was getting on. She was a Mrs. Lee, the wife of a Melbourne actor, and went mad under certain pecuniary reverses sustained by her husband. Being a dangerous lunatic, she was "camisoled," and had evidently determined this day to "jacket," in a different style, the first person she got a chance at. Though her arms were made fast, her lower limbs were under no restriction, and as the cell-door was opened by a turnkey who stood behind, the woman was waiting on the spring, and the doctor being the first person to enter, she dealt him such a kick in the abdominal region as knocked all the fussiness out of him for the time, caused him to make a half-back summersault, and fall flat on the flagging. He was removed in a state of semi-unconsciousness, and sent home. When I saw him some days afterwards, in answer to an inquiry as to the state of his health, clapping me on the shoulder, he exclaimed: "Look here, my dear friend, I never had such a narrow shave for it in all my life. By Jove, it will be a caution to me as long as I live." He lived until 1849, when he was succeeded by Dr. Sullivan, who also died in harness, and was replaced by Dr. M'Crea, cashiered a few years ago, who is still alive and hearty, and known, either personally or by repute, to everyone. The Government Medical Department was never a Sybarite couch to any of its occupants. The billet, though warm enough in some respects, had ever a tendency to get too hot. It was hot water with Cussen, it reached boiling heat with Sullivan, and Dr. M'Crea can best tell whether it was frying-pan or fire with him. The life was worried out of Cussen, the early troubles of the Yarra Bend are believed to have shortened the thread of Sullivan's existence; yet M'Crea had the cat-like tenacity of nine lives, for, though he never fattened, he actually seemed to thrive upon what killed others. In this respect he was a living illustration of the adage that "One man's poison is another man's meat."
The Protectorate of Aborigines.
In January, 1839, four gentlemen arrived from Sydney, charged with the care of the aboriginal inhabitants of the province. They were Messrs. E. S. Parker, James Dredge, William Thomas, and C. W. Sievwright. They brought amongst them four wives, and twenty-two children, equal to five and a half youngsters each. They were appointed to act under the superintendence of a Chief Protector, a Mr. G. A. Robinson, who had acquired considerable experience in dealing with the natives of Van Diemen's Land. Mr. Dredge was soon replaced by Mr. William Le Souef; the province was partitioned between them, and in 1840 the following arrangements existed:—
Chief Protector of Aborigines, Mr. G. A. Robinson; Assistant Protector for the Geelong or Western District, Mr. C. W. Sievwright; ditto for the Mount Macedon or North-west District, Mr. E. S. Parker; ditto for the Western Port or Melbourne District, Mr. Wm. Thomas; ditto for the Goulburn River District, Mr. W. Le Souef; and to enable them to interpose more effectually in disputes arising between the black and white population, they were gazetted Territorial Magistrates. They were thus provided for:— Chief Protector, £500 per annum; Allowance to same for Clerical Assistance, Office, etc., 100 per annum; Four Assistant Protectors at £250 each, 1000 per annum; Allowance to Assistant Protectors each £191 12s. 6d., £766 10s. per annum; Four free Overseers, each £118 5s., £473 per annum; Four free Constables, each £50 3s. 9d., £200 15s. per annum. Total, £3040 5s.
Each Assistant Protector was required to ration and clothe two prisoners of the Crown, out of the £191 12s. 6d.; and these men were his attendants when engaged on travelling duty. An area of ten square miles of country was reserved in each district, which the Assistant Protector was supposed to use as a homestead and agricultural establishment intended to serve as the centre of operations in his district, and as an asylum for such of the Aborigines as were disposed to drop down into a settled life. Agricultural operations were to be carried on at these stations for the exclusive benefit of the natives, of whom such as were able were expected to give an equivalent in labour; the sick, the aged, and young children were to be rationed. For each of the establishments there were furnished two convict labourers, a dray with six working oxen, plough, harrows, spades, and other requisites; but such supplies were distinct from the Assistant Protector's travelling equipment, which consisted of a cart, two men, tents, etc. These establishments were not to interfere with the itinerating duties of the Assistant Protectors; but were meant to render their services more efficient, for they were to go amongst, and sojourn with the native tribes, and
