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y separately published work icon The Omnibus and Sydney Spectator newspaper  
Date: 1843
Date: 1841
Issue Details: First known date: 1841... 1841 The Omnibus and Sydney Spectator
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Notes

  • Motto: Omnibus audet / deterrere nefas - Metamorphoses, Book VIII, lines 765-766, Ovid

  • The Omnibus and Sydney Spectator ceased publication with the issue of 1 April 1843. The following Saturday, on 8 April, a single issue of the Satirist and Sydney Spectator was published. This issue contained an article deemed obscene by the Attorney General and Charles James Gogerly, printer of the Omnibus, faced an obscenity charge before the New South Wales Supreme Court.

    Gogerly disputed the evidence that he was the publisher of the newspaper. He said he was 'merely employed as a labourer and servant ... for which service he received the weekly sum of 25s.'. The prosecution produced an affadavit in which Gogerly is identified as the proprietor, printer and publisher of the Omnibus and Sydney Spectator. The prosecution also produced a copy of the Satirist and Sydney Spectator, bearing Gogerly's signature, in which it is stated that the Omnibus had changed its name to the Satirist. The case against Gogerly was proved and he was sentenced to twelve months imprisonment in Berrima Gaol.

    Further information on the case can be found in the Sydney Morning Herald, 17 April 1843 and 19 April 1843.

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

First known date: 1841
    • Sydney, New South Wales,: H. C. Wilson , 1841-1843 .
      Link: U12865Web resource Digital copy of print publication via Australian Periodical Publications 1840-1845.
      Note/s:
      • 'Edited, Printed and Published by H. C. Wilson' at the Sydney Monitor office. Lower George-street.
      • Published every Saturday evening.
      • From 13 November 1841, the newspaper was edited and published at the Omnibus office in Bridge Street. The issue for 13 November 1841 was still published at the Monitor office but thereafter the printing, as well as the editing and publishing, took place at Omnibus's Bridge Street office.
      • In the issue of 4 December 1841, Wilson provides his full name (as printer, sole editor and proprietor, and publisher) as: Henry Croasdaile Wilson.
      • With the advent of the new series of the Omnibus in March 1843, the newspaper was printed by 'Charles James Gogerly, resident at the Omnibus Office' which had returned to its original location in Lower George-street. The final three issues of the newspaper, published from 18 March to 1 April 1843, give Gogerly's name as both printer and publisher.
VIEW PUBLICATION DETAILS FOR ALL VERSIONS ()

Works about this Work

To Our Readers 1843 single work column
— Appears in: The Omnibus and Sydney Spectator , 1 April vol. 1 no. 4 (new series) 1843; (p. 13-14)

This editorial begins: 'The Public is respectfully informed, that new arrangements having been made by the proprietor of the Omnibus and Sydney Spectator, for the conduct and management of that publication, from the present number, the system on which it has heretofore been carried on will be completely altered'. The writer continues that the newspaper will be 'conducted on different principles to those on which it formerly relied' and says that the present proprietor will not be 'accountable for the sins of our predecessor'.

The writer goes on to denigrate the other Sydney newspapers of the day, including the Sydney Herald, the Australian, the Chronicle, the Observer and the Sun. Without 'wishing to be too severe', the other papers are accused of failing to furnish 'all that is expected or looked for by the Sydney public'.

The future object of the Omnibus will involve satirising 'the lesser follies and frailties which abound', but the paper will not descend into 'malicious innuendo', 'obscenity' or 'indecency'. The Omnibus has 'one end in view': 'to use the words of a great master of our craft ... "to reprove folly, to check vice, and to amend the morals of the town".'
To the Public 'Mr Jinks' , 1843 single work column
— Appears in: The Omnibus and Sydney Spectator , 11 March vol. 1 no. 1 (new series) 1843; (p. 1) This editorial introduces the resurrected newspaper to its readers, announcing the appointment of Mr Jinks as editor and continuing a campaign against the Sydney Herald in response to that newspaper's criticism of the Omnibus.
The 'Omnibus' 1842 single work advertisement
— Appears in: Australasian Chronicle , 16 June vol. 4 no. 407 1842; (p. 3)
The Omnibus, or, New South Wales Spectator 1841 single work advertisement
— Appears in: Australasian Chronicle , 31 August vol. 3 no. 283 1841; (p. 3)
Untitled H. C. Wilson , 1841 single work column
— Appears in: The Omnibus and Sydney Spectator , 9 October vol. 1 no. 2 1841; (p. 9) An editorial column responding to criticism of the first issue of the Omnibus and Sydney Spectator. Particularly noted are comments by the Sydney Herald and the Sydney Gazette.
Untitled H. C. Wilson , 1841 single work column
— Appears in: The Omnibus and Sydney Spectator , 2 October vol. 1 no. 1 1841; (p. 1-2)

