AustLit

A report on libel actions listed in the Supreme Court, civil side, for July 1838. The actions involve Sydney newspapers and their editors and mainly stem from an article 'The Devil and the Man of Worth' published in the Australian Magazine, 1(3) March 1838. The list includes E. D. O'Reilly v. Edward Smith Hall of the Monitor; Edward Smith Hall v. James McEachern, the editor of the Colonist; Abraham Cohen of the Australian v. Jacob Josephson 'as the writer of a letter bearing defendant's signature, inserted in the [Sydney] Gazette' ; Jacob Josephson v. 'Messrs. Fulton and Purcell, as the writer of an article, inserted in the 3rd number of The Australian Magazine, headed "The Devil and the Man of Worth"'; Jacob Josephson v. George Cavenagh, the editor of the Sydney Gazette, 'for the publication of a letter, signed "A Subscriber" referring to the article "The Devil and the Man of Worth"'. The report also mentions 'McAlister at the suit of the Attorney-General' and Edward O'Shaughnessy v. James McEarchern. See also [Untitled], correspondence by A Subscriber (fl. 1838), published in the Sydney Gazette, 6 March 1838. The publication of 'The Devil and the Man of Worth' lead to a trial of libel, Josephson v. Fulton, in the Supreme Court of New South Wales in March 1839.

'Mr. Munyard, The self-styled "Kean of New South Wales," who, not long since, stigmatised the colonists as "a set of thieves and vagabonds," made his exit from Sydney in the brig Bee on Sunday last, bound to Hobart Town, having only a few days ago purchased goods at Simmons & Co.'s auction on credit, to the amount of £17, which he immediately converted into cash, and pocketed to the damage of his creditors.

Verily, the "Kean of New South Wales" had just cause to call this a country of thieves and vagabonds while he honored Sydney with his presence.'

An advertisement for the performance of Mrs G.– of The Golden Pippin; 'the Domestic Drama in one Act, entitled The Daughter'; and 'the laughable Farce in 2 Acts called The Honest Thieves'at the Royal Victoria Theatre, Sydney, New South Wales, on 8 May 1838.