This issue of the Australasian also includes
An advertisement for new books and new editions of popular and standard books, available from George Robertson, 'importer of books and stationery'. The list of new arrivals includes Old Boomerang's Australian Tales and Sketches from Real Life, published in London.
An advertisement for cheap editions of popular novels, available from George Robertson, 'importer of books and stationery'. Titles advertised include works by Anthony Trollope and Watts Phillips.
An advertisement for popular editions of noted novels, available from George Robertson, 'importer of books and stationery'. Titles advertised include works by Charles Dickens and Henry Fielding.
An advertisement for popular editions of English novels, available from George Robertson, 'importer of books and stationery'. Authors whose works are advertised include Walter Scott, Charles Dickens, William Thackeray, Bulwer Lytton, Charles Lever, Captain Marryat, Benjamin Disraeli and the Bronte sisters. (Although the advertisement states 'English novels', the list of advertised titles includes American James Fenimore Cooper's Leatherstocking Tales. Also, Sir Walter Scott is Scottish, not English.)
An advertisement for English periodicals, available from George Robertson, 'importer of books and stationery'. Titles advertised include Household Words, the Argosy, Macmillan's Magazine, St Paul's and Temple Bar.
An advertisement for the London monthly The Young Ladies' Journal. The advertisement states that the magazine 'contains suitable reading for families, ... interesting to everybody at home and abroad'.
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 an 'Australian edition' of Edgar Allan Poe's poetical works, 'just published' and available from George Robertson.
An advertisement for the Melbourne bookseller and stationer, Charles Muskett.
An advertisement for the complete run of the Australasian from its commencement until 1 August 1868, cost £4.
A travel narrative about a trip to Goa, India.
The Australasian's review of the Australian edition of The Poetical Works of Edgar Allan Poe begins: 'The fact that a Melbourne publisher has thought it worth his while to publish a special Australian edition of the poetical works of Edger Allan Poe may legitimately be taken as proof of the popularity of that writer here to an extent wider than is covered by the ordinary trade supply of his productions. This interest of the public in these works will fairly justify us in devoting some little space to a few general considerations respecting the man and the author.'
'Actaeon' provides an account of day's hunt in Melbourne's north.
Market Harborough's account of a day's hunting in Melbourne's north begins with a poem and contains further literary quotations.
Q. reflects on several political matters including a train trip to Ballarat with several 'Ministerial supporters'. He also notes the work of the Baptist minister, the Rev'd James Taylor, who has purchased a building to be used as a school room and library.
Among the 'Topics of the Week', the Australasian reflects on the 'general philanthropy and benevolence' of the Rev'd James Taylor in raising funds to purchase an 'unprepossessing chapel' lying between Bourke and Little Bourke Streets. The Australasian states that Taylor proposes to establish 'a reading -room well supplied with newspapers and periodicals, open free, every evening; a library of good and instructive books; and classes for the instruction of the young'.
A review of the performances of H. J. D'Ebden's 'Willy O'Meara', William Dimond's Stage Struck and John Oxenford's East Lynne at the Duke of Edinburgh Theatre, and of William Shakespeare's Much Ado about Nothing and W. M. Akhurst's Siege of Troy at the Theatre Royal, Melbourne, August 1868.
