The Chronicles of Early Melbourne/Volume 1/Chapter 17
CHAPTER XVII.
THE THREE GOVERNORS, AND LADY FRANKLIN.
SYNOPSIS: —Arrival of Sir Richard Bourke. —The First Roast Goose. —The Governor's Visit to Geelong —His departure from Melbourne. —His Departure from Sydney. —His Death in 1855. -Visit of Sir George Gipps. —Presentation of an Address. —The Governor's Reply. —The Levée. —Presentation of Colonists. —The Ball. —Deputation from the "Fourth Estate." —Public Dinner to His Excellency. —The Press not Invited. —An Imposing Array of Toasts. —The Governor's Speech. —Mr. Latrobe playing "Second Fiddle." —His Excellency's Return to Sydney. —His Return to England. —His Death in 1847. —Arrival of Governor Fitzroy. —His Excellency's Miraculous Escape. —The Levée. —Presentation of Addresses. —Governor's Visit to Geelong. —His Return to Melbourne. —Anti-transportation Addresses. —A Ball to the Governor. —His Excellency's Departure from Melbourne. —His Departure from Sydney. —His Death in London. —Arrival of Lady Franklin. —Presentation of an Address. —An Amateur "feu de joie." —First Amputation in the Colony. —Lady Franklin's Departure for Sydney.
IT happened that, during the connection of Port Phillip and New South Wales, the Southern territory was thrice honoured with visits from the high officials administering Her Majesty's Government at Sydney.
The first event of this kind occurred in March, 1837, when
Sir Richard Bourke
Arrived in state in H.M.S. "Rattlesnake." Born in Limerick, Ireland, in 1778, Sir Richard joined the regiment of 1st Guards in 1798, and saw some service in Holland, where he received a wound. In 1806, he was present at the siege of Monte Video, subsequently serving in the Peninsula. He was Lieutenant-Governor of the Eastern District of the Cape of Good Hope for some time, and in 1831, received the honour of Knighthood, and an appointment to the Governorship of New South Wales, his administration of which colony was marked by much zeal and independence. He left Sydney in 1837, and died in his native city in 1855. On the 4th March, 1837, he made his entry into the then unnamed settlement.
The Governor came up the Yarra in one of the man-of-war's boats, and after a fashion, was accorded a queer, though cordial reception, for a small fleet of whale-boats and shaky dingies rowed down the river to receive him, and all the way back he was greeted with cheers, alternated with the frequent discharge of firearms from both boats and river banks. A detachment of the 4th Regiment, "The King's Own," was then stationed in the place, and from this a guard of honour was detailed to what is now the Queen's Wharf, to await his arrival. Buckley, "The Wild White Man," had a corps of his own in readiness, for marshalled a short distance off, there was drawn up, under his command, a small posse of Aborigines, who had been tutored like parrots to chatter the words "Gubernor, Gubernor." The principal European residents (not more than a score of persons) were also in readiness, and on the debarkation of His Excellency, a motley procession was formed, which proceeded through the scrub and bush—streets there were none—to the area at the western end of Bourke and Little Bourke Streets, near Spencer Street, where the Governor was to be temporarily quartered. Tents had been brought from Sydney for the accommodation of the Vice-Regal party, and the Governor went under canvas in preference to staying at Batman's house (the only comfortable residence to be found), which was courteously placed at his service. The Governor lost not a moment in entering upon business, for after receiving and returning the congratulations of the principal settler, and some conference with Mr. Hoddle, he rode out and indicated, in a general way, the boundaries of the embryo township. At 5 p.m., a somewhat unofficial hour, he received a deputation of the inhabitants, when the inevitable "loyal and dutiful Address" was presented to him, from which I extract this passage:—"It is very important that the sites of towns and preliminary arrangements should be speedily and effectually determined, and w e congratulate ourselves that these will be effected under your Excellency's personal superintendence." In the course of his reply the Governor remarked, "In the belief that its (the town's) future progress will realize the sanguine expectations entertained regarding it, I have felt very strongly the necessity offixingat once those points of occupation which are obviously of the greatest importance, in order to prevent waste of capital, and to give to the industry of the settlers a permanent direction. . . T h e difficulty of introducing all the advantages of order and society into new and remote settlements is well-known ; but I trust that, in the present instance, the praiseworthy disposition evinced by the inhabitants, will continue to characterise the district, and to aid the efforts of Government in securing its peace and prosperity."
