I WAS soon at the portal of the Supreme Court, a free man. I thought the
people would have smothered me in their demonstrations of joy. Requesting
silence, I stretched forth my right hand towards heaven, and with the
earnestness of a Christian did pray as follows: - I hereby transcribe the
prayer as written in pencil on paper whilst in gaol in the lower cell,
No. 33.
"LORD GOD OF ISRAEL, our Father in Heaven! we acknowledge our
transgressions since we came into this our adopted land. Intemperance,
greediness, the pampering of many bad passions, have provoked Thee against
us; yet, Oh, Lord our God, if in thy justice, Thou are called upon to
chastise us, in Thy mercy save this land of Victoria from the curse of the
'spy system.'"
Timothy Hayes answered, "Amen," and so did all the people, present, and so
will my good reader answer, Amen.
Chapter XCII. & XCIII.
TO LET, No. 33, LOWER CRIBS, IN WINTLE'S HOTEL, NORTH MELBOURNE.
See 'Geelong Advertiser', November 18th.
MACKAY v. HARRISON.
'Merci bien, je sors d'en prendre.'
The pair of chapters will see darkness 'SINE DIE'; that is, if under
another flag, also in another language.
GREAT-WORKS.
'Hesperia! Quando Ego te Auspiciam? Quandoque Licebit Nunc Veterum Libris,
Nunc Somno Et Inertibus Horis, Ducere Solicitae Licunda Oblivia Vitae.'
Chapter XCIV.
EXPLANATION,
TO BE SUBMITTED TO
HER MOST GRACIOUS MAJESTY
QUEEN VICTORIA, LONDON,
AND TO
HIS HOLINESS PIUS IX., PONTIFEX MAXIMUS,
ROME.
BY
MY BROTHER DON ANTONIO CARBONI, D.D.,
Head-master of the Grammar School, Coriano, Romagna.
- - -
'Homo Sum, Nil Humani a me Alienum Puto.'
How do I explain, that I allowed one full year to pass away before
publishing my story, whilst many, soon after my acquittal, heard me in
person, corroborate, not indeed boastingly, the impression that I was the
identical brave fellow before whose pike a British soldier was coward
enough to run away.
I have one excuse, and 'it is an excuse.'
The cast of mind which Providence was pleased to assign me was terribly
shaken during four long, long months suffering in gaol, especially,
considering the company I was in, which was my misery. The excitement
during my trial, my glorious acquittal by a British jury, the hearty
acclamations of joy from the people, made me put up with the ignominy
and the impotent teeth-gnashing of silver and gold lace; and for the cause
of the diggers to which I was sincerely attached, I was not sorry at the
Toorak spiders having lent me the wings of an hero - the principal foreign
hero of the Eureka stockade. My credit consists now in having the moral
courage to assert the truth among living witnesses.
"And I proposed in my mind to seek and search out wisely concerning all
things that are done under the sun. This painful occupation hath God
given to the children of men to be exercised therein. I have seen all
things that are done under the sun, and behold all is vanity and vexation
of spirit." - The Preacher, chap.
