person or book cover
By permission of the NLA
Edward Smith Hall Edward Smith Hall i(A970 works by) (a.k.a. E. S. Hall)
Born: Established: 28 Mar 1786 London,
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England,
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United Kingdom (UK),
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Western Europe, Europe, ; Died: Ceased: 18 Sep 1860 Sydney, New South Wales,
Gender: Male
Arrived in Australia: 10 Oct 1811
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Works By

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1 12 y separately published work icon Sydney Monitor and Commercial Advertiser Edwyn Henry Statham (editor), Francis O'Brien (editor), 1838 Sydney : Edward Smith Hall Francis O'Brien , 1838-1839 Z1627668 1838 newspaper (89 issues)
1 New Advertisements of This Day Edward Smith Hall , 1836 single work column
— Appears in: The Sydney Monitor , 9 December vol. [11] no. 968 1836; (p. 3)

Edward Smith Hall is dismayed at the removal of regular advertising copy from the Sydney Monitor. He writes: 'Since Mr. [Samuel] Lyons retired from business, you may have observed, that Mr. [Thomas Horton] James has not sent to my Office more than two or three Advertisements. As Mr. Lyons found it to the interest of his Constituents to advertise in the Sydney Monitor, I cannot understand why Mr. James should so suddenly have confined his advertisements to the Herald, Australian, Gazette and Colonist. The Herald exceeds the Monitor in circulation; but the Monitor exceeds the circulation of all the other Papers. Any one doubting this allegation, is at liberty to inspect my Subscription List, at the Monitor Office, any hour of any day.'

Smith Hall offers free copy to 'Gentlemen, Traders, and Settlers' who approach him directly with their bills of goods for sale.
1 Enlargement of the Sydney Monitor Edward Smith Hall , 1835 single work column
— Appears in: The Sydney Monitor , 12 December vol. 10 no. 854 1835; (p. 3)

Edward Smith Hall informs readers of the Sydney Monitor that the paper will be adding a Saturday Supplement from 26 December 1835. The supplement will include the Government Gazette and extracts from the English newspapers. Hall reiterates his stance on emigrants and emancipists - he will not distinguish between men on these grounds, but will always separate the vicious from the moral.

Hall gives his opinion on what he considers to be the inflated claims of the Colonist regarding newspaper circulation in the colony. Hall says: 'The circulation of The Sydney Monitor among paying Subscribers, is next to The Sydney Herald. The account of Newspapers published in The Colonist as passing through the Post Office, is no criterion of the circulation up the country of The Sydney Monitor, because; in order to promote their more early delivery, a great portion of them go by Coach, and never pass through the Post Office.'
1 For the British Public Edward Smith Hall , 1835 single work column
— Appears in: The Sydney Monitor , 31 October vol. 10 no. 842 1835; (p. 2) The Sydney Monitor feels obliged to inform its London readers of the background to the dispute between the Rev'd John Dunmore Lang's Colonist and rival newspaper, the Sydney Gazette (until recently edited by ticket-of-leave man William Watt). The Monitor quotes large sections of the Gazette's leader from 20 October 1835.
1 2 y separately published work icon The Sydney Coronal Charles Macdonald (editor), 1835 Sydney : Charles Macdonald , 1835-1836 Z1822624 1835 periodical (6 issues) A monthly collection of the verse of Charles Macdonald, of which only six numbers appeared.
1 The Sydney Gazette Edward Smith Hall , 1835 single work column
— Appears in: The Sydney Monitor , 17 October vol. 10 no. 838 1835; (p. 2) Edward Smith Hall outlines his justification for taking a libel action against Ann Howe and the Sydney Gazette. Hall is at pains to differentiate his opposition to the Gazette's ticket-of-leave and emancipist editors from that of the Rev'd John Dunmore Lang.
1 'Mr Hall's Patriotism' Edward Smith Hall , 1835 single work column
— Appears in: The Sydney Monitor , 26 September vol. 10 no. 832 1835; (p. 2) Edward Smith Hall responds derisively to all of the Rev'd John Dunmore Lang's asertions regarding Hall's 'profiteering' under the favour of Governor Lachlan Macquarie.
1 Our Assistant Editor Edward Smith Hall , 1835 single work column
— Appears in: The Sydney Monitor , 23 September vol. 10 no. 831 1835; (p. 2) Edward Smith Hall defends Charles Kemp, the Sydney Monitor's assistant editor, against the perjorative descriptions published in the Sydney Gazette.
1 Dr. Lang's Defence Edward Smith Hall , 1835 single work column
— Appears in: The Sydney Monitor , 11 July vol. 10 no. 810 1835; (p. 2)

