retired military officer, yvho had been for some years employed as a clerk in the Colonial Asylum at Tarban Creek. H e yvas appointed in June, 1848. T h e opening day of the Institution yvas the 5th July, on yvhich occasion ten lunatics yvere transferred under a police escort, from the Melbourne Gaol to the " Yarra Bend." But though there yvas noyv the desideratum of a Provincial Asylum, no provincial power existed to open its doors for the reception of patients, and up to July, 1849, it yvas necessary that passes should be issued from Sydney. A n amended Lunacy Act was then passed, by which the Superintendent yvas empoyvered to sign orders for admittance. T h e accommodation for the female patients was still so insufficient that the Eastern Hill lock-up had to be used to ease the pressure. In December, 1849, the N e w South AVales authorities had the inhumanity to return fourteen lunatics from Tarban Creek, and a number of the patients were placed under canvas. T h efirstscale of payment for non-pauper patients yvas fixed at the exceedingly moderate rate of is. 4d. per diem, the amount to be secured by the bond of two respectable persons. T h e place yvas gradually enlarged, and though Captain AAratson yvas no greater success than some of his successors, he did well under the difficulties in yvhich he was placed. Even up to the gold discoveries in 1851, the Asylum did not give promise of becoming the overgrown m a m m o t h of future years. T h e provision m a d e for its maintenance for 1852, yvas only £2,138 2s, of which £1,492 2s. went for contingencies. In connection with the melancholy subject of Lunatic Asylums, yve frequently hear and read of the abnormal wanderings of the h u m a n mind yvhich generate the strangest delusions and prompt the most irrational actions ; but the folfoyving narrative, yvhich I have received from a gentleman, the second actor in the ghastly, grotesque scene, is worth publishing :—" O n a fine Sunday afternoon, Mr. E d m u n d Ashley, of Victoria and Madeline Streets, Carlton, was returning from a walk to the Merri Creek, and in traversing the portion of the bush noyv appropriated as College reserves, north of the University, he observed smoke issuing from what he thought to be the stump of a large tree. Curiosity tempting him to approach closer, he yvas astonished to behold thrown up near a blazing log a shelter of boughs like a blackfellow's gunyah, and lying in this lair yvas a m a n with a chain padlocked round his waist at one end, while the other was firmly stapled into the tree trunk. T h e m a n looked gaunt and hungry, and in reply to some questions, declared he had voluntarily settled himself there, yvhere he had been, without breaking fast, for three days, and intended to so remain whilst he lived, yvhich he did not expect to be very long. Pie shewed no wish to be released, and from his manner there could be little doubt of his insanity. Ashley hastened into town, and on communicating yvith Chief-Constable Sugden, the recluse yvas unchained, and near the place was picked up the key of the padlock, yvhich, after he had m a d e himself fast, had been thrown away. In the madness there yvas sufficient method to effectually carry out the conceived scheme of self-destruction, so Providentially frustrated. T h e emancipist was taken to the lock-up, and on medical examination, found to be so demented, that he was transmitted to the "Yarra Bend " Asylum. " O n e day, twenty years after, Mr. Ashley took his wife and Mrs. Richard Heales to see the Asylum, and yvhen shown over the place by the then Surgeon-Superintendent (Dr. Bowie), his notice was specially attracted by the antics of a m a n amusing himself with some bits of paintings of a theatrical character. O n addressing him, Ashley recognised in the lunatic, the identical individual found so long before chained up under the tree. H e had a vivid recollection of all that happened on that fine Sunday, 'twenty golden years ago,' and assured the visitor that he had been very happy and comfortable since their last interview. Mr. Ashley never saw him since, and yvhether he still survives (not likely) is not known."
PASTORAL, AGRICULTURAL, AND INDUSTRIAL.
The early colonists yvere not long located in Port Phillip before they turned their attention to the adoption of means for the development of its supposed exhaustless resources. T h e original inhabitants were very enterprising on paper. It took a few of the more energetic spirits little time to launch a Society or a C o m p a n y for any conceivable purpose; but several of the projects never passed beyond the initiation. O n e of the most pretentious of such undertakings was started with a loud flourish of trumpets, and beating of drums, though, after a very big dinner and one little shoyv, it collapsed. At a public meeting on 2nd January, 1840, the following aspiring prospectus was issued :—
