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The Literary Profession, or, The Colonial Press single work   criticism  
Note: Published without author attribution; authorship acknowledged following 'an application for a criminal information'. See the Colonist, 11 June 1835.
Issue Details: First known date: 1835... 1835 The Literary Profession, or, The Colonial Press
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

The writer for the Colonist disapproves of Edward O'Shaughnessy's role as editor of the Sydney Gazette. The writer argues that 'there are certain situations of importance to the public in the colony which an emancipist cannot hold, however throroughly reformed he may be, and however irreproachable his subsequent conduct'. Even leaving aside the moral grounds of O'Shaughnessy's appointment as editor, the Colonist declares that the ex-convict is 'quite destitute of the talent and vigour of mind which are indispensably necessary in such an office'.

The writer for the Colonist also reflects on the general low tone of colonial newspapers and hopes that a more properly qualified person may emigrate from England to take up an editorial role and raise the standard of New South Wales newspapers.

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

  • Appears in:
    y separately published work icon The Colonist vol. 1 no. 14 2 April 1835 Z1807232 1835 newspaper issue 1835 pg. 105-107
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Related Works

The Literary Profession, or The Colonial Press 1835 single work criticism
— Appears in: The Colonist , 26 March vol. 1 no. 13 1835; (p. 97-98) The Colonist's editor provides a detailed appraisal of Sydney's earliest newspapers, their editors and editorial perspectives.
The Literary Profession, or The Colonial Press 1835 single work criticism
— Appears in: The Colonist , 21 May vol. 1 no. 21 1835; (p. 161-162)

The writer for the Colonist again expresses dismay that the Sydney Gazette is under the control of an ex-convict, Edward O'Shaughnessy, and a ticket-of-leave man, William Watt. The Colonist calls on Anne Howe, the newspaper's publisher, to replace both men.

(To further its argument, the Colonist includes an extract from the 1828 London trial of William Watt.)
To the Editor of the Colonist [and the Colonist's Reply] 1835 single work correspondence
— Appears in: The Colonist , 9 April vol. 1 no. 15 1835; (p. 116) The Colonist publishes an unsigned letter, on behalf of Edward O'Shaughnessy, demanding the author of the article titled 'The Literary Profession, or, The Colonial Press' be revealed. If the author is not declared, court action will be taken. The Colonist replies that it has no intention of revealing the author's name on the basis of a request through an anonymous letter. The Colonist is happy for O'Shaughnessy to take the matter to court and resolve the perceived injustice through that avenue.
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Works about this Work

Matter Furnished by Our Reporters and Correspondents : Supreme Court : Civil Side 1835 single work column
— Appears in: The Sydney Monitor , 17 June vol. 10 no. 803 1835; (p. 2-3)

'In this case a rule Nisi had been obtained, calling on Dr. Lang to show cause why a criminal information should not be filed against him for a libel published in the fourteenth number of the Colonist.' (The article in question is 'The Literary Profession, or, The Colonial Press'.)

The court came to the decision that there was sufficient evidence for a criminal information to be filed.
Our Libel Case 1835 single work column
— Appears in: The Colonist , 11 June vol. 1 no. 24 1835; (p. 188) A column relating to the legal action taken on behalf of Edward O'Shaughnessy. The action arose from a column written by John Dunmore Lang in which he argued that no person 'who has been transported for a felony, but who subsequently obtained his freedom, is a fit person to have the management of the Press in a convict colony'.
Our Libel Case 1835 single work column
— Appears in: The Colonist , 11 June vol. 1 no. 24 1835; (p. 188) A column relating to the legal action taken on behalf of Edward O'Shaughnessy. The action arose from a column written by John Dunmore Lang in which he argued that no person 'who has been transported for a felony, but who subsequently obtained his freedom, is a fit person to have the management of the Press in a convict colony'.
Matter Furnished by Our Reporters and Correspondents : Supreme Court : Civil Side 1835 single work column
— Appears in: The Sydney Monitor , 17 June vol. 10 no. 803 1835; (p. 2-3)

'In this case a rule Nisi had been obtained, calling on Dr. Lang to show cause why a criminal information should not be filed against him for a libel published in the fourteenth number of the Colonist.' (The article in question is 'The Literary Profession, or, The Colonial Press'.)

The court came to the decision that there was sufficient evidence for a criminal information to be filed.
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Last amended 23 Sep 2011 16:37:04
105-107 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article31716373 The Literary Profession, or, The Colonial Presssmall AustLit logo The Colonist
Subjects:
  • New South Wales,
  • 1835
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