a cotirage honourable to themselves as it is a bright example to others ; and we, members of the Bar, may yvell take a lesson on the occasion. Yes, courage is as necessary at the Bar as in the field. I mean that moral courage which is the safeguard of a Barrister's independence; and there are times and circumstances when the exercise of such courage can alone preserve to the Bar that character which it ought ahvays to proudly maintain." T h e demonstration did not pass off yvithout its laughable incident. In "the brave days of old " the three Melbourne newspapers, Gazette, Patriot, and Herald, were in a state of incessant war with each other. O n some very rare occasions the hatchet used to be buried, but it was no sooner covered than it was dug up again, and wielded asfiercelyas ever. T h e Editors might be compared to three shoe-blacks, who, yvhen unpolished boots are at a discount, keep their hands and brushes in practice by smirching each other's face. T h e consequence yvas that the toast of " T h e Press" was a difficulty in the Steyvards' arrangements for all the old public dinners. Fix N o . i was the position on the programme which the Press ought to occupy. If too far up on the list, someone that had a " d o w n " on the papers would object, and he always had a couple of " bottle-holders " to back him. Then, if placed too low, the Editors would kick against it, interview the Stewards, and threaten all kinds of pains and penalties. Next, when this knotty point was arranged, there came the knottier one to be adjusted as to the particular Editor of the triplet to return thanks. Arden, of the Gazette, was the senior, as representing the first duly registered and printed newspaper; but Kerr, of the Patriot, claimed precedence, as his journal was the lineal descendant of Fayvkner's manuscript Advertiser; whilst Cavenagh, of the Herald, though the junior, possessed more influence with the magnates who "ran " those festive gatherings. O n this occasion the Stewards did not know well what to do, and they decided upon doing nothing about the toast of the Press—that is, they left it out altogether. AVhen the newspaper champions heard this, the Editors declared they would not attend the dinner. T h e Stewards, at the eleventh hour, became alarmed lest there might be no report of the proceedings, andfinallyadded the toast, but too late to placate the offended dignity of the journalists, w h o were conspicuous by their absence ; though out of consideration for the five chief objects ofthe festival, tolerably lengthy reports were published. T h e " Press," notwithstanding, triumphed, for it was proposed in a very creditable manner by Mr. Archibald Cunninghame, a long-defunct, queerlooking stick of an Equity Barrister, and pompously acknowledged by the late well-known Mr. C. H . Ebden. A n d n o w afeyvremarks as to what futurity had in store for the gay and gallant "Five," the heroes of the time, whose bravery was the theme on every tongue, and whose names were "household words " for many a day :— Peter Snodgrass was the son of a military officer of high distinction, w h o at one time officiated as Administrator of the Government of N e w South Wales. So far back as 1838, Peter was gazetted as Commissioner of Crown Lands in the Colony; but, for some reason or other, never entered upon the duties. H e was one of our earliest squatters, and a shining light of the Melbourne Club, when it was in its syvaddling clothes. That he yvas rather partial to povvder is evidenced by the fact that he yvas a prominent character in some of the early duels that came off in the Province. AVhen the colony obtained the boon of Responsible Government, Peter, w h o had long before finished the sowing of his " wild oats," was elected to the Legislative Assembly, andfilledthe office of Chairman of Committees for several years. Though his Parliamentary career was unmarked by any unusual display of eloquence, it yvas not through any deficiency in the gift of tongue,for,in putting a question from the chair, about saying " A y e " or " N o , " or " the Ayes have it," or " the Noes have it," he was master of a rapidity of utterance which no other Parliamentarian in the world could beat. At his death he was very generally regretted. James T h o m p s o n (better known as " J e m m y "), was a squatter, and the occupier of a station at Cape Schanck, and he and Chamberlain (also a squatter) left the colony, and died in England only a few years ago. Oliver Gourlay was of Scottish descent, and a Melbourne merchant for a time. A year or so after the bushranging encounter, he sailed on a m a d c a p expedition to some of the Pacific Islands, where it is believed he either supplied the materials for a cannibal feast, or died some other violent death. That he came to an untimely end admits of no reasonable doubt.
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THE CHRONICLES OF EARLY MELBOURNE.
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