AustLit

'The Flaneur of Sydney' compares the self-righteous attitude of 'the leading organ' of Sydney 'public opinion' [The Sydney Morning Herald] with the compassionate view of English poet Thomas Hood on the subject of suicide. (The original Sydney Morning Herald article can be found here.)

'The Flaneur' goes on to ridicule The Sydney Morning Herald's report on the Pavilion Ball, held in honour of H. R. H. Prince Alfred. In doing so, he quotes from British authors Thomas Carlyle and Jonathan Swift, and references the Roman figures Livy, Tacitus and Suetonius.

Because the English papers 'have a good deal to say about Dickens just now, and his trip to America', 'The Flaneur's' piece concludes with Thomas Hood's poem, 'To Charles Dickens, On His Departure for America, Jan. 4, 1842', written on the occasion of Dickens's first visit to the USA.