THe First Roast Goose.
After the deputation was bowed out, His Excellency sat down to dinner, the principal ingredients having, like the tentage, been shipped from the man-of-war the day before, the piece de resistance being a goose, thefirstso immolated in the province, and whose slaughter on this occasion was the result of an amusing blunder on the part of the Governor's convict cook. Mrs. Westmacott (the wife of Captain Westmacott, the Governor's Aide-de-Camp) forwarded by the " Rattlesnake" a pair of geese (male and female), as a desirable present to Mrs. Lonsdale (the wife of the Police Magistrate), and they were put into the boat that brought the Governor's luggage from the Bay; but when "cookey" saw them he jumped to the conclusion that they were to be spitted, and cooked the lady goose for dinner, a mistake not discovered until she was dished and placed piping hot upon the table. T h e gentleman goose was saved, aud he was absolutely thefirstwidower in the settlement to evince a lasting regret for the loss of his better half. H e pined away to a skeleton, and Mrs. Lonsdale was so interested in the manner in which the poor fellow sorrowed over his bereavement, that she gave him absolute deliverance and immunity from the cook's knife as long as he lived.
During Sir Richard Bourke's stay he manifested a deep interest in the future city, and, in conference with Mr. Hoddle, determined the size and names of the principal thoroughfares. There was a good deal of discussion as to the laying out of the town, and even controversy about the width of the streets. All difficulties werefinallyarranged, a plan was approved, and most of the streets named. T h e establishment of townships at Williamstown and Geelong was also sanctioned. T h e Governor returned on board the "Rattlesnake" on the 5th, where he remained in consequence of heavy rain, but he was consoled by a steaming kangaroo for dinner. All the natives for several miles rolled into the settlement to see the " big one Gubernor," and brought a small drove of kangaroos as a present to him. There was to be a grand Corroboree in his honour on the night of the 6th, but the inclemency of the weather prevented it. O n the 8th, the Governor made an overland trip to Geelong, and an Address was presented to him by the settlers " squatted in this remote dependency of His Excellency's province," to which a suitable reply was given. His Excellency, in the course of his return, made a detour via Mount Macedon, in which he was piloted by the "Wild White Man." H e arrived in Melbourne on the 21st March, and sailed away forthwith to his seat of Government.
Sir George Gipps.
The reception given to the Governor of New South Wales in the latter end of 1841, was different to that accorded to Sir Richard Bourke on the occasion of his visit in 1837. T h e district had immensely increased in importance, and Melbourne, though a straggling and uncouth-looking town, was daily giving evidence of much commercial life, and increased social and political activity. Sir George Gipps had hitherto shown scarcely any interest in its development. Yet his coming was looked for with a trustful hope, for it was reasonably to be expected that when he came and saw, he would of necessity feel constrained' to do something to remedy the anomalous state of things prevailing. At 8 o'clock on the morning of the 23rd October, Sir George Gipps and his suite arrived in the Bay, per steamer " Sea Horse," from Sydney and was received with a salute of nineteen guns from a temporary battery at Williamstown, and from such of the shipping in the harbour as were in a position to join in the demonstration. H e went ashore at Williamstown, which was then in appearance m u c h more of a "fishing village" than now. H e crossed over to Sandridge where his arrival was not expected, and where there were only three horsemen to bid him welcome. Each of the equestrians offered his nag to the Governor, but as the whole party could not be accommodated with horses, the offer was courteously declined. T h e Governor strolled about, and, being of a practical turn of mind, utilized the occasion by ascertaining if any spot of the whereabouts would form a suitable position for a powder magazine. H e selected a portion of the beach below Emerald Hill, and, though the locality was never applied to such a purpose, it will always be interwoven with the warlike reminiscences of the colony, as it was the practising ground for the rifle and artillerymen of after years, and in the future will form part of the route of the