Bermudians educated on Shakespeare’s works will readily remember that Prospero’s Isle is in the shipwreck scene of his play ‘The Tempest’. It has alternatively been identified as Corfu or an island near Sicily in the Mediterranean, but also as Bermuda.

The reasoning is that the playwright was familiar with accounts of the shipwreck and settlement of the Island in 1609, two years earlier.

This may explain why the poetic alias was chosen as a title for the newspaper hand-written in 1848. Some of the articles in this intriguing historic document actually mention Bermuda and certainly many of the place names mentioned are Bermudian.

Handwritten newspapers have been made at various times over the course of the history of the press. Printed papers evolved from written newsletters, originating in 15th century Europe, with merchants subscribing to them. And, in fledgling colonies, this was sometimes oft-repeated for want of a printing press.

For example, the first Victoria colony newspaper, The Melbourne Advertiser, was hand-written in 1838. It is similar to The Islander in type of captions and in its division into two columns, though printed newspapers of the day were larger.

The Bermuda Gazette then had three columns and measured 42 by 26 cm, The Islander a mere 25 by 20 cm and The Advertiser 30 by 20 cm.

The eye is caught first to the cute masthead of The Islander, with decorated letters and a coloured drawing of an unfriendly caveman in his hole. The newspaper date is incomplete, for after August there is an open space for the day. This is issue number three.

A quotation from Hamlet cannot be missed: “There are more things in heaven + earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.”

The first page is full of ads, in line with newspapers of the day.

The first is dated August 11: “For sale, a few hundred mosquitoes, remarkable for their perseverance ... Apply at the office of this paper, or to Miss Richardson, head domestic at Teucer Lodge.”

Other ads are on cooking, knitting a lace collar, sore eyes, and tenants wanted for the buildings on Morgan’s Island.

The second page reports the weather of last weeks on Prospero’s Isle.

It was delightful: “Time passes quietly here, but not heavily. We heard that some of our kind friends pitied us, looking upon us in the light of exiles I believe, but never was pity more undeservedly bestow’d....”

The author answers by quoting Byron: “This is not solitude; ‘t is but to hold / converse with nature’s charms and view her stores unroll’d. Happy sailing.”

The newspaper certainly had a Devonshire correspondent, based on a report written on July 31 and detailing the arrival of the Waterloo.

The report reads:

“The Hamilton Mail Company’s sloop Waterloo, Captain Tom, arrived at Hamilton on 25th July, bringing 3 passengers, who were of course enabled to write to friends in the islands intelligence of the safe arrival per same sloop next day. The Waterloo will carry out these mails, and return mails will be looked for in a few days.”

Other news follows:

* The continuation of the educational debate was resumed on Tuesday evening by Mr. Starpocrates (the Liberal Member for Hamilton). His plan was objected to on the grounds that is was more than the exigencies of the colony demanded, and that it would, in the present state of finances in this colony, be most unwise to make the experiment.

* Some beautiful meteors were seen on the evening of the 24th, so readers are suggested to have their wishes ready in case they may return.

We are now well into page 3, time for a murder of several fine porgies.

Mr. D.R. Tucker was the culprit who actually “hook’d, kill’d and ate them” — shocking!

The newspaper then moves to its correspondent in the metropolis — Hamilton.

He writes on August 11, addressing the Editor as Miss.

The new newspaper itself is talked of with the report noting “society itself has already received a tone from your writings”.

And later: “A friend mention’d that your paper had even been sought after for exportation to distant countries; large sums have been offered for a single number.”

The writer then turns his attention to other more urgent matters of Island gossip — the arrival of women, yet unknown: “Sailed from Hamilton city for Prospero’s Isle, on Wednesday 2nd August at 5PM in the fast yacht>Waterloo, three young ladies, names unknown.”

We are now on page 4.

It reads: “While wandering near sweet Sibyls Cave, to me so dear, what should I see? Just in front of the mouth of the bough of a lemon tree, in large letter cut out, initials three, to some youth belonging, who ambitious of fame, + and his name prolonging—, for a lemon tree lasts for ages.”

The newssheet ends: “The Islander is publish’d every fortnight, on Saturday, by Tucker & Co at their office west of Sibyls Cave, where blanks, cards, hand bills +c will be executed with neatness, accuracy and despatch.

“Terms 1 guinea per annum.

“Agent at Hamilton Mr. Tom Pigeon.”

But from where did this manuscript originate?

It gives ample clues to its writer.

The ads are quite humorous and suggest we are not dealing with a real newspaper at all, but a fantasy.

Bermuda was probably still too small for a second newspaper anyway.

The number 3 (without a volume) seems a random one; previous editions may have existed but not necessarily.

True, first editions of newspapers used to start with some mission statement, which is absent in this case.

The editor was clearly well-read, and is once addressed as Miss. Her handwriting, interests and way of reporting also seem to point to a woman.

Was she the same as Miss Richardson, head domestic at Teucer Lodge?

In my imagination, the editor was a governess who made up the newspaper for the children in her care.

The suggestion of loneliness may point to a British family that served its term on the Island.

Tucker & Co may refer to the family name. Captain Tom, or Tom Pigeon, was perhaps an employee or one of the children.

He had three passengers, the second time three girls.

The boat may have been a rowing boat that actually existed, or only in the children’s fantasy, but the newspaper mentions its base was Hamilton; the other islands are perhaps the small islets in its bay.

I guess the educational debate took not place in the House of Assembly but in the classroom.

Novels Was the writer perhaps in England, only suggesting it to come from Bermuda?

This seems improbable; a traveller could have had the geographical knowledge, but what use would it have been to kids being educated elsewhere?

Morgan’s Island and Devonshire are also in Bermuda, but I could not discover a Sibyl’s Cave there, though the caveman drawing would suggest otherwise.

Was it a playing place for the children or just their fantasy?

Sibyl’s Cave still is a famous place in Cumae, founded by Greek colonists near Naples, Italy.

It was visited by traveller Aeneas in the poetic Aeneis by Virgil relating the legendary foundation of Rome.

Aeneas is actually mentioned in ‘The Tempest’ and the Cave was also known in Shakespeare’s time.

In 1848, the year of The Islander, Anna Bach actually published a novel in Cincinnati, Ohio, ‘The Sibyl’s Cave: or, Book of Oracles, for Ladies and Gentlemen’.

Our editor may have noticed and even read this.

Her modern counterpart is Australian Catherine Padmore, who won a literary nomination six years ago with ‘Sibyl’s Cave’, again a story of travel.

The Islander is a dreamy window of romantic days far gone. It is still full of mystery, waiting to be solved by Bermudians with more specialist insights. Who may find Tucker, Richardson or Pigeon in some almanac of the day? The author is hoping for them to send their answers to The Royal Gazette.

A dreamy window to romantic days far gone