Cirrus@Austlit

The 'Flaneur' muses on Sydney's recent political and social occurrences. He directs his attention to ladies' fashion, the recent solar eclipse, volunteer regiments and the rejection of donations (resulting from crime) to the building of St Mary's Cathedral. The 'Flaneur' also notes the private publication by Mr F. Lee of a defence of the character of the late Dr William Bland. The publication was prompted by the Sydney Morning Herald's assessment of Dr Bland and its refusal to publish Mr Lee's response. A copy of the handbill came to the attention of one of the Herald's compositors and so enraged him that he threatened to horsewhip Mr Lee.

The 'Flaneur' muses on Sydney's recent political and social occurrences. He pays particular attention to the Sydney Morning Herald's (as he sees it) traducing of the reputation of the recently deceased Dr William Bland in that newspaper's obituary 'Death of Dr. Bland 1868'.

The Empire takes issue with the sentiments expressed in the Sydney Morning Herald's column of 22 July 1868 in relation to the death of Dr William Bland. The Empire accuses the Herald (which had reproduced an article on Bland from the Weekly Register of 1843) of 'trumpeting over the coffin of the dead' by re-exposing Bland's convict and criminal past.