Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1870-05-21
"Sluice-Fo Visits Victoria,
VICTORIA, B. c., Nav 9Th. 1870


Of "Her Majesty's Dominons," ;" Mrs.
Victoria. the reigning sovereign Of the
British Nation. came up here from the
Sound country on Monday last, on the
steamer Wilson G.. Hunt, Capt. d. B.
Finch. The weather was very unpleasant,
and the voyage ditto. The wind blew,
what, in nautical parlancc, would be de.
nominated, "a living gale" and the way
the Hunt caught the heavy blows Of the
"angry waves against her stern and un-
der the short ribs, was a caution, to all
fat-bottomed things against attempting
to cross the raging billows of Fuca Strait
in such weather. The way some Of the
biIlowy sidcwindcrs knocked the tables,
chairs, lamps, and other unstable things
about the decks, was warning to all sin.
ncrs on board. But as good luck would
have it, we reached our destined port safe
and sound
In respect to the appearance Of matters
and things here, l confess that an, some-
what disappointed. BY nature, the place
is most beautifully designed, and art has
! accomplished much more than expected
to sec. Scarcely could there be found a
more beautiful and convenient location
for city, and really why an extended and
important one should not ultimately grow
up here am unable to see. Since my
arrival have not been idle, but on the
contrary, have been forking around to
see all the sights. Being somewhat ver-
dant in regard to matters and things per-
tanning to monarchical governments, by
, actual observation, my curiosity led me to
sec, and also to witness the workings of
some of the monarchical machinery.
With this purpose in mind, l made visit
to Esqumalt harbor, to see the naval ves-
sels did not go on board of them, but
only went as near as an outsider could ap.
proach without permission from some one
authorized to grant it. 1t is highly prob
able, however, that if Mr.. Bull, (Mr.
johnny Bull, / mean,) had only known
that was about the locality, he would
have sent an invitation and nice boat for
me to come on board to take mug Of
hale" with him. and see the length and
breadth of the big ships and all the para
Ihcrnalia of naval >urvicc. But he (Mr.
Bnll.) did not then known that l was in
these parts at all. ! WAS playing the in-
coyaio game upon him. Standing upon
the nearest approachab!e point on foot to
the ships, could hear the officers giving
orders to the men out OF authority to do
something, but couldn't tell what. The
orders sounded grum, pompous and bully,
The harbor Of Esquimalt is one of the
mos, sheltered, calm and sequcstered mar.
atine retreats have ever before seen, in
which were reposing some four or five
grim looking, defiant, aud motionless mon.
archs of the situation. A large number
of men of high and low degree are swarm.
ing abou. the ships, while many Of the
same sort line the Esquimalt road passing
to and from the city, where they spend
much of their time in drinking and ca
rousai
On the day following my visit to the
Naval Station, l visited the Court of
Asszc," in session at the Court House on
the capital grounds, with view of fur
thcr witnessing the practical workings Of
Her Majcsty's monarchical machinery.
This court is one of the administrative en-.
gincs of Her Majcsty's Government, and
is at the present time presided over by
Chief Justice Begbie. liked the ap-
pcarancc of tho Judge, oil but the woolly
wig. The Judge is emphatically live
man, full of humor Il don't mean any
cutanoous disease, for his cuticlc appeared
healthy and jest, with slight proclivity
to waggishncss His disposition to admin.
lister strict justice to those on trial was un.
mistakablc. As l have already said, /
liked che Judge. His good natured, hu.
morous trait was, to me, the sugar Of his
character. But that wig! r'
The first case called for trial was the
"Queen re-. Tha.Sa-Luc," "a Siwash In.
dian,) Mr.. Tha-Sa-Luc was accused Of
breaking the window of house, with the
intent to 90 in and steal something. The
case was tried with much apparent fair.
ness, but Mr.. Tha. Sa-Luc had the very
bad luck to be found guilty and was sen.
fenced by the Judge to eighteen months
Imprisonment with hard labor.
The next case called for trial was that
of Mr.. Regina v. Baldwin, "a regular
Fifteenth Amendment darkey,) who was
accused and found guilty Of an attempt to
set fire to his own house, knowing that his
wife was in it. Mr.. Regina V. Baldwin
was found guilty Of the accusation, but
sentence was delayed. So you see that
Her Majesty, the Queen Of the Britishers,
goes straight after all the evil doors in
these parts, without regard to race,
| color, or previous condition of servitude. !"
The court is still in full blast, sinching up
the naughty fellows, in the name and by
the authority Of the sovereign Queen.
And the woolly. .wigged disciples Of Her
Majesty may have mo in the criminal box
yet, for aught / know. The Ner., few
evenings since, came out cautioning the
| citizens against suspicious looking persons
| prowling about the city, and advising that
they (the said citizcns) keep their doors
locked nights. Whether the NeDs man
had reference to me, or otherwise, ! am
| not able to say. If he did, bis caution was