the air, and pitched into an empty cask close by without receiving so much as a scratch. The horses were, however, on for a spree, for they got away with the carriage pole between them, with which they cleared the streets in triumph, a hair-breadth escape happening every yard they traversed, for there was a good number of people perambulating the streets. Turning the corner they rushed slantingly across Elizabeth Street, upon the footpath at the Western side between Collins and Little Collins Streets, where they stove in the shop window of a Mr. Davis, a general dealer; and in backing into the street passed over a man named M'Laren, slightly injuring him. Onward they pelted to the Post Office, and there, taking the Bourke Street corner in splendid style, up hill, and thence Northward along Queen Street to the Lonsdale Street corner, where one of them came down, tripped, as was supposed, by the carriage pole, and they were captured. There never was before or since a longer or more crooked run of a pair of harnessed carriage horses through the streets of Melbourne. T h e Governor's narrow escape, considered in connection with his wife's death two years before, under circumstances not dissimilar, imparted a significance to the accident which made it a topic of earnest gossip in town long after His Excellency's departure.
His Excellency held a levée next day (14th) in the Royal Hotel. The ceremony commenced at 11 a.m., and was attended by about 250 persons, including the Episcopalian and Roman Catholic Bishops (Drs. Perry and Goold), and rarely, if ever after, did these two dignitaries meet at such a place. Congratulatory addresses were presented from the City Council, the Bishop and Clergy of the Church of England, the Committee of Management of the Mechanics' Institute, the Inhabitants of Melbourne, the St. Patrick's Society of Australia Felix, and the Independent Order of Oddfellows. Whilst the presentations were being made, James Taylor, a pastrycook and baker by trade, dropped dead amongst the crowd in the street.
On the 15th Sir Charles Fitzroy, accompanied by the Superintendent, Mr. F. A. Powlett, Commissioner of Crown Lands, and Captain Dana of the Native Police, proceeded by the "Thames" steamer to Geelong, where His Excellency's reception was most enthusiastic. Some twelve hundred persons, with the brass band of the Order of Rechabites, awaited the steamer's arrival, and welcomed the Governor as a conqueror. Forty Rechabites also turned out in full regalia, and endeavoured to be, if they really were not, personages of vast importance. The Governor was received by Captain Fyans, Lieutenant Addis, Messrs. Charles Sladen, J. F. Strachan, F. Champion, Dr. Shaw, and others. They proceeded to Mack's Hotel, and after a brief stay there, His Excellency with some of his following rode out to have a look about Corio, and its picturesque surroundings. The same evening the Governor entertained a select party of about a dozen to dinner. He held a levée on the following day which was attended by some seventy persons, and addresses were presented from the towns-people, the Clergy ofthe Church of England, and the School of Arts. That afternoon he rode out again, and made a trip over the Barrabool hills, which he much admired. The day wound up with another private dinner party at Mack's Returning to Melbourne on the 17th, the Governor, on Monday, the 19th, received a deputation from the City Council, appointed to confer with him on matters of pressing importance. His Excellency was frank and affable, and declared his willingness to do all in his power to promote the interests of the place and was not opposed to the appropriation of a sum of money to improve the navigation of the river. As to a scheme of works to supply Melbourne with water, the estimated cost was £16,000, and he was agreeable that a moiety of this sum should be advanced by the State, conditional upon the Corporation finding the other half; and as the Council had no power to levy rates beyond a certain amount he had no objection to cause a Bill to be introduced in the Legislative Council to give authority for doing so. As to a vote for street improvements, he was unable to promise any help, and he regretted that the state of the public revenues did not admit of a speedy completion of Princes Bridge. In a discussion about Lighthouses, Captain Erskine, of the "Havannah," who was present, expressed a preference for Point Lonsdale as a light-site, in lieu of Shortland's Bluff.
Two deputations interviewed His Excellency to protest against the threatened conversion of the district into a penal colony. One represented the Anti-transportation League, and the other, the Magistrates of both City and Territory. They were received separately, and the Governor's reply to both was of the same tenor, viz.:— That in consequence of the public addresses already at various times presented on the subject, and a strong recommendation urged some time since by the Superintendent (Mr. Latrobe) an
