gathering for the time, the Mayor (Mr. Henry Moor) presided, and Superintendent Latrobe was present. There was a great shindy over returning thanks for the Press. T h e Stewards had selected Cavenagh, of the Herald, as respondent; but when be was called on Kerr, of the Patriot, and M'Combie, of the Gazette, both jumped up and would not allow it, each claiming precedence. Immense uproar followed, and the Chairman's calls of " Order! Order! " were drowned in a hiccuping babel of half-drunken clamourings. Kerr, with a carving-knife, appeared as if he meditated spearing the Chairman. M ' C o m b i e was more persistent, and not so noisy, and, as the representative of the senior newspaper, would insist on a hearing; but to no purpose. M'Combie, with his eyes doggedly fixed on the table, maundered and mumbled, and remained immovable until his reporter (Davies), w h o was sitting next, seized him by the skirt of a swallow-tailed coat, thundered in his ear, "Sit down you fool," and gave a tremendous pull, which not only brought the recalcitrant orator on his beam-ends, but tore off one of the coat-tails, which Davies retained as a trophy. I was once at a dinner in Smith's old Queen Street Theatre, when a highly-respected salesman (long out of the world) was d o w n for a leading toast. H e had his printed speech rolled like a tape around his finger, intending to use it as a prompter. H e was well on in the drinking way, and drawing off the oration, as if a loose glove finger, he placed it by him on the table whilst having another glass "to keep his pecker u p " during the approaching word ordeal. "Jack" Davies picked up the invaluable roll, and secreted it, whilst the other was descanting; and when the literary bairn was missed, the distress of the parent was irresistibly comical, "Oh," he piteously whined, "where's m y speech ? I'd wager that some blackguard reporter, Curtis, Davies, or Finn, has got it;" and then, addressing the trio sitting and laughing near him, he yearningly besought them if they knew anything of it to return it, for a joke was a joke, and he would not "bear" such fun any longer. Bluster or bounce, wheedling or coaxing was equally powerless in obtaining a restoration, and so the speaker, after a very stammering exhibition, hastily gave the toast, and sat down in a condition of much confusion. Next morning a full report of the abducted oration was published.
THE FIRST CIVIC L^INNER.
In 1S54, Mr. John Hodgson, then Mayor of Melbourne, gave a grand civic entertainment at the Criterion (nee the Royal Hotel), Collins Street, S a m Moss, proprietor, in honour of the recently arrived Governor, Sir Charles Hotham. T h e large room wasfilledby all the city notabilities, and a capital feed and plenty to drink produced general good humour, for it was one of the three wild years of the olden time; and as an entertainment of the sort, would cost from three to four guineas per head, many of those w h o went there were resolved to have the money's worth, no matter whether it was the Mayor's cash or not. T h e following is the menu carte:—
SOUP.—
A la Reine ; Julienne Mock Turtle, a l'Anglaise Sherry. FISH.—
Baked, a la Domestique ; Stewed, a la Koyale Ditto, au Marechal. ENTREMETS A N D Ron.—
Roast Turkey, au Prince of Wales Ditto, ditto, a la Henry VIII. Ditto, ditto, au Wellington Roast Goose, au Naturel Ditto, ditto, a la Native Roast Fowl, au Monument Ditto, ditto, a la Cannonade Saddle of Mutton, au John Bull Vol au Vent, a la Financiers
Fillets of Beef, aux Truffles Chartreuse of Wild Pigeon Chevaliere des Poulets Bigarre Epigram me d'Agneau aux Petits Pois Still and Sparkling Hock, and Champagne Roast Teal Salad, a la Criterion ; Ditto of Lettuce ; Ditto of Celery. DESSERT.— Pudding au Royale ; Plum ditto a l'Anglaise Blanc Mange, H o m e Recollections Ditto, ditto, April Smiles Jelly, Golden Age Ditto, "Lead On," Hock, Sherry, and Madeira. FRUITS.—
Apples, Oranges, Almonds, Raisins, Figs, &c. Port, Claret, and Sherry ; Coffee.
