The editor of the Sydney Gazette vents his spleen against Edward Smith Hall, calling him (among other things) 'a cowardly libeller', 'a political poltroon' and 'a sugar-candy sucker and a tea-drinking biped'. The Gazette's editorial responds to Hall's column in the Sydney Monitor ('Humanitas', 26 July 1834) firstly on the issue of the divide between 'native born' and free settlers versus convicts, ex-convicts and ticket-of-leave holders.
The Gazette then notes Hall's charges that William Watt is one of the authors who go by the name of 'Humanitas'. The Gazette's writer says: 'As an act of justice to the writer and at his urgent request, we have inserted the letter from Mr. Watt, which will be found in another column... Mr. Watt is nothing to us - he may have written the pamphlet which goes under the name of that terrible fellow Humanitas ... for all we know. He superintends the printing department in the Gazette Office, and discharges his duty with diligence and fidelity. But if he really be Humanitas and his object was to create a sensation, he is a lucky fellow, for he certainly has done so.'
William Watt disputes all charges laid against him by Edward Smith Hall in Hall's editorial of 30 July 1834. Watt refutes the claim that he is 'Humanitas': 'It is false that I am or was in any way connected with the pamphlet, signed "Humanitas," until I saw it given into hand for the press.' He also states that he has no connection with the editorial department of the Sydney Gazette. (Hall had chared that he was assistant editor.)
Watt then proceeds to expose the source of Hall's supposed malice towards him - an earlier falling out between them. Watt had been employed at Hall's Sydney Monitor newspaper, but chose to leave. Watt quotes extensively from a letter he received from Hall (dated 16 March 1834) in which Hall cordially concludes 'I cannot blame you ... for adopting new and other views' (i.e. for choosing to leave the Monitor). The letter includes explicit details of Hall's proposed arrangements for giving editorial charge of the Monitor to Watt.
