Cirrus@Austlit

'Humanitas' responds to a letter, published in the Sydney Monitor on 11 April, in which E. S. Hall names William Watt and Edward O'Shaughnessy as 'the authors of all personalities' published in the Sydney Gazette 'whether you write editorially or under anonymous signatures'.

Humanitas writes: 'Perceiving in your journal of this date [11 April 1834], that you charge two individuals, by name, as well as by terming them the joint-editor of the Sydney Gazette, as the authors of a certain pamphlet about to be published; I have to acquaint you, that the assertion is decidedly untrue, and I call upon you publicly, to declare by what authority you have been induced to make so unfounded a statement.' Humanitas dissociates himself from Watt and O'Shaughnessy (without actually naming them).

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).

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.