This issue of the Australasian also includes
An advertisement for Dwight's catalogue containing 4,800 lots 'forming the best miscellaneous collections, new and secondhand, hitherto published in Australia'.
An advertisement for parts 4-8 of London Miscellany, available from Charles Muskett, bookseller.
An advertisement to printers advising the availability of letterpress, types of all kinds, bookbinders' tools, etc from printer's broker, F. B. Franklyn.
'Our Letter Home' includes information on a range of political and social matters. Included among the latter is a report on Melbourne theatrical and musical offerings for the previous month. The column notes the closure 'for an indefinite period' of the Duke of Edinburgh Theatre (aka the Haymarket Theatre) stating that it has 'struggled bravely against difficulties, and deserves both compliment and sympathy for the endeavours [it has] made to keep the house open'. The Theatre Royal, whose company is presently touring Ballarat, will 're-open for regular business in about a fortnight'.
Jaques opens with: 'To-night I understand, the Duke of Edinburgh [aka The Haymarket Theatre] is to be closed for a possibly uncertain period. More is the pity, especially as Mr. Bellair and Mr. Gill have made a brave stand against the difficulties which have beset them. They ought to have succeeded, for they have tried very hard to succeed, but as they not succeeded they are to be sympathised with in more than a matter of course fashion, for they began their labours, I am sure, with an honest endeavour to do their best to make the theatre prosperous.'
Jaques reflects that 'three theatres might be made to pay in Melbourne if each would be content to adopt a specific place in the dramatic field of action', but he confesses that 'at this present moment the theatrical horizon in Melbourne looks very gloomy'.
Jaques believes a further factor in the sporadic profitability of Melbourne's theatres is due to the character and business acumen of the managers. While exempting the present managers of the Duke of Edinburgh from his discussion, Jaques considers 'the low ebb to which theatrical institutions have fallen is in some measure due to the discreditable connexion they have formerly had with unprincipled adventurers'.
Finally, Jaques reviews the recent production of No Thoroughfare, noting that is an 'American edition' and 'not the version lately produced at the Adelphi, London'.
An advertisement for Charles Haddon Spurgeon's sermons 'in large quantities', available from Buzzard, Melbourne.