Military Road from Sandridge to St. Kilda, which is believed to be an important consideration in the city's defences. Meanwhile the news of the Governor's arrival and debarkation had travelled to Melbourne, and the townspeople began to pour d o w n the Melbourne Road to meet His Excellency; amongst the foremost were His Honor the Superintendent, and some of the so-called heads of the diminutive departments. A deputation had been appointed to receive His Excellency, and escorted by this cavalcade, the Vice-Regal group moved towards Melbourne. Half-way, the Governor ascended the side of Emerald Hill to look about him, after which he crossed the Yarra in a punt then plying near the site of Princes Bridge. T h e Governor continued his course along Flinders Street to Batman's Hill, and thence by William Street to the Flagstaff Hill, returning through Collins Street to Northumberland House, in Flinders Street (within a few yards of the present Port Phillip Club Hotel), where he was to take up his temporary residence. At several points he was loudly cheered by the people, who had turned out en masse to see him. In the evening an attempt was m a d e at a public illumination, The town would have been in darkness upon this occasion, but for the enterprise of Mr. Michael Cashmore, who imported a few lamps from Sydney; and he and Mr. T. Halfpenny, the keeper of an hotel on " T h e Block," were the most prominent "lighters up." Cashmore's was a drapery establishment at the north-east corner of Collins and Elizabeth Streets, and as clumsy fireworks and crackers were easily procurable, there was plenty of blazing away, noise, and hubbub at all events. The next day being Sunday, the Governor attended Divine Service at St. James' Church, when the Episcopalians had a grand field-day.
Presentation of an Address.
At half-past one o'clock on Monday, the 25th, His Excellency, accompanied by His Honor the Superintendent, the Aide-de-Camp, and the Private Secretary, arrived at the N e w Custom House, where the party was met by a Deputation of Colonists, consisting of Messrs A. Cunninghame, R. Barry, A. F. Mollison, J. Kilgour, and F. Manning. The following Address was read by Mr. Cunninghame :— " W e , the inhabitants of Port Phillip, beg leave to address your Excellency with the assurance of our unfeigned loyalty towards our Sovereign, and of our sincere respect for your Excellency, Her Majesty's Representative in N e w South Wales. " W e hail with the highest satisfaction your Excellency's visit to this district, and w e trust your Excellency s stay will be sufficiently prolonged to offer an opportunity for that full examination into the resources improvements, and wants, alike of the town and province, which they would seem to deserve. T o this examination w e respectfully solicit your Excellency's earnest attention; and should it result m your Excellency's conviction that w e possess the true elements of prosperity, and that we are practically working them out, then we trust that your Excellency will afford us the aid which is essential to their more full and rapid development. resneci'?^ TT^ *"?^1T E**llenc/s visit will have the happy effect of firmly establishing that S e
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™ > » ^^ "G E N T L E M E N , — I am happy at length to find myself in the district of Port Phillip. I feel greatly obliged to you for the very kind and cordial reception which you have given me, and I thank you particularly for this Address. " M y stay, gentlemen, amongst you must necessarily be shorter than I could desire it to be ; but it will be, I trust, sufficiently prolonged to enable m e to form an opinion of the resources of your province, and of the improvements of which it is susceptible, as also of its immediate wants. " T o become better acquainted with these latter is one of the chief objects of m y visit; to satisfy them as far as the means at m y disposal will permit, I trust I need not say is m y very anxious desire. " Favoured as you are with a district of exceeding beauty and fertility, I cannot doubt that the onward course of your prosperity will be as steady as thefirstdevelopment of it has been striking; and I shall, indeed, gentlemen, bear away with m e a grateful recollection of Australia Felix, if I may permit myself to hope that my visit has in any way tended to advance your interests, or to confirm and strengthen those feelings of unanimity and mutual confidence which are no less necessary for the happiness of individuals than for the prosperity of States."
The Levee.
