(the Mayor), Dalmahoy Campbell, George Annand, W. F.- Stawell, William M. Bell, J. S. Johnston, and John Hood. The Council of the League held itsfirstmeeting on the 22nd February. Mr. William Nicholson was appointed President of the Melbourne branch, to act during' his Mayoralty; Mr. Westgarth, Honorary Secretary; and Mr. W . M . Bell, Honorary Treasurer. Messrs. Nicholson, Westgarth, and Bell were nominated Delegates to an Australasian Conference, to be holden at Sydney, and Messrs. Westgarth, Bell, and Kerr were commissioned to proceed to Geelong on the 3rd March to secure the co-operation of an Anti-transportation Committee which had been appointed there. It was also decided to despatch to England some Port Phillip resident, " possessed of the requisite colonial experience, general ability, and official diplomatic training," as a Delegate from Victoria, for the purpose of promoting the objects of the League. O n the last day of February the League Fund amounted to ^ 4 7 9 5 Jf5s-> a n d numbered amongst the contributors 34 at 100 guineas each, 9 at 50 guineas, 1 "fifty-pounder," 5 of 25 guineas, 23 at £2$, 1 of ^ 1 5 , 2 ten guineas, 3 "ten-pounders," 5 at 5 guineas, and 5 "five-pounders."
THE DELEGATE.
The appointment of a Home Delegate was now the question of questions, and speculation was on the qui vive as to w h o m would be given what was believed to be both an office of much importance and handsome emolument, as times were then. The terms and remuneration of the post were anxiously discussed in the Council with closed doors, and much reticence was observed on the subject. It transpired, however, that the Delegate's tenure of office was to be for three years, at £600 per annum, and the cost of transit to England and back paid. The appointment was to be made on the 21st March, and an unaccountable degree of mystery was maintained about it. This reserve went so far that, at the Council meeting on the election day, it was resolved to observe absolute secrecy, not only as to the voting, but even the names and number of candidates for the office, of which there were nine. At length the event came off, and Mr. J. C. King, the T o w n Clerk, was declared to be the chosen vessel. At the same meeting Mr. H . Moor was appointed Delegate for the coming Sydney Conference, vice the Mayor, who was unable to leave, owing to the pressure of business engagements. A London Board of Co-operation was also nominated as the Victorian representatives, on which would be Lord Ashley, Sir William Molesworth, and Mr. William Ewart, M.P. The selection of Mr. J. C. King elicited a loud storm of disapprobation, and it was at once denounced as a gross job, to promote one partizan and provide another (Mr. Kerr) with a billet in the to bevacated T o w n Clerkship. Some m e n of note withdrew from the League, and the most important secession was that of Mr. Stawell as a member of the Council. It was currently believed that King's election led to this step, though the reason assigned in the published letter conveying Mr. Stawell's resignation to the members of the League was " that he could not serve them with advantage by continuing in a useless minority." King was the reverse of a public favourite, and, indeed, outside a small clique, he was in nowise popular. A n Irish Northerner, he was declared to have taken a degree at a British University, and, though a m a n of liberal education, was extremely illiberal in other respects. O n arriving in Melbourne he commenced business as a commission agent ; he kept a Servants' Registry Office, and acted as Government Auctioneer for a short time prior to taking the T o w n Clerkship. A small factionist even before he entered the Corporation employment, he was always the focus of petty intrigues there, and the consequence was that he carved out unpleasant times for himself. H e was badgered, abused, and found fault with, often for no reason, but as often for much ; and there were times when it was alleged that the small duties of his office were much in arrear. A pale-faced, mild-looking man, when he innocently gazed at you through a prominent pair of spectacles, one would take him to be a much milder-mannered m a n than he was in reality, and not at all the individual capable of concocting the rancour and animosity with which his opponents declared he was absolutely surcharged.
