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"I shall declare my opinion that the mass of the community does not sympathise with these violators of the law." [Est-ce done un reve, Monseigneur, que votre government en voulait a ma tete, aussi bien qu' a celle de douze autres prisonniers d' etat, et que le peuple nous a acquitte glorieusement par
SEVEN BRITISH JURIES!]
Mon ardent desir, mon tourment presque, c' est d' avoir vite l'honneur de parler, encore une fois sur la terre, a
Sa Majeste la Reine VICTORIA
Ainsi-soit-il.
LXXI.
THE STATE PRISONERS.
I beg to say at once, that with the exception of Hayes and Manning, of the remaining ten, seven were perfect strangers to me; three I had simply met at work on the gold-fields; and I won't say anything further.
Yes, though, Michael Tuhey was the stoutest heart among us, an Irishman in word and deed, young, healthy, good-hearted chap, that hates all the ways of John Bull, he had been misled by honest George Black countenancing the two demagogues at Creswick-creek, and had hastened with his double-barrelled guns to Ballaarat, and stood his ground like an Irishman, against the red-coats. He never was sorry for it. His brother paid some forty pounds to a certain solicitor for his defence, but when Mic was tried for his neck, the Hog was not there. God save the people!
Thomas Dignam, a serious-looking, short, tight-built young chap, a native of Sydney, who hated all sort of rogues, because he was honest in heart. He brunted courageously the mob fury on Tuesday evening, November 28th, on the Eureka, and actually saved at the risk of his own life, the life of a soldier of the 12th regiment on its way to Ballaarat; he took up arms in the cause of the diggers on Thursday's licence-hunt, was subsequently under drill at the stockade; fought like a tiger oh Sunday morning; repented not of having put on stretchers a couple of red-coats; was always cheerful, contented and kind-hearted during the four months in gaol; paid his last farthing out of the honest sweat of his brow, to Stephens his solicitor for the defence (above thirty pounds), and when put in the dock to take his trial for high-treason, lo! there was no charge against him; the prosecution was dropped. God save the Queen!