This was the first ceremonial of the kind in Port Phillip, and, as it has become such a timehonoured Institution in every Dependency of the British Crown, it may be worth while to preserve the names of those who attended on an occasion memorable as the precursor of the series of similar loyal demonstrations which have since taken place in the colony. The following gentlemen were presented to His Excellency by the Aide-de-Camp in waiting:— Messrs. Andrew, A. ; Abercrombie ; Atkinson, H. H. ; Archdall, M . W . F. ; Addis, Lieut. R. N.; Airey, George; Arden, George; Buchanan, S. ; Boyd, T. E.; Ballingall, James; Bonney, C.; Brewster, E. J. ; Baylie, W . H. W . ; Browne, S. J.; Bunbury, Captain ; Clarke, Thomas ; Cussen, Dr.; Condell, Henry; Cole, G. W . ; Carfrae, M.; Clutterbuck, Dr.; Cavenagh, George; Conolly, J. M . ; Campbell, Lyon J. D. ; Carrington, H. N.; Clay, F. L ; Craig, Skene ; Crowe, J. ; Drummond, Peter; Drummond, M . ; Darke, W . W . ; Denny, J. O. ; Dutton, F. S. ; Dutton, W . H. ; Deane, Robert ; Erskine, J. A. ; Ebden, C. H. ; Foster, L. ; Forbes, Rev. James (Presbyterian Minister); P'awkner, J. P. ; Fennell, R. ; Foster, J. F. L. ; Griffiths, G. R. ; Geoghegan, Rev. P. B. (Roman Catholic Pastor); Griffith, Chailes; Graham, James ; Gurner, H. F. ; Harper, W . M . ; Hawkey, M . ; Heape, Benj.; Hoddle, R. ; Hawdon, J.; Hardy, William; Halloway; James, N.; Jamieson, H.; Kirsopp; Kemmis, A.; Kerr, W m . ; Kirkland, J. D.; Kelsh, D. ; Kitson, H. H. ; Lonsdale, Captain W m . ; Locke, W . ; Langhorne, A. ; Le Soueff, C. H.; Lewis, Capt. ; M'Crae, F. Dr.; M'Crae, Capt. ; Marsden, J. A. ; McArthur, D. C. ; M'Arthur, D. G. ; Macvitie, W . V.; Murray, Hon. Erskine; Murray, Hon. R. Dundas ; Munro, David; Murchison, J.; M'Kenzie, Capt. R.; Manton, F.; Macfarland, James ; Miller, J. ; M'Arthur, James, jun.; Maclachlan, Captain; M'Killop, A.; Minton, Captain, Morris, H. B.; Malcolm, J.; Meek, W . ; Meyer, Dr.; Montgomery, J.; Nutt, T. H.; Neville ; Orr, A. ; Ocock, R. ; Orton, Rev. J. (Wesleyan Minister); Orr, J.; Petrie, John ; Patterson, J. H.; Pentland, C. ; Palmer, J. F. ; Porter, J. A. ; Porter, G. ; Porter, G. W . ; Peers, J. J.; Robinson, G. A.; Rawson, Samuel; Russell, Andrew; Riddell, J. C.; Ryrie, W.; Roach, Captain; Russell, Robert; Rattenbury, J. ; Sanford, C. J. ; Sewell, Edward; Simson, D. C. ; Stafford, Edward ; Stephen, J. ; Smythe, G. D. ; Sconce, R. K. ; Stafford, J. ; Sayers, E. M. ; Smyth, Captain ; St. John, Major; Smith, James; Stevenson, C. B. ; Smith, J. A.; Simpson, J.; Sullivan, Lieut.; Thomson, Rev. A. C. (Episcopalian Minister); Thomas, D. J. ; Thorpe, Abel; Tyssen, H.; Thomas, W m . • Vignolles, F. D. ; Verner, W . ; Winter, George; Welsh, P. W . ; Were, J. B. ; Wills, T. ; Watson, Dr. • Williams, Charles; Wigmore, Capt; Webster, J.; Westgarth, W.; Were, George; Walford, F.; Wilkinson, Rev. S. (Wesleyan Minister); Wilson, Rev. J. Y. (Episcopalian Minister); Wight, E. B. ; Wilmot Dr. • Williams, O.; Waterfield, Rev. W . (Independent Minister). Of these 150 gentlemen who forty years ago made their devoirs to the Queen's representative but few of them are now living. On the 26th His Excellency proceeded by the " Aphrasia" steamer to Geelong, where he was received with enthusiasm, and presented with an Address, to which he replied extempore, not having been previously apprised of the intended compliment. T h e 27th was passed by Sir George in an inspection of the town and neighbourhood, and in seeking information upon matters of importance.
