# Victoria: with a description of its principal cities, Melbourne and Geelong/Introductory Chapter

VICTORIA.
INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER.
"Freedom has a thousand charms to show,  That slaves, howe'er contented, never know:—  The mind attains beneath her happy reign  The growth that Nature meant she should attain;  The varied fields of Science, ever new.  Opening and wider opening on her view.
Let Discipline employ her wholesome arts;  Let magistrates alert perform their parts,
 Not skulk or put on a prudential mask,  As if their duty were a desperate task;  Let active laws apply the needful curb,  To guard the peace that riot would disturb;  And Liberty, preserved from wild excess,  Shall raise no feuds for armies to suppress."
Cowper.
THOUGH many works, and some of considerable repute, have appeared before the public, relating to Victoria, there still remains such a vast field for further exertion, abounding in information interesting and instructive, and fraught with incidents deep and perilous, that it cannot be said the subject ​is too hackneyed, or ourselves accused of following a beaten track.
The principal object we have in view is to do honour to the memory of a friend, one much beloved, and who gloriously fell whilst gallantly and honourably leading his men on to that victory, which, however inglorious, was at his country's commands, and in obedience to the voice of duty.
Our second object is, to give a correct account of Victoria at the period alluded to, interspersed with adventurous anecdotes which have come under our own immediate notice, or derived from reliable sources. We arrogate to ourselves no style beyond the "plain unvarnished tale," in which we have hitherto appeared before the public; yet, the politician may gather facts from our narrative suggestive of thoughts, at least worthy of reflection; the future emigrant may derive hints for his guidance; the settler will find a record of the first great convulsive throe which disturbed the harmony of Australia's progress; the memory of the tourist will become refreshed with the place of action of many a spirit-stirring scene; and the fireside reader, in the perusal of our pages, will feel a pleasing animation as we depict the unquestionably picturesque beauties of many of our rambles, or from the recital of anecdotes thrilling with interest, yet of such frequent occurrence in our Antipodean possessions.
The continued excitement which has existed for such a length of time in the public mind, in ​consequence of the Russian war, has in some measure abated; it will, therefore, not be deemed inopportune to recur to a period of such historical interest to Australia, and importance to the public.
No colony has ever risen to such magnitude in the same space of time as Victoria. Its growth appears almost fabulous, its increasing population wonderful, and its resources, of which much is still unknown, stupendous. Scarce fourteen years have elapsed since a few industrious colonists and emigrants first settled here, in possession of considerable capital, and desirous of forming cattle stations on the immense tracts of country so well adapted for grazing purposes—the produce of the wool alone being deemed sufficient to repay the outlay and necessary labour. It will be remembered that Government, in 1803, endeavoured to form a settlement at Port Philip, but were unsuccessful, and subsequently removed to the neighbouring island of Tasmania; but our object is not to dwell on this period of history, as many works of superior merit have already been before the public. We simply seek to deal with that eventful period commencing from the last quarter of 1854,—when the overgrown colony, filled with adventurous spirits from all parts of the world, received a check in its headlong career of extravagance, and the community, still smarting under the tide of reverses consequent on such a system, trembled at the approach of an insurrection which threatened to resist the remedial measures then deemed expedient, and ​boldly defied the emissaries of Government in the execution of their duty, and even ventured to oppose the decisions of the courts of justice. The vacillating course pursued by the Executive served only to fan the flame, and caused what at first was but a simple outbreak of popular indignation, to assume the formidable appearance of an insurrection, which terminated in a fearful sacrifice of human life.
Previous, however, to entering into the particulars of the disturbances, we must go back a little to give a glance at the political condition of the colony, and explain some of the reasons which influenced the Government, as well as induced the malcontents, to enter into a contest so unequal and outrageous. We must, therefore, digress a little in order to obtain a cursory glance at the relative positions of the Colonial with the Home Government, and however inapropos such may appear to the casual observer, it will be found to have had a great indirect influence on both parties.
