material and moral blessings so long anticipated, and so often foretold, would be realized. The military and police stationed in the city arrived about 10.30, and filed into the square, and some pieces of artillery were placed in position; whilst Hore's Saxhorn Band was in attendance. There were some two thousand persons of all ranks and conditions present, and the upper windows of the building were decorated with bevies of ladies in full dress. As the clock struck the specified hour the new Governor, C. J. Latrobe, Esq., appeared in the porch of the building, attended by the Resident Judge (Mr. W. A'Beckett), the newly-appointed Attorney General (Mr. W. F. Stawell), and all the principal officials; the Episcopalian Bishop (Dr. Perry), the Archdeacon of Geelong, and others of the Clergy, with various members of several deputations previously appointed to wait upon His Excellency with addresses of congratulation.
Mr. E. Bell, Private Secretary and Aide-de-camp, proceeded to read the Queen's Commission nominating Sir Charles Fitzroy, as Captain General and Governor-in-Chief of the Australasian Colonies; and next the Commission appointing Charles Joseph Latrobe, Esquire, Lieutenant-Governor of Victoria.
The oaths of office were next read to His Excellency by the Attorney-General, and duly subscribed in the presence of the Resident Judge.
The newly-appointed Colonial Secretary (Captain Lonsdale) read a Proclamation nominating the Executive Council. As he commenced a discharge of artillery commenced also, and continued at intervals until thirteen guns were fired. The National Anthem by the band followed, the multitude remaining uncovered.
The Lieutenant-Governor then retired within the building to receive the several
Addresses of Congratulation.
The Mayor (Dr. Greeves), accompanied by Mr. William Kerr (Town Clerk), and several members of the City Council, presented the following:—
"To His Excellency C. J. Latrobe.
"May it Please Your Excellency,— "We, the Mayor, Aldermen, and Councillors of the City of Melbourne hail with welcome the arrival of the period when, in obedience to the commands of our beloved Sovereign, Your Excellency enters upon the Administration of the Government of the Colony of Victoria, and the final indication is given us of the consummation of our most anxious hopes the Colonial Independence of Port Phillip.
"We beg to assure Your Excellency of our devoted loyalty to our Sovereign, of our attachment to the Institutions of the United Empire, and of our high gratification that Her Majesty has been pleased to confer Her Royal name upon this young and flourishing colony. We hope that Ier Majesty will never suffer that name to be sullied, nor our adopted land to be polluted by associations with the outcast criminal population of the Mother-country, we confidently trust that Your Excellency will persevere in your endeavour to preserve this bright gem of the British Crown stainless and pure.
"We assure Your Excellency of our continued desire to promote, as far as lies in our power, all measures tending to the prosperity of this city and the public good.
"The distinguished mark of the Royal confidence which Her Majesty has been pleased to confer upon Your Excellency, in appointing you Her Representative, with the power and authority which are indispensable to good government, combined with Your Excellency's personal experience of the wants and wishes of the colonists of Victoria, lead us to hope that the future progress of this colony under Your Excellency's administration of the Government will be commensurate with the unexampled career of the past."
His Excellency delivered the following reply:—
"Mr. Mayor and Gentlemen,—
"The expression of loyalty to our Gracious Sovereign, and attachment to the British Constitution, which you are pleased to present to me on this occasion is the source of sincere gratification to me, and will, I am sure, be appreciated by Her Majesty.
"It is gratifying, I am sure, both to you and myself to reflect that the name by which this province will henceforth be designated is one which will ever remind us and our posterity of the love and duty which we owe to her and her children after her. I fully participate in your anxiety to watch over the moral character as well as the