The Ball.
On the evening of the 27th, His Excellency was entertained in the manner thus described in a newspaper of the period :— " T h e subscribers to the 'Private Assemblies' gave a Ball and Supper at the Exchange Rooms in Collins Street, in honour of the Governor, at which his Excellency appeared, and in high spirits. T h e apartments were tastefully decorated with festoons, and the walls beautifully papered for the occasion. Upwards of one hundred and fifty of the elite of rank and fashion of the town and surrounding districts were present, Mrs. Latrobe uniting with the 'fair' party in adding additional fascinations to the attractive scene. Dancing was continued to twelve o'clock, when supper was announced. T h e company then partook of a sumptuous repast prepared in M r . Davis' best style. T h e following toasts, amongst others, were appropriately introduced : — T h e Queen, Sir George Gipps, Lady Gipps, M r . Latrobe, Mrs. Latrobe, etc. His Excellency was particularly happy in responding. H e was sorry that her Ladyship had not accompanied him, as she had, up to the last moment of his departure intended to do, as she must have felt gratified by the w a r m and handsome manner in which he had been received." T h e 28th was quite a busy day with His Excellency. H e received a memorial from the Exchange Committee (Chamber of Commerce), bringing under his notice the requirements of the port, the state of the wharf, pilotage and harbour dues, and other matters connected with trade and commerce, to which representations His Excellency promised a careful consideration. T h e editors of three Melbourne journals urged by the all-powerful impulse of self-interest, agreed to an armistice, and buried the hatchet of personal vituperation for a brief season. T h e triad resolved themselves into a deputation, and interviewed the Governor for the purpose of obtaining a relaxation of some of the most stringent provisions of the " Newspapers Acts," which were passed during the reign of Governor Darling, for the penal colony of N e w South Wales. They constituted a penal code of m u c h vigour, and did no credit to the Legislative wisdom by which they were generated. T h e Governor received the " Fourth Estate" with affability and good humour, remarking that " h e did not see that they had m u c h cause of complaint, for if there be a place where the newspapers did exactly as they liked, that place was Melbourne." H e expressed an opinion that the Colonial Press should be placed on the same footing as obtained in England, and he should be prepared to give favourable consideration to any proposition to such effect. T h e same evening he was feted at a public dinner in his honour, but as no complimentary tickets were issued to the Press, the proceedings were not reported, and only very short, and not very complimentary, paragraphs appeared on the subject. It was afterwards considered that it would never do to allow such an interesting event to pass by altogether so " unhonoured and unsung," and, accordingly, in the course of the week, what purported to be a detailed report of the sayings and doings appeared in " Extraordinaries" simultaneously issued from the three offices. As the speeches were cooked up for this occasion, it might be termed a typographical picnic, for each person contributed his o w n share or " w h a c k " to the literary entertainment; but the "baked meats" were cold, and the relish had worn off by the time the feast was served. There was an imposing array oftoasts,forin addition to the formal ones, the following were disposed of by the gentlemen named after each:—
