had a new brick store in Market Street, and this place the proprietor freely placed at the service of the projectors of the coming festivities. T h e event was fixed for the 14th January. There was an orchestra of six musicians, and, luckily, the precaution was taken of borrowing one of the three or four pianos then in town. O n e hundred cards of invitation had been issued, and there were but few absentees. T h e supper was served in a marquee at the rear, communicating by a covered way with the ballroom, and everything went on as merrily as could be required until the refreshing of the band, when the copiousness of the stimulants imbibed had such an effect upon the performers that they unceremoniously stampeded from the place, leaving the deserted dancers in a plight. T h e improvisation of choruses of h u m m e r s or whistlers was suggested, but it was a notion impossible as well as absurd. T h e extrication from the annoying, though laughable dilemma, wasfinallyeffected by four of the ladies volunteering as amateur pianistes, and so Trip it gaily as you go, O n the light fantastic toe,
Was the order of the early moon-lit morning, and the merriment was kept up with no intermission, until a general dispersion was effected. T h e return home, however, witnessed a singular mishap. Amongst the departing equipages was the carriage of Mr. T h o m a s Wills, with five lady inmates, and as the Melbourne streets were then mostly a mixture of ravine and quagmire, the coachman, to secure as firm ground as was possible for his drive, took the circuitous route of William Street and Bourke Street. H e whipped along in safety until he approached the intersection of Bourke and Swanston Streets, where frowned a centrepiece in the shape of a large, upright, gum-tree trunk, flanked by a yawning rut. In turning the corner the vehicle was by some mischance tumbled into the chasm, the driver was shot out of his box-perch, and the horses bolting, dashed into collision with a tree growing in the street, where the whole concern was reduced to a condition of smash. T h e horses finally got away, the carriage was in pieces, and the five fair belles were left sprawling in the m u d . O n e of them was pronounced as being in that condition which is conventionally classified as " interesting," yet, almost incredible to relate, neither she nor her companions, though nearly frightened out of their lives, were seriously injured. The following narrative of an early case of self-murder presents circumstances of horrible ghastliness, in the midst of which one can hardly refrain from smiling at the methodical madness of some of its surroundings. A Dr. Mitchell, the scion of a highly respectable Edinburgh family, and of great professional acquirements, came out as Surgeon Superintendent of an Immigrant ship bound from Leith to Adelaide. H e proceeded hence to Sydney where he remained for a few weeks, and returned to Melbourne, putting up the Lamb Lnn, and drinking immoderately. O n the 24th January, 1840, he was found dead, and in one of his pockets was found an unfinished and unsigned draft of a will, one side of which was covered with writing in justification of suicide. One day in February, 1840, Mr. Wright, who resided a few miles from town over the Yarra, sent in one of his m e n with a bullock dray for stores. T h e fellow loaded the vehicle, and had a female passenger, after which he adjourned to a public-house to enjoy himself. Hours elapsed before he returned to start homewards, himself very full, but his bullocks very empty. T h e day being extremely hot, the beasts were half dead with thirst, and on nearing the Yarra and smelling the water, off bolted the bullocks and plunged into the river with the dray and all it contained. T h e driver and his lady passenger escaped with difficulty, the stores were all spoiled, andfivesheep and six of the bullocks drowned. " Damper and doughboys " were the two first flour-eating industries in the colony, and the third was probably brick-making. T h efirstchimneys in the primitive habitations were composed of slabs and clay, and to ensure durability and comfort Launceston bricks were introduced. T h efirstbrickfield was over the Yarra, eastward of Prince's Bridge, and thence transferred to between theriverand Emerald Hill; but the bricks m a d e there were very unserviceable in consequence of the unsuitability of the material and the
