CHAPTER XLVII.
LITERARY AND EDUCATIONAL.
{{dent|6em|-4em|SYNOPSIS:— Lieutenant-Governor Collins. —His Printing Press and "Jail Journal." —Early Publications and Publishers. —The Port Phillip Magazine. —The Illustrated Australian Magazine. —Mr. Thomas Ham's Map. —The First Debating Society. —The Melbourne Literary Association. —The First Legislative Council. —The First Almanacs and Directories. —Port Phillip College. —The First School. —Early Schools and Regulations. —The Port Phillip Academical Institution. —Private Schools and Schoolmasters. —The Denominational System. —The National System.
WHEN Lieut-Governor David Collins, the Commandant of the Convict Expedition, arrived at Sorrento in 1803, he brought with him from London a small hand-press, which he fixed under a gum-tree on the beach; and in this "office" were printed and issued from time to time, series of "general and garrison orders" for the enforcement of good government and discipline amongst the few free settlers and convicts, and the small military force. With little or no literary pretensions, this veritable "jail journal" is curious as being our first printed periodical, and as a specimen of what it was I append, verbatim et literatim, the first two manifestoes thus promulgated:—
Sullivan Bay [Port Phillip], 16th Oct., 1803.
General Orders.
Parole—Sullivan. C. Sign—Woodriff.
"The Commissary is directed to issue, until further orders, the following ration weekly:— To civil, military, and free settlers—beef, 7lbs.; or pork, 4lbs.; biscuit, 7lbs.; flour, 1lb.; sugar, 6ozs. To women, two-thirds; children above five years, half; and children under five years, quarter of the above ration.
"A copper will be immediately erected for the convenience of cooking, and persons appointed to dress the provisions, which are to be ready every day at 12 o'clock.
"Half a pint of spirits is allowed to the military daily.
Garrison Orders.
"A guard, consisting of 1 sergt., 1 corp., and 12 privates will mount daily in front of the marine encampment. Officers for the duty this day, 1st Lt. Johnson; to-morrow, 2nd Lt. Lord.
"The centinels at the different posts will be at all times vigilant and careful to preserve peace and good order. After the beating of the tattoo, they are not to allow any (the night watch which will be appointed excepted) to pass without the countersign. All prisoners taken during the night are to be sent to the quarter-guard. The centinels at the landing-place will not suffer any spirituous liquors to be landed at or near their post, without a written permit signed
by the Lieut.-Governor, and they are not to prevent any military or civil officer, or free settler, from going into a boat or on board of ships at anchor in the harbour; but other persons, if employed by an officer, are to produce a pass, signed by the officer, which is to be given to the centinel, and by him to be delivered to the sergt. of the guard. The greatest attention to be paid to this order. The morning parade will beat at nine o'clock, the evening at sunset. Tattoo will be beat at nine o'clock. The orderly drum every day at one."
The Collins hand-press executed its last "job" in Port Phillip on the 26th January, 1804. Typography then went to sleep, and slumbered uninterruptedly for four-and-thirty years, when it was awakened by the publication of Fawkner's printed Melbourne Advertiser on the 9th April, 1838. The