"The Civil and Religious Institutions of the Colony," Mr. A.F. Molison; "The Bench and the Bar of the Colony," Mr. C. H. Ebden; "The Golden Fleece of Australia," Mr. P. W . Welsh; "The Agricultural Interests of the Colony," Mr. A. Cunninghame; "The Mercantile Interests of the Colony," Mr S. Raymond; "Immigration," Mr. R. Barry; "Lady Gipps," Mr. C. H. Ebden; "Mrs. Latrobe and the Ladies of Australia Felix," Mr. Manning; "The Hero of the Age, the Duke of Wellington," Hon. E. Murray; "Prosperity to Australia Felix," Sir George Gipps. The Governor appeared in good humour, ar.d, in the course of an able speech, in replying to the toast of the evening, " T h e health of His Excellency, Sir George Gipps," said :— " I rejoice to find myself at length among you. M y visit has been long contemplated, and I doubt not you have considered it has been too long delayed; but so entire has been the occupation of m y time and attention with the cares of the general Government, that I could not carry m y intention into effect at an earlier period. While there were no other modes of communication between Sydney and Melbourne than by means of sailing vessels, it was absolutely impossible for m e to leave the seat of Government for such an indefinite period as a visit to Port Phillip must have involved. But though I had not seen Melbourne, I was perfectly acquainted with what was passing here ; I knew the amount of money in your Treasury ; I knew the amount your land realised per acre, the value of your town allotments, and the value of your suburban; I knew the extent of your flocks and herds; and, in short, I knew what was passing in your province nearly as minutely as perhaps any gentleman present. But there was one circumstance I did not know, for which I was totally unprepared, and which has given m e much more gratification than all your gay balls and dinners—good things in their way, certainly—and that was the extent to which cultivation has been carried, the general cultivated appearance of your country, and the extent of land actually under the plough which I have met with during m y rides in the neighbourhood of your cityO n another, and a somewhat more formal occasion than the present, I expressed m y admiration of the beauty of your district, its commercial situation, and the active industry of its inhabitants ; but I was not then aware of the great quantity of food,fitfor the sustenance of so many, growing in the vicinity of Melbourne. I knew that large speculations had taken place in land ; I knew that in many instances two and three hundred per cent, had been realised beyond the Government sales, and I have no doubt there are also many gentlemen here present who have acquired large fortunes in this manner. But these are not the individuals w h o have conferred a blessing on the community, w h o have benefited the best interests of your province. They have been good speculators, lucky fellows; but it is he whofirstputs the spade in the soil—whofirst,on the spot where the kangaroo had hitherto fed, raises food for the use of m a n — w h o is the real benefactor of his country. Agriculture is the foundation of a nation's wealth, and every blade of corn grown within its boundaries adds to its prosperity." O n e incident occurred which was long remembered for Mr. Latrobe. In responding to the compliment paid him, by drinking towards his health, the Superintendent, bowing to the Governor, said — " I shall have m u c h pleasure, Your Excellency, in playing ' second fiddle ' to any tune you choose to play." H e thus came to be nicknamed " T h e Second Fiddle," and full many a time and oft was it cast in his teeth. O n the 29th His Excellency returned to Sydney in the " Sea Horse," amidst the acclamations and good wishes of the community. There can be no doubt his visit was productive of much good, and during the remainder of his stay in N e w South Wales, the wants and wishes of the new colony received a m u c h larger share of attention from him than had previously been the case. Sir George Gipps was, like his predecessor, a Peninsular officer, and was wounded at Badajoz. Commissioned in the Royal Corps of Engineers, he was a Lieutenant-Colonel in 1841. After administering the Government of N e w South Wales from 1837 to 1846, he returned to England, and died at Canterbury, 28th February, 1847, a ged 57. H e was proud and peremptory, and through an infirmity of temper, often got himself into scrapes which another m a n would have easily avoided.
