waned, possibly because there was much unreality in his character, and the qualities before so captivating were to a large extent only cleverly assumed. It would be incorrect to write him down an impostor, for he was not; he was rather a consummate actor, who at first played his part with a wonderful degree of cleverness, and then when he began to tire of his rôle, or was careless about continuing the disguise, he became so indifferent to rehearsals that his imperfections began to be seen through. With much natural bonhomie, he was a participator in all the public convivialities going, and liked to enjoy life in every available way. Though a professing Episcopalian, he had none of the ascetic; and when, after the arrival of Bishop Perry, he developed into a thorough church-goer, and had the appointment of Chancellor of the Diocese conferred on him, many perceived an incongruity between the real and the ecclesiastical Henry Moor. This event led to the publication of some bitter libels on his private character, for which he sought redress in the Supreme Court, and obtained more than one verdict of damages. He was elected a member of the Legislative Council, in which capacity he introduced measures affecting the polity of the Church of England, and thereby enlarging his unpopularity. When he left the colony, to pass the residue of his life in England, the number regretting his departure formed but a small proportion of those who, a few years before, would have looked upon it as little short of a public calamity. He afterwards obtained a seat in the Imperial Parliament, and whenever it was in his power to do a good turn for Victoria, it was cheerfully done. As Mayor of Melbourne he evinced much aptitude for public business, and his legal training, and bright, pleasant manner, when presiding at the Council meetings, allayed, in some degree, the angry feelings, and restrained the offensively personal character of the debates, or rather altercations of the time. He made an excellent Police Magistrate, and was, taken as a whole, an acquisition of no ordinary kind to the infant city.
J. F. Palmer
Was born in Devonshire (England) in 1814, and studied for the Medical Profession. As a surgeon he held an honorary position in St. Thomas' Hospital, London, and endeavoured to obtain a high staff appointment there, but failing in which he left Home in 1839, and cast his lot with the early fortunes of Port Phillip. If he had followed his profession, which he did not particularly like, there is reason to believe he would have attained to eminence as a surgeon, for which he revealed some special qualifications; but, throwing his "physic to the dogs," he resigned the scalpel, and embarked in more than one of the pursuits then and now open to clever and enterprising colonists. He established the first ginger-beer and soda-water manufactory, at the western side of Elizabeth Street, where he expanded into a wine and spirit merchant, and deservedly prospered. He fixed his private residence at Richmond, and was the first to lay a punt across the Yarra there, for the conjoint benefit of himself and the public. Dr. Palmer's name figures prominently in most of the public agitations of the olden time, and he rendered invaluable aid in the founding of our early Charities. He was an accomplished scholar, with a highly cultivated intellect, and in everything he undertook, though his discretion was occasionally questionable, he brought to his work varied information and a classic, florid, though often over-laboured style. Three or four of his public speeches were amongst (if they were not) the best displays of the kind ever delivered in the colony, and are worthy of preservation. He was never a people's idol, for he and the oi polloi sometimes knocked heads together. Popular applause he neither sought nor cared for, and very little of it he ever got. His Mayoralty, though marked by much energy and ability, was not a success, and as a Police Magistrate he was no better. In both offices his organ of Combativeness was occasionally developed, and if he fixed a notion in his mind, he doggedly carried it through, regardless of consequences. Sometimes, when opposed in his views, he hit out viciously, whilst at others, though he would never throw up the sponge, he would take his punishment with resignation, if not good humour. Soon after the expiration of his Mayoralty, he bade farewell to the Council and aimed at higher game. In 1851 he was elected to the first Legislature of Victoria, became its first and only Speaker, and, on the establishment of a second branch of Parliament, in 1856, he secured a seat in the Upper House, was its first President, and so continued until 1870, when impaired health compelled him to retire into private life. In 1857 Dr. Palmer received the Honor of Knighthood, and died in 1873.
