AustLit

A report on a meeting held in Burketown [Upper Araluen] 'by the admirers of the Freeman's Journal for the purpose of framing certain resolutions'.

Buggins comments on the Treason Felony Act before turning his attention to the colonial tour of the Scottish actor James R. Anderson. Buggins reflects on various performances by Anderson in Victoria and New South Wales before stating plainly: 'Mr. Anderson, there is nothing like the truth, however hard the truth may sometimes be – you were a failure in the colonies, – a failure, as dead as a nail in a pauper's coffin'.

Dion Boucicault's Colleen Bawn; or, The Brides of Garryowen was produced at the Royal Victoria Theatre in the week preceding Buggins's article. Buggins writes in some detail about Bouciault's shortcomings as both a playwright and a theatre lessee.

Finally, there are some general comments about recent theatrical productions in Sydney together with a note that the Prince of Wales Opera House has been 'elegantly redecorated' and 'the old Lyceum Theatre has undergone complete metamorphose, and was opened last Tuesday under the title of the "Varieties"'.

The Freeman's Journal reproduces an item from Melbourne's Roman Catholic-oriented newspaper, the Advocate. The article briefly maps the history of New South Wales Premier and Attorney General James Martin's prosecution of the Freeman's Journal.

'And why?', asks the Melbourne paper. Because Martin 'desires to crush [the Freeman's Journal] because it is as thoroughly Irish and Catholic in sentiment as it is Australian in it principles; and as it has not laid itself open to a prosecution for sedition or treason, he has adopted the pitiful and spiteful course of proceeding for heavy penaltees again its proprietors on the ground of a defect in the form of registration'.

The Freeman's Journal reproduces an item from the Bathurst Times regarding 'a meeting of the friends and supporters of the Freeman's Journal. A committee was formed at the meeting for the purpose of carrying out the objects of the 3 August meeting. (See 'Bathurst' for background information.)

An advertisement for the Prince of Wales Opera House production of Thomas William Robertson's Caste and Thomas Morton's A Roland for an Oliver on 15 August 1868.

(Performances on 15 August 1868 mark the beginning of a new season at the Prince of Wales Opera House. Mr Hoskins, associated with the Royal Victoria Theatre immediately prior to this, is now the manager of the Prince of Wales.)

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.