AustLit

A notice to subscribers and advertisers inserted by the agent for the Port Phillip Gazette newspaper, W. H. Aldis.

In November 1838 MacDonald published a notice 'To the Australian Public' in the advertising columns of Sydney newspapers. The notice appeals 'for succour and support' and ends with the postscript: 'My last publication, containing a History of my Life with a Prose Essay, entitled the Fate of a Genius, with four Original Songs, may be had at Mr. Tegg's, Bookseller, George-street, price 1s. 6d. I humbly request that each of the Editors of the Australian Newspapers will give the above article a place in their columns. Persons desirous of befriending me may send their donations, addressed to the Australian Office.'

Column on the closure of the Royal Victoria Theatre, Sydney, from 'this evening [22 November 1838] until after Christmas day, owing to several of the performers being laid up with the prevalent influenza, owing to which disease but few persons have been able to attend the Theatre lately.' There are a further three columns in this issue of the Gazette on the influenza epidemic including a paragraph about the postponement of Philip Deane's concert, previously advertised in the pages of the Gazette. (Music concert advertisements are not usually indexed in AustLit.) The epidemic continued to be widely reported over subsequent issues of the Sydney Gazette. The theatre reopened on 8 December.

Advertisement for performance at the Royal Victoria Theatre, Sydney, on 22 November 1838 of the 'Drama in Three Acts, entitled Valsha' and a 'Farce called Valet de Sham'. and 'the Song of "The Rover", by Mr. Falchon [Arthur Falchon]'.

At the head of the advertisement '[t]he public is most respectfully informed, that in consequence of the prevailing malady now raging in Sydney, the Proprietor deems it necessary to close the Theatre ... until 26th December.'