AustLit

On 15 August 1834 Nathaniel Lipscomb Kentish published the first issue of the Sydney Times, an independent, pro-emancipist, four-page semi-weekly, which subsequently became a weekly publication. On page 2 of the first issue, with emphasis achieved by heavy use of capital letters, Kentish proposed that the newspaper's line of policy would be independent of principle : 'it shall be our chief aim, and our unremitting endeavour to "Advance Australia;" by which we mean simply to promote the INFORMATION, and with it, THE WEALTH, THE PROSPERITY, and THE HAPPINESS of "THE LAND WE LIVE IN," by emulating the better portion of the FREE PRESS of our accomplished Mother Country, in giving PUBLICITY WITH ECONOMY, to COMMERCIAL, and brief, but AUTHENTIC POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE in which the mass of "The People" is concerned'. On 8 April 1837 Kentish reiterated: 'The principles of this Paper are, as from its establishment have been, those of the moderate WHIG party of England, viz., admitting the necessity, and contending for the propriety, of improvement and reform in every department in which abuses exist, and which must therefore be susceptible of improvement; but without going the length of desiring to infringe, or of sanctioning the infringement of one principle of our admirable constitution in Church and State, as by law established. Its Editor is unshackled, and is expected to write as a gentleman thorougly independent of any party in the colony'.

Regular features included Editorials, Shipping Intelligence, Latest English News, Original Correspondence, Domestic Intelligence, Theatre Reviews and a Poet's Corner. On page 2 of 5 December 1834 issue, Kentish commented on the standard of original poetry submissions: 'So of Poetry. Our character being established as the vehicle of the Australian muse, in justice to our readers and ourselves, we are compelled to select for our Poet's Corner such pieces only, as will do credit to our reputation'.

With sales rising to 1371 copies, the Sydney Times, though irregularly published, finally outstripped its four contemporaries before its final appearance as an Extraordinary issue published on 2 July 1838. In this final issue Kentish notified the 'Colonial Public' that he was unlikely to resume his editorial duties and instead intented to pursue his career as a civil engineer and surveyor.

Source: Australian Dictionary of Biography entry for Kentish, Nathaniel Lipscomb