Cirrus@Austlit

'Most of his collection of "poems" have already appeared in print, but as the periodicals in which they appeared have ceased to exist he has at some expense to himself, and it is to be hoped with little pecuniary loss, rescued them from oblivion and collated them in a very acceptable form... Mr Walker's earlier efforts date as far back as 1847, and he seems to have closed his poetical career in 1850 which is to be regretted, as it will be subsequently observed he developed not only much genius but striking originality... He opens his volume with a poem on the Hawkesbury flood of 1850... Mr Walker has done good work in his day with very rude implements, and we have to thank him for exemplifying the difficulties early colonial poets had in "wrestling with rhymes".'