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philanthropists treat the monkeys to nuts at the Acclimatization Society's Gardens. Even instances have been known when a nip of rum was surreptitiously supplied-a m o d e of sly-grogging which perhaps under the circumstances was not altogether inexcusable. Three or four times an outrageous harridan of an abandoned w o m a n was " stocked," the concession being m a d e in her favour that only one of her feet was shackled, and she could kick away as she liked with the other. " T h e stocks" remained a not-muchpatronised institution until 1846, when three or four well-dressed rowdies were consigned to a couple of hours' baking there one hot day, and that same night they returned and m a d e smithereens o the affair, which was never after replaced. T h e regular out-and-out scoundrels m u c h preferred a spell in the stocks" to the watch-house, for it was a sort of State-outing m u c h enjoyed. It was "baccy and grog free gratis, without the trouble or danger attending the contrabrand transit of presents to prisoners now-aRegular Petty Sessions were not held until 1839, and the first Magisterial Roll consisted of Captains W Lonsdale P M , F. Fyans, Smith (80th Regt.) Lieut. D e Vignolles, Messrs. J. Simpson, W . H . Yaldwyn, with the Aboriginal Protectorate-Messrs. G. A. Robinson, E. S. Parker, James Dredge, William Thomas, and C W . Sievwright. T h efirstCourt had a certain martial air about it which consorted but poorly with the shabbiness of the hovel Court-houses, for the Captain-Police Magistrate had as his official " Friday " another Captain, i.e. the Mr. Baxter already mentioned as the second Post-master. H e was appointed Clerk of the Bench (16th January, 1838), and a series of officers followed in quick succession, viz., Ocock, Kirkland, a red-headed, sulky-looking worthy named J. M . M'Lauren, a rather mild-faced, black-haired customer, C. Forrest, and then Mr. William R e d m o n d Belcher. H e had been an auctioneer, and transferring his abilities to the Police Court, applied the mental h a m m e r there for so m a n y years that he got to be regarded as one of the best-known m e n in town. H e was not a very pleasant m a n to look at, and used to "ride the high horse " with the Bench, some of the members of which were rather cowed by him. T h e newspaper reporters and he often had a tiff, but they were too many for him, or, rather, they had power to carry their wordy war out of Court in a way denied to him, and a caustic paragraph or cutting remark m a d e him cut up anything but comfortably. Belcher was a thorough m a n of work, an indefatigable official, and at heart a kindly good fellow. It was easy to get up a breeze with him, but when the squall blew over he was not unwilling to forgive and to forget. H e held the office of Chief Clerk of the City Court for many years, from which he was deservedly promoted to a Police Magistracy more than a quarter of a century ago, and an efficient and impartial Magistrate he made. Poor " W.R.B. " has long gone to his account, where many a worse fellow had preceded and will follow him. But I a m making too much way, and must reverse the engine and return to 1840. Captain Lonsdale was appointed Sub-'Preasurer, and Mr. James Simpson was nominated Police Magistrate. O f the latter, there could not be found a better selection, and the public business was n o w disposed of with some propriety. At the beginning of 1841, there were thirty-six gentlemen in the Commission of the Peace, and of these there is only one living, viz., Mr. E. J. Brewster in England.* Previous to the incorporation of Melbourne in 1842, there was only a territorial magistracy with a jurisdiction running throughout the colony, but the Corporation Act introduced an order of town magistrates by excluding from the town adjudication any justice not on the Burgess Roll. Judge Willis was not long acting as Resident Judge when he so quarrelled from the Bench with Mr. Simpson, as to cause that gentleman to resign to save further judicial snubbings, and Major Frederick Berkley St. John, another retired military officer, was appointed in his place. This hefilleduntil 1843, when the T o w n Council and the Government disagreed over the levying of a police rate, which so irritated Sir George Gipps that he declined to continue the pay of a Police Magistrate out of the Colonial Revenue, and so St. John lost his billet, and the duties of Police Magistrate were performed by the several Mayors until after Separation. T h e Major was not altogether shelved, for he was appointed a Commissioner of Crown Lands for the Western Port District. In 1841, the salary was ,£300, with two clerks, one at ,£150, and one at .£100. Major St. John set to work with m u c h earnestness, but he was bounceable and capricious, and felt a sort of enjoyment in hectoring some of the early newspaper reporters. Praise orflatterhim, and he swallowed the bait; frighten " M r . Brewster gave up practice at the Bar some years ago, and is now officiating as a clergyman of the Church of England at Chester, in England