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but in the case of authors not born within the Colony, the point is not always easy to determine. The number of books written about Australia, or on subjects connected with it, is very great. Some have been written by men who have spent their lives in it, others by men who have been only casual residents. The rule which has been acted on in these pages is, to exclude all works not written by men who have identified themselves with the Colony, or who have made it, in the common phrase, "their adopted country." An exception may be found here and there, when the interest of the subject warranted it. Observing this rule, it makes no difference whether a particular book was published in Sydney or in London. The place of publication is merely a matter of convenience, and in most cases it will be found that books not intended for strictly local circulation have been published in London. It must be recollected that there are two very strong reasons against publishing in Sydney. The first is, that the expense is nearly twice as great; and the second, that no work published in the Colonies has any chance of finding a sale in London. Everything of importance that has issued from the local press has been included,—the only exception being where the work could not be found.
Looking at this catalogue of our performances, it will probably be considered that more has been done among us in the way of literature than might have been expected. We have not suffered ourselves to be discouraged by the difficulties in our path, and we have not neglected the few advantages we possess. In every department of letters we have produced something of more or less value—something to shew that original intellects have been at work. In more than one instance, there is evidence of undoubted genius to be found. It is natural that our energies should have sought a field rather in newspapers and other publications of the kind, than in more permanent forms. Newspapers are matters of commercial necessity, and consequently there is always a demand for them. Our list of these publications
