some years ago thus wrote of h i m : — " M r . Finn I verily believe knew every inhabitant of Melbourne of any importance, and knew nearly everything that was going on. H e was especially distinguished for his intimate acquaintance with civic and social matters, and as a gatherer of news was expert and indefatigable. H e was as well k n o w n as ' Johnny Fawkner.' H e was short, and very short-sighted, and had a remarkably big head with plenty in it." H e was the most diminutive of all his compeers; and, though eccentric and impulsive like many of his countrymen, for he was Hibernian " to the backbone and spinal marrow," he was not devoid of forethought and caution, serving his employer well, and soon ingratiating himself as a favourite with everyone, except the section of the community opposed to the politics and personnel of the Herald, or rather its proprietor—Cavenagh. H e was, however, excessively disliked by some of the editors of the other papers; but he snapped his fingers, and said he did not care afigfor them, for, as he never intended to leave the Herald, he should never beg a billet from any of them. Sarcastic aliases were bestowed on him in abundance, but he paid back in the same coin. Kerr dubbed him " Brian Boru," and " T h e Herald Monkey," and as return compliments he called Kerr the " Ourang-outang," the "Ogre," and the "Cyclops." Boursiquot designated him "Classical Neddy," and once, when he roasted, in a speech at St. Patrick's Hall, thefirstproprietor of The Argus, for a wholesale slandering of some Irish orphan girls shipped to the colony, M r . Edward Wilson had it formally registered in The Argus archives that Finn should never, on any account, nor under any circumstances, be employed on that journal. There was never any need to enforce this magnanimous record. T h e wars and the truces waged and ratified between Finn and Fawkner were so many and amusing as to deserve treatment in a separate notice. Cavenagh and he always pulled well together—a circumstance the more surprising that they were both unblessed with the best of tempers, and at times could be hasty and petulant enough; but the reason for this was once briefly and satisfactorily thus explained. A mutual friend (a colonist w h o once bore a titled name) one day said to Cavenagh, " H o w in the world does it happen that you and Finn agree so well ?" " It is easily accounted for," was the response. " W e are both hot-tempered fellows, but w e are essential to each other. H e wishes to retain his berth, and I wish to retain him. W e , therefore, both make it a point to so keep ourselves in restraint, that we rarely have a flare-up; and thus it is that w e get along capitally." Finn soon mastered all the details of the office, and was able to do, and did, everything but " set up." Instances occurred where, with the exception of the shipping, commercial, and advertising branches, he wrote the entire paper from title to imprint. H e came to be regarded as one of the chattels of the establishment, something like an old metal writing-stand, which was never parted with, and was always placed on the editor's table; and when, as in after years occurred, the concern more than once changed hands, the two chattels were taken over in the inventory, for no n e w proprietor would think of parting with either of them, the one for his usefulness, and the other for luck's sake. Once, however, a new editor kicked aside the old pen-and-ink apparatus, which F"inn picked up, and to this day retains it as a souvenir of long ago, a battered, shabby-looking old friend, w h o m he has often declared he would not barter for one of gold. This happened some years after the gold discoveries, and with the old castaway vanished the early prestige and influence by which the journal was surrounded. A s an universal newsmonger Finn was unrivalled, for his continuance upon one paper without a day's intermission brought to him a general knowledge of the m e n and things of the then small Melbourne. H e remained on the Herald from 1845 to 1858, when the long venue was changed by M r . (subsequently Sir J.) O'Shanassy offering him the appointment he held in the Legislative Council until the year 1886. Though, as already stated, an excellent classical scholar, he was heard to say that of English grammar he never learned anything, and could not parse three words of the language. Still his success as a journalist was far from inconsiderable. JOHN CURTIS.—But unquestionably the most extraordinary man ever on the Melbourne Press was
Mr. John Curtis, a near connexion of a once well-known London banker of that name. H e took to such a sowing of " wild oats " at H o m e that his friends expatriated him, and on the voyage to N e w South Wales
