most instances treated with a contemptuous indifference. Sufficient allowance will never be made for the extraordinary and totally unexpected difficulties by which the Executive was confronted, in endeavouring, in a state of extreme unpreparedness, to cope with such a sudden economic revolution as was caused by the gold discoveries; but after according the utmost latitude in such circumstances, it cannot be denied that the early administration of the goldfields was characterized by an alternating tergiversation and impulsiveness which showed a marked absence of that coolness and steadied sagacity of which the colony stood so m u c h in need in this daily augmenting crisis. After proclaiming the increased license-fee, the ruling powers hovered and halted, as if fearing to advance, and failing in the moral courage to decently retreat, such indecision only intensified the blaze of discontent raging in every quarter. In a m o m e n t of ill-advised precipitancy a Bill was introduced to the Legislative Council (which c o m m e n c e d its maiden session in November) vagabondizing as " idle and disorderly persons," (and as such punishing) all diggers found working without a license. This so capped the climax of the almost universal exasperation, that the Government, in a paroxysm of pusillanimous imbecility, withdrew the obnoxious measure. A s to the proposition to increase the military forces, and subsidize V a n Diemen's Land pensioners as temporary policemen, no person cognizant of the abnormal condition in which the community was placed, and fairly looking the difficulties in the face, could justly censure the adoption of such a course. DOING THE DOCTOR.
As the " cure of diggers' souls" was provided for by the accession of clergymen to the goldfields, it was only reasonable to suppose that the cure of their bodies would not be neglected, and accordingly the corporeal, like the spiritual physicians, did not remain behind. T h e lancet, tourniquet, and stomach p u m p were accordingly efficiently represented, and amongst the yEsculapians w h o established themselves at M o u n t Alexander, were two popular surgeons trading, or rather practising, under the style and title of " T h o m a s and Barker," the latter being the well-known Dr. Edward Barker, still resident in Melbourne. Their surgery was a comfortable canvas tent, with its doorway surmounted by an orthodox sign-board, and hither flocked both patients and nuggets, as to amply reward the skill of the proprietors. Dr. Barker was one day s u m m o n e d by a sick call to some neighbouring gully, and as it was an urgent case, away he went, locking up the tent in the care of itself. O n his round he looked in, in a friendly way, upon the Commissioner ("Jack Fletcher"), and whilst so engaged, some unauthorized individuals were fraternizing in a very different manner in another place; for on the doctor returning to his homestead, he found it in a state of topsy-turvy, the place gutted of everything convertible, and not only ,£200 worth of gold abstracted, but his instruments, drugs, and wearing apparel gone too. In fact the concern had been regularly phlebotomized, and to add insult to injury, the sign-board was reversed, and chalked with the ominous legend "Barker's Occupation is Gone." T h e doctor did not swallow his drastic dose kindly, for he cut up wrathfully, and by instruction to his Melbourne solicitor (Mr. Clarke) offered £"ioo reward for information concerning the marauders, but no effectual response was ever vouchsafed.
THE STATE OF MELBOURNE.
The outlook in town was not of the pleasantest kind, though Christmas-tide was coming. Out of fifty m e n composing the police force only eleven remained staunch, though Police Superintendent Sturt had returned from his " orange-blossom " excursion, and was busily engaged in endeavouring to secure new hands for ordinary town duty, and the constitution of a special mounted patrol for street and suburban service. Almost all the Government employts had given "notice to quit," and salaries, where not exceeding £ 2 5 0 per annum, were increasedfiftyper cent. T h e state of affairs induced m u c h alarm, for there were no adequate means for the conservation of life and property. O n the 15th December a private meeting of the City Council was held to consider the situation, when it was decided that the several Aldermen should convene Ward-motes, with a view of ascertaining h o w far the male adult citizens were disposed to co-operate
