BY HERBERT HEATON, M.A., M. COMM. 9 



the Gazette for August 16, 1823, reads like an announce- 

 raent of the attractions of her ill-fated descendant: — "For 

 London direct. . . the regular trader Lusitania. . . 

 Her accommodations for passengers are vei^y superior, and 

 to those who may be sending their children to Europe to be 

 educated, a desirable opportunity is offered, the passage of 

 several being already engaged ; female attendance will be 

 provided, and. every attendance paid them." 



The advertisements of houses and land have a familiar 

 modern ring about them. There are ''highly eligible plots 

 of land," "farms with never-failing creeks," and "very com- 

 modious weatherboarded houses" or "substantial brick- 

 built houses pleasantly situated." But the tradesmen's 

 notices are the most interesting. The specialised store, 

 keeping only one sort of commodities, did not emerge until 

 the late thirties. Up to that time the general store or 

 warehouse held the field. The storekeeper received mixed 

 consignments from England or elsewhere, and then insertec\ 

 a half-column announcement in the Gazette, drawing at- 

 tention to his wares. For instance, to take an advertise- 

 ment from the Gazette of May 17, 1823, Mr. Deane informs 

 the public at large that "the following valuable articles are 

 just landed from the late arrivals, and will be offered for 

 sale at the usual low prices." Then follows a list of over 

 one hundred commodities, including calicoes, muslins, blan- 

 kets, a fresh assortment of ladies' false curls, fine split-straw 

 bonnets, a large assortment of books, consisting of Shake- 

 peare's Plays, Humphrey Clinker, Tom Jones, The Self- 

 interpreting Bible, Peregrine Pickle, Watts' Divine Songs, 

 etc., ironmongery, Jews' harps, tea by the chest, rice and 

 pepper by the bag, Jamaica rum by the cask. 



In trading the currency problem wa,s very acute, all 

 manner of coinage being in use. English money was in 

 circulation, but along with it were Spanish dollars, and 

 rupees, and all seem to have been accepted with equa.l 

 readiness in payment of bills. Thus, the Australian 

 Almanack was published at "Three Rupees" (16); the Va7i 

 Diemens, Land Ahiianacl\ issued in 1824 by Bent, was 

 priced at one dollar (17), and advertisements for lost pro- 

 perty generally offered a reward in dollars. But even with 

 this mongrel coinage the currency was inadequate, a.nd sim- 

 ple barter had to be adopted. Mr. Deane, whose list of 

 goods has been quoted, was willing to take wheat at 8s. per 

 bushel, wool, skins, seal-skins, and all colonial produce as 

 payment (18). Another trader announced (August 10, 

 1816), that he had seven casks of Virginia leaf tobacco for 

 sale ; that he would allow three years' credit, and that pay- 

 ment could then be made in wheat or meat at storehouse 



