Government. The land was promised, and the Governor's word should be his bond, &c. The controversy raged for some time, and fuller details will be found in the Corporation Chapter of this work. Suffice it here to say that the opposition, almost universally ascribed to purely factious motives, failed, owing to the firmness of Mr. Latrobe, the exertions of Dean Coffey and Mr. O'Shanassy, and the valuable co-operation of Alderman Greeves. It is to this quartette that the R o m a n Catholics owe the fact of St. Patrick's Cathedral being now where it is, and, living or dead, their names should be held in permanent remembrance for the services so ably rendered, though so long ago. Preparations were pressed on to make a commencement of the proposed new building, and at length the day was fixed for the ceremony, the FOUNDATION STONE OF ST. PATRICK'S CHURCH
Being laid on the 9th April, by Dr. Goold, assisted by Dr. Fitzpatrick (now a Dean), Dean Coffey, the Revs. Messrs. Downing and Clarke, Messrs. Jackson (the architect), O'Shanassy and others. This was the most spectacular exhibition of the kind that has yet taken place. A n application to the St. Patrick's Society for the use of its banners (though that institution had no connection with any religious denomination), was acceded to. There was a Father Matthew Society then in existence, which had an efficient band, and by these means the colours might be said to have been obtained by the intervention of thefirst,and the music supplied by the second, apostle of Ireland. T h e weather showed most unmistakable symptoms of bad humour, but the sulks and tears disappeared towards noon. A large tent, or marquee, was pitched on the ground, near the stone, and the Hibernian streamers were placed to much advantage. A large banner of green and gold, representing St. Patrick converting the Irish kings on the hill of Tara, was spread out, like an eagle on open wing, over the place to be occupied by the Bishop : a beautiful harp-flagflutteredfrom a staff on his right, and a life-sizefigureof the Saint nodded and waved its head in approval over the entrance to the marquee. The ensigns of the Father Matthew Society were posted at intervals, in the company of a squadron of Union Jacks, borrowed from some of the ship-captains in port. The Temperance band discoursed creditably enough some popular Irish airs, and the Father Matthewites, arrayed in white silk scarves and rosettes, marched up at quick step, trying to keep time to that entrancing, time-honoured Irish melody, Garryowen. T h e children attending the R o m a n Catholic schools were there in hundreds. In the midst of more than two thousand persons the ceremony was performed after the prescribed ritual. There was the conventional cavity in the stone, in which a sealed bottle was buried, but not before there was placed inside of it a strip of vellum, bearing a Latin inscription, thus anglicised :— THE
F O U N D A T I O N S T O N E O F ST. PATRICK'S CHURCPI, M E L B O U R N E ,
Was laid by His LORDSHIP, T H E CATHOLIC BISHOP OF M E L B O U R N E , O n the 9th day of April, 1850. PIUS T H E 9TH being Supreme Pontiff: V I C T O R I A being Queen of England : C H A R L E S A. FITZROY, Governor of Australia Felix: C H A R L E S J. L A T R O B E , Superintendent of Port Phillip: S A M U E L J A C K S O N , Architect.
A prayer was invoked upon the day's work, and after an appropriate address from the Bishop, a procession was formed, and proceeded round the trenches sunk for the wall-foundations, coming back to the stone, upon which the Bishop placed a purse, enclosing a liberal personal donation for the Building Fund. This example seemed to have an electric effect, for it was followed by a small hillock of cash, representing, for the time, the large sum of ,£170. T h e plan of the church had been altered from the original design, which was prepared in conformity with the cruciform style prevalent in Catholic churches, such as St. Francis'. In this case the edifice was to be a square building. It was in an advanced state when the gold discoveries of 1851, not only retarded, but temporarily stopped, every public work in the colony. In due time it wasfinished,opened, and used, until the period arrived when it was forced to make way for the cathedral now in course of erection. In little more than two months another church was founded, viz, at Pentndge (now Coburg), and dedicated to St. Paul. This ceremony took place on the 30th June, 1850, and was attended by the Father Matthew Society, with regalia and band. T h e church is n o w under the shadow of the huge Penal Establishment, the nucleus of which, a dozen wooden sheds, might be seen at that day, in course of erection, a short distance off in the bush. At u a.m. a procession was formed, led by the Father Matthew
