas Jerrold's Black Eyed Susan. Buggins suggests that Burford 'ruined his chances of a good attendance' by choosing the former, and proceeds to outline the play's history, plot and characters.

This article, originally published in the Yass Courier, provides a detailed account of James Martin's prosecution of the proprietors of the Freeman's Journal. It asserts the view that 'the prosecution as it now stands has all the appearance of having been commenced because the paper has been a stern opponent of the present Administration, and has commented freely and unfavorably on the acts of every singe member of the Government ... It shall certainly not enhance the reputation of the Cabinet either individually or collectively, and we venture to predict that many days shall not pass ere a journal still more bitterly opposed to the existing Government shall spring from the ashes of this victim to legal tyranny and Ministerial ill-will'.

A lengthy explanation of the background to Premier and Attorney General James Martin's case against the Freeman's Journal.

The Freeman's Journal paraphrases, and quotes from, portions of John Boyle O'Reilly's diary from the period September 1867 (just prior to O'Reilly's transportation) to 13 November 1867 (while on board the Hougoumont en route to Australia).

The writer for Freeman's concludes by stating: 'At the close of the diary are given copies of poems written for the Wild Goose. The best of them are by a convict named J. B. O'Reilly, who seems to be a man of no ordinary talent. Several of the poems by this writer are of a very superior description.' (The journal publishes one of O'Reilly's poems, written from his cell in Dartmoor Prison, at the end of this article. The poem, with the first line 'A plaintive tale is briefly traced on yonder new-raised stone', did not appear in Wild Goose.)

An advertisement for the Royal Victoria Theatre production of 'the great moral drama' Jack Sheppard and of Tom Taylor's Our American Cousin on 1 August 1868.

The Freeman's Journal reports that W. A. Duncan has been suspended from his position as Collector of Customs having, allegedly, 'disobeyed the order of the Hon. the Treasurer, Mr. Eager'.

An advertisement for the Royal Victoria Theatre production of Tom Taylor's The Hidden Hand and John Tobin's The Honey Moon on 5 August 1868.

(The version of this advertisement that appears in the Freeman's Journal includes some cast details.)

An advertisement advising that the proprietors of the Freeman's Journal have entered into a 'job printing business' and 'are now prepared to execute orders'.

A list of suburban, country and inter-colonial agents for the Freeman's Journal.

An advertisement advising that Freeman's Journal 'is filed and may be seen, free of charge, at Holloway's, 533, Oxford-street, W. C., (late of 224, Strand) London, where advertisements and subscriptions may be received'.

An advertisement, for Greville and Company, for the sale of various types of paper, pens, pencils, slates, ledgers and other stationery items.

An advertisement advising that Greville and Company are the 'authorised Sydney agents of all the leading provincial journals of New South Wales' and are able 'to offer terms for the insertion of advertisements which can be done by none but a recognised agent'.

An advertisement for Greville and Company, agents for Messers Harrild and Sons, London, advertising the sale of various items of printing machinery and equipment.