Sir Charles Fitzroy
was the third son of Lord Charles Fitzroy, brother of the first Duke of Grafton, and he married Mary, fourth daughter of the fourth D u k e of Richmond. O n e of his brothers was a Governor of N e w Zealand, and another an Aide-de-camp to the D u k e of Wellington at Waterloo. Sir Charles had been Governor at Prince Edward Island, and Chief Commissioner at Antigua. A s Governor-General of N e w South Wales, he arrived in Sydney on the 2nd August, 1846, and, in the following year, his wife was thrown out of her carriage through the bolting ofthe horses at Parramatta, and died from the injuries received. In 1849, it was officially intimated to be His Excellency's intention to visit that distant and neglected region of his Government known as Port Phillip, or Australia Felix; and all grades of society manifested a strong desire that the coming guest should be accorded a welcome befitting his high position. The province had undergone great changes, materially and intellectually, since the visit of Sir George Gipps, in 1841; but in proportion to the increase of prosperity, was the accumulation of dissatisfaction at the worse than indifference displayed by the Executive coterie in Sydney, by which Port Phillip affairs were supposed to be managed. Political life also showed a state of much vitality, and the flame of agitation was kept burning vigorously, in consequence of the deferring of Separation, and the vacillation of the Home Government on the deeply absorbing Transportation question. On all hands it was conceded that, whilst the Vice-Regal visit could not possibly do harm, it might perchance effect something the other way. Many were the preparations made in anticipation of the event, and when it was known that the Governor and suite had started from Sydney in H.M.S. “Havannah,” the excitement increased. This was anterior to the era of telegraphic communication in Australia, and nothing could be then known of an incoming vessel until within a few miles of Williamstown, when she was signalled from the Flagstaff in West Melbourne. About 4.30 p.m, of the 12th March, it was announced at the Signal Station, that a ship-of-war was in sight, and soon after, when it was ascertained to be the “Havannah,” the man-of-war ensign was run up, and fluttered the news about everywhere. As the ship neared Williamstown she was saluted from a battery of four six-pounder guns, and in half-an-hour an answering salute thundered forth from the throats of the 68 and 32lb. carronades of the “Havannah,” by this time anchored. The Governor immediately left in the frigate’s barge, which was pulled towards a small pier at Sandridge, from which place the Superintendent had previously gone, intending to join His Excellency on board; but when he saw that the Governor was making for the shore, he ordered the boat to be “put about,” and did likewise. Sir Charles Fitzroy was accompanied by Mr. George Fitzroy (his son and private secretary), and Mr. Masters as Aide-de-camp. The Governor was received at Sandridge by Captain Conran, then commanding a detachment of the 11th Regiment stationed in Melbourne; Captain Dana (Chief of the Native Police), and two or three other officials. Mr. Latrobe joined them, and horses being in readiness, the cavalcade set forth for Melbourne, by what was known as the Beach Road, a scrubby, sandy, uncomfortable thoroughfare. There was then spanning the Yarra, a rickety old wooden bridge, and a nearly-finished new stone one—the Princes Bridge of yesterday—on approaching which His Excellency beheld an immense crowd of people. He was received with a volley more inspiriting than that of the “Havannah’s” carronades—a loud, ringing, prolonged peal of artillery from the distended fauces of thousands. The Governor was officially welcomed by the Mayor (Mr. W. M. Bell), the Town Clerk (Mr. J. C. King), and several Aldermen and City Councillors, flanked by the City Police in well-brushed uniform, and under arms. Apartments had been engaged at the Royal Hotel (now the Union Bank site), whither the Governor proceeded, and was tumultuously cheered. On the following day (the 13th) Sir Charles Fitzroy, accompanied by Mr. Latrobe and several officials, rode round the city and suburbs, en route visiting the Court-house, Gaol, Powder Magazine, Hospital, New Bridge, and other places of note; and in the evening His Excellency dined with the Superintendent at Jolimont, there being also present the principal officers of the “Havannah,” and some of the cream of Melbourne aristocracy. That night, after dinner, His Excellency met with an accident, and had what might be truly termed a
Miraculous Escape.