During the last three years the Victoria Parliament, by sundry motions, endeavoured to check an evil affecting the social condition of the colony, and considerably endangering its future prosperity. We need scarcely allude to the admission of convicts from Van Diemen's Land as settlers, who were in possession of conditional pardons. For years this had been a question of the greatest interest in the political history of Australia, and strenuous efforts had been made in the first instance to prevent their ​importation from England, and equal anxiety and determination shown to stop their arrival from Tasmania. On the discovery of the Gold Fields, this question became of still greater importance, as it was only natural to assume their proximity, and great attraction would not only induce expirees and those who had obtained conditional pardons to flock to this El Dorado, but even tempt the more desperate to escape. It was, consequently, considered necessary to pass a most stringent law for their exclusion; this, however, only referred to those with conditional pardons, on the ground that the pardons were of such an extensive character as virtually to make Victoria a penal establishment, and, as the disputants affirmed, were to a great extent granted for the purpose of getting the convicts dispersed over the neighbouring colonies, thereby relieving England of considerable expense, and of the still greater difficulty of not knowing what to do with them. The meaning of a conditional pardon was, that the person holding it might go anywhere but to the land from whence he was transported; thus they were specially forbidden to return to England, yet the colonies were not allowed a similar indulgence. The Bill already alluded to was then passed by the Local Legislature, and though it received the assent of the Lieutenant-Governor, was disallowed at home, as an "infringement of the royal prerogative." Another Bill of a milder form was, therefore, introduced by the Government to the House, but was rejected, and ​the original one almost unanimously carried, but only to meet with its former fate. To meet this exigency the Home Government passed two Bills, both of which were obstinately rejected by the Local Legislature. Eventually another was brought before the Council by one of its members, and in passing through Committee became so modified as to compromise in some degree the differences at issue. But the conduct of the home authorities throughout the whole of the business was so repugnant to the general feeling of the colonists as to lead to the formation of a strong anti-government party, who were but too readily supported by the democratic spirit pervading the diggings, and the hue and cry was raised against every measure of ministerial origin. Thus a spirit of disaffection got abroad, which wily demagogues were industrious in keeping alive, snatching at every opportunity the discord of opinions afforded, until it assumed a shape unmistakably at variance with all order and constituted authority.
We are no politicians, and speak only from what came under our own immediate notice. As to the information transmitted through the journals and newspapers of the day, but little reliance can be placed on their accuracy. Party spirit was carried to such a height that truth and even moderation were banished from their columns, and none were found sufficiently courageous to stem the torrent or thwart the course of the crisis. Such a state of things could not long exist. The evil had reached ​its culminating point, and suggested its own remedy. The Government functionaries were openly accused of bribery and corruption, which undoubtedly existed at the diggings amongst the gold commissioners and police—the people, therefore, lost all confidence, and every law, irrespective of its necessity, became at once odious when found to be a marketable commodity. That great and glaring faults existed on both sides, every calm and unprejudiced observer will freely admit. The laws affecting the diggers were alike imperfect as injudicious, and the laxity of their administration at the onset caused many abuses to creep in, which subsequent tyranny and severity tended rather to increase than to suppress. This distribution of uneven-handed justice led to innumerable commissions of inquiry into charges of official delinquency, which became of such frequent occurrence, that a leading supporter of Government stated in the House, "the average to be one each week,"—which provoked the facetious rejoinder, "that under such circumstances the official body consisted of well-tried men, and if fifty-two were examined in the year, it would not take very long to go through the whole civil establishment."