The Sydney Monitor again expresses its agreement with the Rev'd John Dunmore Lang who wrote that 'generally speaking, it is unseemly for a person who was transported to this Colony for a disgraceful crime ... to conduct a newspaper'. However, it states that there were 'mitigating circumstances' when Mrs Howe appointed Edward O'Shaughnessy as editor.

The Monitor's writer (probably Edward Smith Hall) also notes the hypocrisy of Lang's behaviour. Hall asks: 'What name shall we give to that proceeding of the Doctor, wherein he at first buys a press and types, sets up a newspaper,and acts as compositor and Editor to it; and afterwards, to mask the transaction ... appoints as Editor and Proprietor, a person [Kenneth Munro] just arrived in the Colony without property, without talent, without connexions. What name, shall we say, after the alleged trickery of the Gazette, shall we give management of this sort?'
1 The Australian Edward Smith Hall , 1835 single work column
— Appears in: The Sydney Monitor , 1 July vol. 10 no. 807 1835; (p. 2)

The Sydney Monitor is 'sorry to observe the Australian continuing a flippant mode of expression neither friendly to his contemporaries who have not offended him, nor creditable to himself as a young man, an inexperienced editor, and a young Colonist'.

The Monitor contrasts the editorial styles of the Colonist (or the 'Cunning-ist' as it calls it) and the Australian: 'The Australian, in one respect, is inferior to the Cunning-ist. Double-face can reason; the Australian cannot. When the Australian finds an argument which contradicts its prejudices, feeling its inability to reason, it gets rid of it by saying, "we treat it with all the contempt it deserves".'
1 Our Libel Cause Edward Smith Hall , 1835 single work column
— Appears in: The Sydney Monitor , 1 July vol. 10 no. 807 1835; (p. 2) The writer for the Sydney Monitor (almost certainly Edward Smith Hall) comments on the libel case being brought by Edward O'Shaughnessy against the Rev'd John Dunmore Lang. While agreeing with Lang that 'no person 'who has been transported for a felony, but who subsequently obtained his freedom, is a fit person to have the management of the Press in a convict colony', Hall disapproves of the language Lang used against O'Shaughnessy, stating: 'But the way in which Dr. Lang has represented the affair, has been slanderous and malicious in the extreme, and we sincerely hope such a flagrant breach of the laws of libel will be fairly tried, and that in the administration of public justice, the law will prove itself to be blind, and not appear to make an offence the less, because committed by a clergyman. We should not have felt justified in making these remarks, but for the above paragraph [the Monitor has quoted from the Colonist] of Dr. Lang's newspaper. But we shall not allow the Dr. to influence the coming trial by his criticisms, without correcting his articles on the subject, from time to time, as they may be published.'
1 The Cunning-ist Edward Smith Hall , 1835 single work column
— Appears in: The Sydney Monitor , 27 June vol. 10 no. 806 1835; (p. 2) Edward Smith Hall takes issue with his portrayal in the pages of the Colonist (at the hands of the Rev'd John Dunmore Lang).
1 Errata in Our Leading Article of 23rd May Edward Smith Hall , 1835 single work column
— Appears in: The Sydney Monitor , 10 June vol. 10 no. 801 1835; (p. 2) The Sydney Monitor publishes several corrections to the first instalment of its extended editorial piece, 'The Rev. Dr. Lang and His New Journal'. The errors occurred in part one, published on 23 May 1835.
1 1 The Rev. Dr. Lang and His New Journal Edward Smith Hall , 1835 single work criticism An extended editorial on the editorship, proprietorshop and policies of the Colonist.
1 Humanitas and the Editors of the Prisoners' Journal Edward Smith Hall , 1834 single work column
— Appears in: The Sydney Monitor , 2 August vol. 9 no. 712 1834; (p. 2)

Edward Smith Hall, chooses not to reply directly to the Sydney Gazette's editorial of 31 July 1834. He does, however, take up the comments made by William Watt in a letter published in the Gazette on the same day. Hall provides a differing version of events to that proposed by Watt in regard to their falling out over Watt's employment at the Monitor. Hall also argues the that letter, written by him and quoted by Watt in the Gazette, shows him in a favourable and honorable light. He explains that he was deceived by early advice regarding Watt's character and details what he now knows of Watt's background.

