AustLit

Founded in January 1851 by John Dunmore Lang (q.v.) The Press was published weekly until its demise in August of the same year. An editorial in the first issue outlined the tenor of the newspaper. It was intended to be a political and not a religious newspaper with emphasis on the separation from British control and support for an Australian constitution towards 'ultimate freedom and independence.' The editorial continued: 'We defy this whole colony to controvert our principle on this subject, and we shall, accordingly, most willingly open our columns to any person whosoever, who, using the language and arguments of a gentleman and a scholar, shall venture to take up the gauntlet we thus throw down, on behalf of our fellow countrymen, the colonists of Australia.'

Source: The Press vol. 1 no. 1, (January 1, 1851) p.3.