AustLit

An advertisement for a 20-page publication listing all new books for sale (from George Robertson's January 1868 Monthly Book Circular).

An advertisement for new Australian publications, 'just published by George Robertson'.

An advertisement for various international works from London publisher Cassell, Petter and Galpin, available from George Robertson, 'sole agent for the Australian colonies'.

An advertisement for new international books 'just received by George Robertson', including titles in French and German.

An advertisement for 'books for the young now landing by George Robertson'. The titles are by English and American authors.

An advertisement for 'recent novels now landing by George Robertson'.

An advertisement for 'new supplies of standard works just received by George Robertson'. The works are predominantly by English authors and include Bulwer Lytton, Charlotte Bronte and Geoffrey Chaucer.

An advertisement for English journals arriving in the colony, including Leisure Hour, Sunday at Home, The People's Magazine and Cassell's Magazine.

An advertisement for St Paul's Magazine, 'a new monthly magazine of fiction, art and literature, edited by Anthony Trollope and illustrated by J. E. Millais.

An advertisement for the 'Christmas numbers' of English journals, imported by Samuel Mullen.

An advertisement for the London Journal.

An advertisement for the published collection of newspaper correspondence, Was Hamlet Mad?: Being a Series of Critiques on the Acting of the Late Walter Montgomery, available from the publisher and bookseller H. T. Dwight.

The columnist for the New York Herald expresses the view that 'the reproduction of some of Mr. Dickens' choice extracts touching the horrors of American slavery twenty-five years ago, dovetailed with some descriptions of Southern negro reconstruction of this dawning day of the African millennium, would prove a wonderful success'.

A report on the cricket match between the Printing Department of The Argus and a team from East Brighton. 'The fielding and batting of The Argus was very loose and indifferent, while that of their opponents was excellent'.

(The surnames of all players are included in the score sheet.)

An essay on the changing character and behaviour of young women. The writer deplores these developments: 'If any credence is to be attached to what we read in the works of contemporary satirists, essayists, and novelists, the young women of England, France, and the United States are rapidly assimilating to one type; and that, if not a repulsive, at any rate an unlovely one. The typical young lady is fast, bold, and extravagant. She affects masculine habits, and studiously divests herself of feminine delicacy. She sprinkles her conversation with slang, and does not disdain to copy both the dress and the manners of the demi-monde. She is sordid and calculating in all that concerns her prospective settlement in in life...'

'Q' reflects on the state of Victorian politics, the prices charged by cab drivers, and the news that the Fenians who had been transported to Western Australian on the Hougoumont are to be released.

Jaques provides a detailed commentary on the Theatre Royal's production of James R. Anderson's Cloud and Sunshine; Or, Love's Revenge (with James Anderson in the lead role) and on the Princess Theatre's production of Watts Phillips's The Woman in Mauve. (F. C. Burnand's Black-Eyed Susan; Or, The Little Bill That Was Taken Up, the 'after-piece' to The Woman in Mauve, is noted briefly.)

One item in 'Town News' deals with the recognition in Italy of internationally renowned Australians:

'The literary and scientific men of Italy appear to be not inattentive observers of what is passing in Australia, and are perfectly familiar with the names and reputations of our local savans. In the Diritto, of Florence, for the 19th of November last, we find the report of an address delivered, to the recently established Geographical Society of Italy, by Commander Negri, the well-known historian and political economist, upon whom has been bestowed the well-deserved honour of the presidency of that society … [T]he President observed : "We have friends in Australia whose names are honourably known to Europe and the world – Dr. [Ferdinand von] Mueller, Professor McCoy, director of the Museum of Natural History in Melbourne, and the distinguished naturalist, M. Salvador Morhange. At Sydney there is the Rev. Dr. [Charles] Badham, Professor of Classic Literature in the University..."

'The President then went on to describe the growth and explain the resources of Australia, and concluded by observing that the Geographical Society would systematically direct its efforts to acquire and disseminate such information as would be of practical utility to Italy; and it would be animated in its efforts by the hope that their country would turn the knowledge thus acquired to valuable account.'