Things were in this state on the arrival of Sir Charles Hotham, who at first was considered to be a man for the people, and during his tour through the diggings was most enthusiastically received. A short trial, however, of his administration, and the very decisive measures he introduced (which were ​too prematurely and dictatorially adopted), and the tide of popular feeling turned. At first his officers were attacked in the House, and the Colonial Secretary, finding the pleasures of office no longer agreeable, resigned, A more moderate style was then adopted; but the emeute had too far advanced, in fact was over, previous to his retirement. That Sir Charles Hotham was a man of talent and diplomatic skill no one will deny; yet no one could be more ill fitted for the post he held; and though the active and energetic measures he sanctioned were, in most instances, called for, yet the manner of carrying them out was hasty and injudicious, and considered by the free and independent colonists as savouring too much of the quarter-deck.
In calmly looking over the events of the past year, it is easy to perceive that the state of the colony was but little understood by the Home Government; perchance, distracted as they were by the then all-engrossing subject of the war, the legislature and rising importance of Victoria became of secondary consideration.
Those who have watched the growth of the colony cannot fail to have been struck with the wonderful and rapid strides it made during the three years preceding the era of which we write. It is a proud triumph of the Anglo-Saxon race, and affords another proof of their singular aptitude for colonization. Three years ago the population of the colony was 80,000. The number is now nearly 300,000, so ​that, in that brief space, upwards of 200,000 persons have landed on these shores. By returns of the population which we have seen, it appears that the population on the various Gold Fields is not more than between 70,000 and 80,000; so that upwards of 200,000 have settled down throughout the country in various other industrial pursuits. For this immense extra population, houses have been built; and they are supplied with a system of government, law, and police, churches, schools, places of amusement, and the various other appliances of civilization, which, though still somewhat deficient, and exceedingly expensive, compared with those provided in an English country, are yet such as to excite the astonishment and admiration of every impartial stranger.
The progress made in every thing dependent on the individual energy of the people is even more surprising. One railway, from Melbourne to Hobson's Bay, has been completed; and two more, from Melbourne respectively to Williamstown and Geelong, are in rapid progress, and will be completed in little more than a year from this time. Several philosophical societies are in active operation. Fishing companies, vineyard companies, a coal company for working the seams at Cape Paterson, are likewise in course of formation. Patents have been granted to four or five different parties for the invention of quartz crushing, and other machines connected with gold mining. During the present year no less than ​seven new Gold Fields have been discovered, and are now occupied and worked by bodies of industrious diggers. Last, and not least, we have visible evidence of the progress of cultivation and settlement, and proofs are everywhere afforded that the industrious and indomitable spirit characteristic of our race in "subduing the earth" has in no degree been corrupted or diminished by the influence of gold. In no part of the world, we believe, can be seen a more energetic people than that which now occupies this rich and virgin soil. A better system of labour has been introduced, and the frenzied thirst for gold has departed. The Fields are not now worked in the selfish mania that characterized the onset, but rather as an occupation; the digger is not now, as at first, the sole gainer; companies have been formed, possessed of considerable capital, employing labour, and paying good remunerative wages, thus giving a more salutary appearance to the community, and materially facilitating the establishment of order and regularity. In many instances, the most fortunate amongst individual diggers, from the turn of fortune, finding themselves too suddenly elevated above their former position, lost all discretion, and by a continued indulgence in acts of intemperance and unheard of extravagance, soon descended to their original and more natural place. Several whose success, with proper management, would have placed them in easy if not affluent circumstances, are now the mere hirelings of others. ​Many, with a more prudent care, have returned with the fruit of their labours to their native country. It thus often happens, that prudence, education, and birth, will find place and position where ignorance and the inherent proneness of the low-bred still to be low, will, in most instances, regardless of the advantages of fortune, return to their former condition. No doubt, to this class there are many bright exceptions, but the examples are numerous of which we speak.
This state of things has proved of the highest advantage to the Gold Fields, and added to the prosperity of the country generally; for hundreds who have gone to the Fields, and been successful, and then impoverished themselves by subsequent extravagance, or were unsuccessful, and wasted in vain attempts their previous earnings, became alike disgusted with the hard labour and harder fate, and gladly returned to the cattle and farm stations, better and wiser men. During the last year, this has caused considerable reaction, and many lands that were deserted during the gold mania have been again stocked or farmed, so that the return far exceeds the prognostications of the most sanguine.
