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voices, for no action except the milling was possible so long as the eccentric dumb animal went round. A m a n on the mill held on by his hands to a strong cross-rail at arm's length over his head, with his feet on one of the steps or grooves inserted from end to end and all round in an immense circular block, in reality to the mill. W h e n the machine was set going, this revolved towards the person on it, and if he missed a step he would get such a tap about the toes, insteps or ankles, as would m a k e him smart for his awkwardness. If he let go his hold of the cross-bar only for an instant, he would be precipitated head foremost on to the mill, and a fractured skull or broken limb, or worse, perhaps, be the consequence. W h e n once up, until the grinding stopped, there was no choice left but to stick on and dance away merrily or otherwise, pleased or displeased, until the signal to halt was given. At length, in 1848, the treadmill underwent a further course of medical coddling, at a cost of ,£100, and, in March, it was declared to be in splendid condition, and capable of accommodating twenty-four in a batch. T h e prison was pretty full; there were a a good m a n y pupils entered on the books of the Terpsichorean A c a d e m y ; and there was never so m u c h life, if not enjoyment, in the new gaol before or since. But the treadmill was not the sole contributory to the sprightliness observable, for one Berry, an ex-Sergeant of Police, and afterwards head turnkey, took it into his head to convert himself into a peripatetic sly-grog shop in connection with the prison, and in this illicit manner he used to supply spirituous liquors to any of the prisoners w h o were able, through themselves or their friends outside, to provide cash or other valuable consideration sufficient to remunerate him for the enterprising venture. But Berry's pitcher journeyed to the well once too often, and was broken ; for the gaoler, " smelling a rat," set himself to detect the fraud, and, catching sherryflagrantedelicto, bowled him out. T h e unlicensed victualler, however, in consequence of some influence worked in his behalf, was simply sent about his business. A fresh difficulty n o w intervened. There was no gaol hospital, and the colonial surgeon was at his wit's end to know what to do with several sick prisoners. O n e of them was, or pretended to be, so dangerously indisposed that the official medico would not answer for his life unless he was moved outside the prison. His n a m e was Smith, serving a sentence for watch-stealing, of which one year remained. There was a small cottage Government Hosjiital in Bourke Street, superintended by an old lady-dependent of the doctor's, and to her care the valetudinarian was transferred by a Judge's Order in April, 1848. Smith and his nurse got on very amicably together for a few days, though, notwithstanding all her tender care, his ailment showed no improvement. O n e night, however, he took the unmanly advantage, whilst his gaoleress was in the arms of Morpheus, to escape through the window, and never after troubled either doctor or anybody else in Melbourne. T h e prisoners about this time often increased to over 100, and on the 13th M a y reached as high as 134. This so alarmed Mr. A. M'Kenzie, the timid little Sheriff, that in a flutter of alarm he applied for two additional turnkeys, and after m u c h circumlocution got them. O n the 6th June, a daring and successful flitting was effected from the gaol. At 4 p.m. the prisoners were mustered; there were a good m a n y in the treadmill yard, and as they were all believed to have passed, as directed, into the main building, the gate connecting the yard with the prison was locked. T w o of the rascals however, managing to slip behind the mill, eluded the observation of the turnkeys, and so were both locked in and locked out at the same time. They were William Booth, a Pentonville exile, under sentence of a year for robbery at Geelong, and John Collins, eighteen months for burglary. W h e n left alone they knew they would not be long so, as no doubt they should be very soon missed, and therefore there was no time to be lost so creeping from their burrow, they cut down a rope line extending across the yard, and mounting the shed that stabled the mill, there m a d e fast the rope, and prepared to descend by means of it. Booth took thefirstturn, slid down, and cut away through the Carlton woods. Collins was not so nimble, and whether through getting entangled with the rope, or losing his presence of mind, he remained swinging between heaven and earth until the sentry on duty outside turning on his beat, saw and captured him. A shot from the soldier turned out the gaoler, turnkeys and guard, but by this time Booth was far away in the bush, and no tidings of him ever came to hand. T h e treadmill had been for some time doing its duty satisfactorily; but the improvement in the machinery was, to some extent, counterbalanced by the inefficiency of the Superintendent, who began by neglect went on to disobedience of orders, and never pulled up, until he put himself out of his billet, and was succeeded by a turnkey named Southmier.