The Empire reproduces a column from the pages of London's Spectator. The column addresses moves by the colonial government in New South Wales to introduce a Treason Felony Act following the attempted assassination of H. R. H. Prince Alfred in March 1868. The Spectator considers the move foolish and concludes: 'To our minds the greatest disrespect for her Majesty, of which an English subject is likely to be capable just at the present, is to suppose that she can give her assent to so insane, or, if not insane, then cruel, brutal and silly an Act as this.'