The thirst for gold having abated, the mania has taken a better and more legitimate turn, viz., the desire to settle and purchase land. This matter has caused considerable anxiety to the Legislature, and many Acts have been brought forward to encourage the advancement of tillage and the occupation of ​the soil. The original Act relative to the sale of waste lands has been repealed, as it had a greater tendency to benefit the capitalists than the industrious poor.
The survey of the country has proceeded with considerable energy and perseverance, and, as it becomes charted and defined, is immediately sold. The duty of Government will now be to prevent too great a monopoly, and, by disposing of it in smaller sections at a fair price, offer a certain inducement to the more moderate capitalist, which previously not having been held out caused many a deserving and industrious man to go elsewhere.
Consequent on the progress of the colony in wealth, has also arisen talent and education, and within its confines are men of much skill and learned lore. The House of Assembly will be found to contain men of this stamp, and as a greater degree of moderation is found to exist, so will the arts and sciences advance with the wealth of the colony. A new era has dawned on Victoria—the new Constitution has been proclaimed—the want of which was much felt; and as the address to the Throne, at the time we write, will afford our readers a correct insight of the general state of things, we conclude our Introductory Chapter with a copy of it:—
"Most Gracious Sovereign:—
"We, the Legislative Council of Victoria, approach your Majesty with renewed assurances of our ​attachment to your Royal Person and loyalty to the Throne.
"We learn with profound regret, participated in by all our fellow-colonists, that it has been deemed advisable to postpone the consideration of the proposed new Constitution of this colony for another year.
"We would humbly represent to your Majesty, that the provisions of the Bill for conferring upon us this wished-for boon are so entirely in unison with the views of the most eminent statesmen in England, were passed in this House by such decisive majorities, and gave such general satisfaction to the colonists at large, that, in our opinion, no valid reason can exist for any further delay in the consideration of its details, nor are there any grounds for supposing that, on a review, any alteration would be asked for by the colonists.
"With reference to that portion of the despatch from the Right Hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies, which states the intention of your Majesty's advisers to consider all the Bills for establishing new constitutions in the several Australian colonies together, we beg leave to state that we cannot see any necessity for uniformity in the Constitutions of these colonies, the capitals of which are more distant from each other than those of many European nations; but, on the contrary, we are led to believe that it may prove ultimately advantageous to test by trial the relative merits of each plan.
​"We would respectfully urge that this colony is not in a position to recede from the policy it has adopted. It does not insist that other colonies should be guided by its political views; and we submit to your Majesty that it is unreasonable to delay our enfranchisement until other colonies have had afforded to them by the Imperial Government an opportunity of changing constitutions based on more narrow principles, if they have chosen such for themselves.
"In the rapid, unprecedented, and continuous growth of Victoria, nothing is more required than a vigorous Government Such a Government can only be permanently secured by a full and free representation of all classes; and we would earnestly urge on your Majesty's consideration, that it is at once impolitic and unfair to the Government and to the existing Legislature of this colony to leave us longer in the state of abeyance in which we are now placed—inasmuch as, by the Bill alluded to, we have, in fact, declared to the people of this colony that the present system of representation is imperfect; and it may naturally be urged against us, that we are thus without the full measure of confidence which it is most essential to the advancement of tranquillity of any country should be felt by all classes of the people in the Legislature and Executive Government.
"If, therefore, it should seem good to your Majesty to remit, for further consideration, any of the ​proposed Australian Constitutions, we humbly but most earnestly entreat that the Bill for establishing a new Constitution in the colony of Victoria may, without delay, be passed into law."
We now proceed to particularize such parts of which it is our intention to write, commencing with a sketch of the capital city and its neighbourhood.