superior education conferred on Patterson, there was much of "six of one and half-dozen of the other" between them. They were a "Hobson's choice," and though Patterson, as a Government officer, could not have acted with the independence of Condell, he was by degrees the more courteous and intelligent of the two. Dickson was the ablest man of the whole lot at the time, and he or Russell or Orr would have done much better than Condell. Smith was then unknown as a public man, but his time was to come, as it did, though after a weary waiting, with a vengeance.
Immediately that the election of Mayor terminated, Councillor Fawkner moved, and Councillor Beaver seconded, "That the doors of the Council Chamber be henceforward open for the admittance of the public." This motion was made an order ofthe day for next meeting, and it was then resolved "That the doors of the Council Chamber be henceforth open for the admittance of the public, and that such be No. 1 of the Standing Orders of the Council."
Councillor Fawkner, therefore, it was who took the initiative in having the future business of the Council transacted coram populo.
The Mayor's State Procession and Swearing In.
The returned Twelve were almost beside themselves with the new-blown honours showrered on them by public suffrage, and lost no time in making the most of their novel situation. In private conclave they decided upon organising an imposing "turn-out" in the shape of a public procession through the town, on the occasion of the swearing-in of the Mayor before the Resident Judge. Mr. Justice Willis was consulted, and was only too glad of an opportunity of airing his "little brief authority" before the oi polloi. Had he descended to modern times he would have vegetated into the most inflated "Plebiskiter" known to Victorian history. The preparatory arrangements were put en train, and included the adoption of a particular uniform or livery, in which the "Corporators" were to make "Dons" of themselves, and this was of very easy adjustment. According to a sumptuary regulation, each Alderman and Councillor was to be decked in a "belltopper," white shirt, and "choker" to match, blue cloth coat with wide swallow-tail, the breasts and tail lined with white satin, and the coat-front to be starred with the blaze of large V.R. gold-gilt buttons, black doeskin trousers, white Marseilles vest, snow-kid gloves, and high-heeled Wellington-boots polished to a shine in which a monkey might shave himself. As an English Monarch once granted to a Baron of Kinsale the privilege of standing covered in his presence, so, by special favour, the Mayor, was permitted to be "unbelltoppered" on this august occasion, and under circumstances yet to be described.
The costumiering capacity of Melbourne yvas, in 1842, on a limited scale, and it taxed severely the manufacturing and manipulatory powers of the establishments employed to complete so many { outfits in tyvo or three days; but the tailors and bootmakers, the milliners and the shoeblacks rose to the occasion, and the wearables were delivered in due time. But though one portion of the compact was faithfully observed, the other was, in part, not so, for two of the biggest figures in the ceremonial were either so impecunious or so utterly mean-spirited as to forget to pay for their "splendid toggery," and subsequent appeals for reimbursement to the Council, and to the Requests Court, were alike unavailing. Similar allegations were made in the case of two or three future Councillors, as the Civic Livery remained in fashion for some years, and used to be worn at the Council meetings, and on other State and even un-State occasions.
The 13th December was appointed for the demonstration, and there was a very general turn-out of the inhabitants to behold the exhibition. An invitation to the Masonic body was accepted, and as the Mayor had no official gown to put on, he borrowed a Masonic robe of crimson silk, arrayed in which he appeared as if clad in the morning dress of some obese dowager. A town band rattled away during the forenoon, and the "stormy music of the drum " beat up all the washed and unwashed urchins in Melbourne to head-quarters. The Chief-Constable, and such rank and file of the constabulary as could be spared were drawn up as a guard of honour outside the door of the Royal Hotel, and an old half-cranky customer, named Hooson, afterwards appointed "Street-keeper," was acting as unattached marshall or conductor, waving a short staff, to which he fastened a square of red calico. As noon approached, the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors appeared at the rendezvous, and in the phraseology of one of the newspapers, "they looked quite gorgeous." They paraded in the long-room of the hotel, and when the Mayor had indued "purple
