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couldn't have the heart to hold out against such persuasiveness, and it was consequently decreed that Mr. T h o m p s o n should be permitted to retain his pantaloons. T h e highwaymen then rode off, across the country, as they thought with all the carriable plunder, but in the hurry and excitement they left the Melbourne mail-bag behind. T h e coach resumed its journey, with the constable, the lady, and T h o m p s o n , the latter coiled up in a cloak belonging to his companion, and reached the next stage without further hindrance, but nothing was ever heard of the robbers. 8. Just a fortnight after, another mishap occurred to the same mail. It reached a place called Tarcutta, when two men, armed to the teeth, leaping out of some brushwood, asked the mail-driver for a light. This was refused, and a couple of pistols were instantly levelled at the driver's head, which caused him to pull up. There was only one passenger, a Mr. Tosvnsend, a surveyor, in the coach, and, whilst one of the robbers kept him and the driver under aim, the other fellow, mounting the box-seat, drove the vehicle for some distance into the bush, when a halt was made, and the work of plundering commenced. T h e horses were unharnessed and secured, the driver and the surveyor were next pillaged; and Townsend, having no female eloquence as an intercessor, was stripped of every stitch of clothing from hat to boot, and he and the driver lashed with strips of green hide to a coach wheel. T h e robbers secured the mail bags, and, mounting the coach horses, disappeared after cautioning the tied-up not to attempt to free themselves for a couple of hours at least. After an hour's tugging and striving, the driver loosened his bonds and emancipated the half-perished, shivering Townsend. They m a d e for the next station, several miles off, where they arrived after m u c h knocking about in the darkness, and Townsend hardly able to stand in consequence of his enforced pun's naturalibus. 9. T h e Belfast mail for Melbourne starting at its usual hour on the 29th June, 1850, was challenged by an armed bushranger, at Spring Creek, and robbed without resistance. T h e post was pulled from his horse, and after giving him a kick or two the thief rode away with horse and bags. T h e outrage was reported to the police, whereupon a Dr. Foster volunteered to accompany Chief-Constable Frizzell in pursuit of the robber, and next day overhauled the fellow near Warrnambool. H e had "melted " some of the stolen cheques on the road, and was in merry m o o d when the Philistines pounced upon him. In his possession was found a considerable share of the contents of the abducted letters but nothing more, and he refused point blank to say h o w he had disposed of the mail bags. His n a m e was Codrington Revingston, and he was committed for trial, and ordered to be forwarded to Melbourne in the schooner "Cecilia," to sail next morning. H e was put on board handcuffed, and in charge of a ccnstable, but during the night the custodian fell asleep, and Revingston watched a favourable opportunity to slip overboard into a boat m a d e fast to the vessel. Though manacled, he managed to get clear of the schooner, and was wafted to land without the aid of either oar or paddle. T h e noise of the getting away woke the constable, w h o rubbed his eyes, saw theflyingbird, andfiredat it without disarranging a feather. T h e ex-prisoner escaped to the bush, knocked off his irons, lay in wait for the mail of 30th July, and plundered it also. H e was never retaken. 10. O n the evening of the 8th August, 1850, an attempt was m a d e to stick up the Portland to Melbourne mail, some three miles over the Saltwater River. T w o armed m e n c o m m a n d e d the mailman to surrender ; but he broke away, and got off unharmed, though he was pursued for a couple of miles and several shotsfiredat him, one of which perforated his hat. 11. Codrington Revingston remained at large, unheard of, until November 18th, when he had another shy at the Portland and Melbourne mail. Accordingly at half-past 5 p.m. he intercepted it at M o u n t Sturgeon, half choked the mailman, secured the bags, and after helping himself, returned the bags to the man, w h o m he ordered to clear away at once about his business, a mandate that required no repetition to enforce compliance. 12. T h e mail from Melbourne to Geelong was waylaid about 10 p.m., on the 15th M a y , 1851, midway between Duckponds and Cowies' Creek. T h e mail cart carried only the driver and a ladv passenger, and it was suddenly challenged by two masked m e n , shouting loudly to stop. Pistols were levelled, and the driver was ordered to turn off the roadway and proceed towards the beach, the robbers following with presented arms. Drawing in, according to order, under the shadow of a large tree, the driver and the lady were told to j u m p out, after which the harness was cut and the horses taken out. T h e robbers