Hall also announces his decision to pursue Watt and the Gazette's editor, Edward O'Shaughnessey, through legal avenues.
1 1 Humanitas Edward Smith Hall , 1834 single work column
— Appears in: The Sydney Monitor , 30 July vol. 9 no. 711 1834; (p. 2)

The writer for the Sydney Monitor discusses the authorship of Party Politics Exposed in a Letter Addressed to the Right Honorable, the Secretary of State for the Colonies: Containing Comments on Convict Discipline in New South Wales by an Emigrant of 1821. The 'Emigrant of 1821' is also known as 'Humanitas'. The Monitor's writer identifies one of those who make up the pseudonymous 'Humanitas' as William Watt, assistant editor of the Sydney Gazette.

The writer states: 'We believe [the pamphlet] to have been written by Mr. Watt, who holds a ticket-of-leave, and is joint Editor of the Sydney Gazette along with Mr.O'Shaughnessy, who became free by servitude about four years ago. Another contributor to this paper is an Emigrant, who himself has been twice convicted of offences in this Colony, for one of which he was transported to a Penal Settlement for two or three years.'

The writer further contents that 'Mr. Watt wrote Humanitas in the Office of the Sydney Monitor, in February last [1834], unknown to us at the time; and it was not until he left our service that we discovered that he had employed himself during the last month he was with us, in this connection.(Party Politics Exposed quotes a publication that was being printed at the Monitor's offices during the time in which Watt was superintendent of printing, giving him access to all correspondence.)
1 To Mr Andrew Bent, of Hobart Town, Van Diemen's Land, The Franklin of Tasmania Edward Smith Hall , 1834 single work correspondence
— Appears in: The Sydney Monitor , 26 April vol. 8 no. 684 1834; (p. 2) Edward Smith Hall offers his support to Andrew Bent in the latter's altercations with Governor Arthur.
1 Untitled Edward Smith Hall , 1834 single work column
— Appears in: The Sydney Monitor , 19 April vol. 8 no. 682 1834; (p. 2) Edward Smith Hall remarks on a letter sent by 'Humanitas'. In the letter, 'Humanitas' appears to confuse Hall with a missionary of the same name who arrived in New South Wales at the same time as Hall. Hall exposes 'Humanitas's error and points out that he will do battle with 'Humanitas' via the 'pen'.
1 To the Joint-Editors of the Sydney Gazette Edward Smith Hall , 1834 single work column
— Appears in: The Sydney Monitor , 15 April vol. 8 no. 681 1834; (p. 2)

Edward Smith Hall vehemently denies the inference of the Sydney Gazette that he is the person who has sought, through underhand means, to uncover the identity of 'Humanitas'. Smith charges the 'joint editors' of the Gazette to 'produce your proofs; which, if you cannot do, then publish a confession of either your folly or your malice, as your consciences respectively may suggest.'

Hall goes on to lay his own charges against the editors of the Gazette. He challenges them to deny that they did not obtain pamphlets published by Hall and subsequently use, or cause to be used, said pamphlets in the writings of 'Humanitas'. Hall claims his work was 'surreptitiously obtained' from his bookbinder.
1 Reply : To Humanitas Edward Smith Hall , 1834 single work correspondence
— Appears in: The Sydney Monitor , 15 April vol. 8 no. 681 1834; (p. 2) The Sydney Monitor's editor returns fire following receipt of a letter from 'Humanitas' ('To the Editor of the Sydney Monitor'). The editor charges that 'Humanitas' has had 'the audacity to attack gentlemen of character from "behind a wall" of anonymity. The editor refuses to engage further with 'Humanitas' until the pseudonymous author meets the editor 'upon equal terms' (i.e. under his own name).
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