262
NOTES AND QUERIES,
s. m. APRIL s, 19Q&
could appear in type, and replace the manu-
script notices previously affixed to gum
trees, so that it was not until the 5th of
March, 1803, that the first newspaper, The
Sydney Gazette, was published. Copies of this
first issue are still extant, but in too dila-
pidated a condition for effective reproduc-
tion. The honour of starting the second
paper, The Australian, the 24th of October,
1824, is due to William Charles Wentworth,
a Sydney barrister, who subsequently de-
veloped into the pioneer statesman of Aus-
tralia. Its aim was " to convert a prison
into a colony fit for & freeman to inhabit him-
self and to bequeath as an inheritance to
posterity." It survived until 1848, and its
career was brilliant. It was in 1831 that
the era of serious journalism commenced.
On the 18th of April The Sydney Herald first
saw the light, and "it has since become
one of the giants of the Australian press,"
and is regarded with affectionate venera-
tion as one of the institutions of Australia.
The property is now held by Sir James
Reading Fairfax and his sons. It is a
curious fact that for many years this paper
has been conducted by clerical editors.
Mr. Thomas Heney is its present editor.
Another paper, The Atlas, was started in
1844 as the organ of the " squattocracy."
Among its most caustic writers was Eobert
Lowe, then a Sydney barrister, afterwards
Lord Sherbrooke. The founder of the Vic-
torian press was John Pascoe Fawkner. In
1838 he circulated a manuscript newspaper,
The Melbourne Advertiser, the remote pro-
genitor of the famous Melbourne Argus. It
stated that " the sons of Britain languish
when debarred the use of that mighty engine
the press." After nine issues in manuscript
Fawkner procured a quantity of "old waste
letter called type," and the tenth number was
set up by a lad with a few months' expe-
rience in type-setting. The united annual
circulation of the Australian press through
the Post Office now reaches 130,000,000. Of
course these vast figures give no idea of the
actual circulation.
Space will not allow of more than these passing references, although it would be interesting to give an account of the Indian, South African, and West Indian presses.
This account of the colonial press is well illustrated, and as one looks at the striking portraits one feels a longing to have a per- sonal acquaintance with the men to whose talents and great ability the proud position of our colonial press is due. I have only been able briefly to indicate what rich material the future historian of the colonial
press will find ready to his hand in this
invaluable volume.
I cannot close without offering to my old friend Mr. Wellsman, the editor of this. ' Directory,' my hearty congratulations, for he assisted Mr. Mitchell in the first issue in 1846 and subsequent issues. In 1857 he became sub editor, and on Mr. Mitchell's death in 1859 he took over the editorship. I am sure that all connected with the press will earnestly wish that for many years yet to come his signature may appear at the end of the editorial address. I may add thai Mr. Wellsman has always been ready in the most courteous way to give information to- members of Parliament and others requiring "Press statistics." His knowledge of these is unique, and was specially useful in the agitation for the repeal of the compulsory stamp and the paper duties.
JOHN C. FRANCIS.
THE LATE R. S. CHARNOCK.
DR. CHARNOCK was a contributor to ' N. & Q.' for close upon half a century.
I find a note of his in 1856. From the names of contributors being indexed in the Ninth General Index, I am able to state without trouble that his last note was in the tenth volume in 1902. He was born in London,
II August, 1820, and was educated at King's- College.
As Charnock was admitted an attorney in 1841 he would probably have been articled- when he was sixteen, so that he had not time to get much scholastic education, nor was- much required in those days ; but I think we may truly say that his chief education was that which,he gave himself.
His was one of the oldest names on the books of the British Museum, he having been- admitted a reader on 15 September, 1838.
His first office was at 44, Paternoster Row then, as now, full of publishers and book- sellers buthe afterwards removed to 8-, Gray's Inn Square, where he lived for many years. He was admitted a member of the Inn 26 January, 1870 (Foster's 'Register'). He ceased practising as a solicitor in ISTTK His father was also an attorney ; but as he was called to the Bar in 1840 1 , he must have given up the lower branch of the profes- sion some years before in order to become a barrister*
- I observe that Mr. Boase gives the date of the
father's birth as 1799, which, 1 think, is not right, for he would then have only been fourteen wnen admitted a student of Gray's Inn 28> July, ISIS (Foster's ' Register '), which would allow less time;
