Be compelled to stand in the rain or sun, or treated as if
the 'distinguished government official' feared that the digger
was a thing that would contaminate him by a closer proximity;
so the 'fellah' is kept by a wooden rail from approaching within
a couple of yards of the tent. In consequence, many persons
mistaking the licence-office for the commissioner's water-closet,
a placard has been placed over the door.
I am, Sir, yours &c.,
FELLAH DIGGER,
Who had to walk a few miles to pay away the money he had worked
hard for, and was kept a few hours standing by a rail - not sitting
on a rail, Mary.
Now I mean to tackle in right earnest with the second question, provided I can
keep in sufficiently good temper.
On the morning of Thursday, the 22nd June, in the year of Grace,
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four,
His Excellency SIR CHARLES HOTHAM,
Knight Commander of the Most Noble Military Order of the Bath, landed on
the shores of this fair province, as its Lieutenant-Governor, the chosen
and commissioned representative of Her Most Gracious Majesty, the QUEEN!
Never (writes the Melbourne historian of that day) never in the history
of public ovations, was welcome more hearty, never did stranger meet with
warmer welcome, on the threshold of a new home:
VICTORIA WELCOMES VICTORIA'S CHOICE, was the Melbourne proclamation.
The following is transcribed from my diary:-
"Saturday, August 26th, 1854: His Excellency dashed in among us 'vagabonds'
on a sudden, at about five o'clock p.m., and inspected a shaft immediately
behind the Ballaarat Dining Rooms, Gravel-pits. A mob soon collected
round the hole; we were respectful, and there was no 'joeing.'
On His Excellency's return to the camp, the miners busily employed themselves
in laying down slabs to facilitate his progress. I was among the zealous ones
who improvised this shabby foot-path. What a lack! we were all of us
as cheerful as fighting-cocks. - A crab-hole being in the way, our Big-Larry
actually pounced on Lady Hotham, and lifting her up in his arms, eloped
with her ladyship safely across, amid hearty peals of laughter, however
colonial they may have been. - Now Big Larry kept the crowd from annoying
the couple, by properly laying about him with a switch all along the road.
"His Excellency was hailed with three-times-three, and was proclaimed on the
Camp, now invaded by some five hundred blue shirts, the 'Diggers' Charley.'
"His Excellency addressed us miners as follows:-
"Diggers I feel delighted with your reception - I shall not neglect your
interests and welfare - again I thank you.
"It was a short but smart speech we had heard elsewhere, he was not fond
of 'twaddle,' which I suppose meant 'bosh.' After giving three hearty cheers,
old Briton's style to 'Charley,' the crowd dispersed to drink a nobbler
to his health and success.
