putes were daily brought before the Commissioners, relative to the digging claims. These were often of a complex nature, and difficult of solution, and from the state of mind in which the people were then, it was not very surprising that the discontented party should charge the Commissioner appealed to, with ignorance, injustice, or partiality.
A right idea of the outbreak cannot be formed without taking into consideration the proportion of foreigners at Ballaarat A considerable number also were from the south and west of Ireland. These were the most active in getting up an armed resistance, which seemed traditional amongst them. With all this in the character of the population at the Gold Fields, and in the treatment they received—sufficient to explain an event so rare as armed resistance by British subjects to British rule—it is to be remembered that only a small portion of the people joined in the movement, and, perhaps, not even one-tenth, under the influence of immediate excitement, were disposed to take up arms; and but for the digger hunt on Thursday, the 30th of November, it is likely that there would not have been either arming or drilling,—but of this we are not competent judges, and can only write of the opinions set afloat.
Many who read of those disturbances may be led to imagine that the general character of the Gold Field population was turbulent and ungovernable. We know, however, such was not the case, and the