The editor of the Omnibus and Sydney Spectator outlines the governing principles of the newspaper. The Spectator is said to be unaligned with any government, religion or political party; it favours the policies of Sir George Gipps, it opposes monopolies; it favours a constitution enshrining a representative legislature; it favours a 'suffient Police' and a resumption of convict transportation to supply the labour market.

The Spectator intends to provide 'all the dometic news of the week up to the hour of publication, compiled from the other papers and collected by our own reporter' and will include reports from 'some of the leading journals of Europe'. Social and fashion news will be covered together with 'intelligence respecting the state of the markets, strayed and stolen cattle,etc'. There will also be police news, shipping updates and sports reports.
The Song of an Immigrant Cad i "Some folks who with conceit are mad,", Timothy Twig , 1841 single work poetry
— Appears in: The Omnibus and Sydney Spectator , 2 October vol. 1 no. 1 1841; (p. 5)
Untitled H. C. Wilson , 1841 single work column
— Appears in: The Omnibus and Sydney Spectator , 9 October vol. 1 no. 2 1841; (p. 9) An editorial column responding to criticism of the first issue of the Omnibus and Sydney Spectator. Particularly noted are comments by the Sydney Herald and the Sydney Gazette.
To the Public 'Mr Jinks' , 1843 single work column
— Appears in: The Omnibus and Sydney Spectator , 11 March vol. 1 no. 1 (new series) 1843; (p. 1) This editorial introduces the resurrected newspaper to its readers, announcing the appointment of Mr Jinks as editor and continuing a campaign against the Sydney Herald in response to that newspaper's criticism of the Omnibus.
To Our Readers 1843 single work column
— Appears in: The Omnibus and Sydney Spectator , 1 April vol. 1 no. 4 (new series) 1843; (p. 13-14)

This editorial begins: 'The Public is respectfully informed, that new arrangements having been made by the proprietor of the Omnibus and Sydney Spectator, for the conduct and management of that publication, from the present number, the system on which it has heretofore been carried on will be completely altered'. The writer continues that the newspaper will be 'conducted on different principles to those on which it formerly relied' and says that the present proprietor will not be 'accountable for the sins of our predecessor'.

The writer goes on to denigrate the other Sydney newspapers of the day, including the Sydney Herald, the Australian, the Chronicle, the Observer and the Sun. Without 'wishing to be too severe', the other papers are accused of failing to furnish 'all that is expected or looked for by the Sydney public'.

The future object of the Omnibus will involve satirising 'the lesser follies and frailties which abound', but the paper will not descend into 'malicious innuendo', 'obscenity' or 'indecency'. The Omnibus has 'one end in view': 'to use the words of a great master of our craft ... "to reprove folly, to check vice, and to amend the morals of the town".'
VIEW ALL WORKS ABOUT (7)

PeriodicalNewspaper Details

ISSN: 1440-2130
Frequency:
Weekly.
Range:
Vol. 1, no. 1 (2 October 1841) - v. 1, no. 13 (25 December 1841); v. 1, no. 1 (new series) (11 March 1843) - v. 1, no. 4 (1 April 1843).
Price:
Sixpence.
Advertising:
Includes advertising.
Note:
Publication suspended from 25 December 1841 to 11 March 1843.
Note:
Subscriptions: 25 shillings (cash) or 32 shillings (credit) per annum.
Note:
Continuous pagination throughout series one; pagination re-starts with series two.
Last amended 16 Aug 2011 15:53:51
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