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129 gentle hollow in the centre, which materially interfered with the coming up of the type. The largest letters for advertisements, pla cards, &c., were only two line ones. Rollers also were purchased. The vessel containing the first regular appliances of a printing esta blishment anchored in Hobson’s Bay, October 19th, 1838. When Mr. Strode beheld the stumps of Melbourne he declared his intention to return to Sydney, saying, that it was useless to establish a paper for blackfellows and kangaroos. Two merchants, however, Messrs. Rucker and Hodgson, offered to give him such an amount of private work as to induce him to remain. The glorious mountain of disordered type was deposited on the floor of a newly finished house in Queen Street, between Bourke Street and the present Wesleyan Chapel of Collins Street. No friendly compo sitor was near to help our adventurer; not even a printer’s devil. His worthy lady, like a good genius, came to the rescue. She could at least pick out a lot of b’s and d’s. But the type had to be cleaned; and where was the ley ? After trying the ashes of various woods, the she-oak was found to be best for the purpose, and pronounced a stronger alkali than soda, which was then Is. 6d. a pound. The whole was sorted in the cases, the press was fixed, the stone was smoothed. Now for the rollers ; the composition on these was so hard that the very axe failed to make an impression. With a bold heart Mr. Strode set about making new ones. But what was he to do for a cylinder, and not a tinsmith in the place ? While at this harassing employment, his friend was preparing his articles, sorting type, procuring advertisements, and obtaining sub scribers, With 80 names they had in Sydney, they soon showed a list of 300 copies secifed. The eventful day came. Notice had been given that on Saturday, Oct. 27th, 1838, at 9 o’clock, the door would open and the light*pour forth upon the Colonists. The little Temple of the Muses was soon surrounded, and, in true English style, a batte ring attack began because the Gazette was not quite ready. Doors and windows had to be securely barricaded. At noon the leaden images of thought had done their work, the crowd retired to read, and the poor unaided printer, exhausted with this wonderful fortnight’s labor, retired to rest. Mr. Strode must have been an enterprising printer. Among other shifts and experiments he contrived to make a roller of India rubber j %