Accompanied by his son, and Captain Erskine, of the “Havannah,” the Governor was returning to town in Mr. Latrobe’s carriage, and whilst descending the Eastern Hill, near the Scotch Church in Collins Street, some ultra-loyalists were amusing themselves letting off squibs opposite the Mechanics’ Institute. The explosions, and the flashing of the fireworks, so frightened the horses that they dashed away at full speed, tearing along until they arrived at the Swanston Street intersection, across which they plunged, and ran into a heap of bricks and stones stacked as building materials on the side of the Street opposite the Club House (now the Bank of Victoria site), The carriage capsized, and its inmates were rolled out on the roadway, the Governor fortunately sustaining no injury whatever, Captain Erskine faring equally well, but Mr. George Fitzroy had a severe shaking, with no further damage than one of two slight abrasions, The coachman was propelled like a kicked football from his box some feet in the air, and pitched into an empty cask close by without receiving so m u c h as a scratch. T h e horses were, however, on for a spree, for they got away with the carriage pole between them, with which they cleared the streets in triumph, a hair-breadth escape happening every yard they traversed, for there was a good number of people perambulating the streets. Turning the corner they rushed slantingly across Elizabeth Street, upon the footpath at the Western side between Collins and Little Collins Streets, where they stove in the shop window of a Mr. Davis, a general dealer; and in backing into the street passed over a m a n named M'Laren, slightly injuring him. Onward they pelted to the Post Office, and there, taking the Bourke Street corner in splendid style, up hill, and thence Northward along Queen Street to the Lonsdale Street corner, where one of them came down, tripped, as was supposed, by the carriage pole, and they were captured. There never was before or since a longer or more crooked run of a pair of harnessed carriage horses through the streets of Melbourne. T h e Governor's narrow escape, considered in connection with his wife's death two years before, under circumstances not dissimilar, imparted a significance to the accident which m a d e it a topic of earnest gossip in town long after His Excellency's departure. His Excellency held a levee next day (14th) in the Royal Hotel. T h e ceremony commenced at n a.m., and was attended by about 250 persons, including the Episcopalian and R o m a n Catholic Bishops (Drs. Perry and Goold), and rarely, if ever after, did these two dignitaries meet at such a place. Congratulatory addresses were presented from the City Council, the Bishop and Clergy of the Church of England, the Committee of Management of the Mechanics' Institute, the Inhabitants of Melbourne, the St. Patrick's Society of Australia Felix, and the Independent Order of Oddfellows. Whilst the presentations were being made, James Taylor, a pastrycook and baker by trade, dropped dead amongst the crowd in the street. O n the 15th Sir Charles Fitzroy, accompanied by the Superintendent, M r . F. A. Powlett, Commissioner of Crown Lands, and Captain Dana of the Native Police, proceeded by the " T h a m e s " steamer to Geelong, where His Excellency's reception was most enthusiastic. S o m e twelve hundred persons, with the brass band of the Order of Rechabites, awaited the steamer's arrival, and welcomed the Governor as a conqueror. Forty Rechabites also turned out in full regalia, and endeavoured to be, if they really were not, personages of vast importance. T h e Governor was received by Captain Fyans, Lieutenant Addis, Messrs. Charles Sladen, J. F. Strachan, F. Champion, Dr. Shaw, and others. They proceeded to Mack's Hotel, and after a brief stay there, His Excellency with some of his following rode out to have a look about Corio, and its picturesque surroundings. T h e same evening the Governor entertained a select party of about a dozen to dinner. H e held a levee on the following day which was attended by some seventy persons, and addresses were presented from the towns-people, the Clergy ofthe Church of England, and the School of Arts. That afternoon he rode out again, and m a d e a trip over the Barrabool hills, which he m u c h admired. T h e day wound up with another private dinner party at Mack's Returning to Melbourne on the 17th, the Governor, on Monday, the 19th, received a deputation from the City Council, appointed to confer with him on matters of pressing importance. His Excellency was frank and affable, and declared his willingness to do all in his power to promote the interests of the place and was not opposed to the appropriation of a sum of money to improve the navigation of the river. A s to a scheme of works to supply Melbourne with water, the estimated cost was ,£16,000, and he was agreeable that a moiety of this s u m should be advanced by the State, conditional upon the Corporation finding the other half; and as the Council had no power to levy rates beyond a certain amount he had no objection to cause a Bill to be introduced in the Legislative Council to give authority for doing so A s to a vote for street improvements, he was unable to promise any help, and he regretted that the state of the public revenues did not admit of a speedy completion of Princes Bridge. In a discussion about Light houses, Captain Erskine, of the "Havannah," w h o was present, expressed a preference for Point Lonsdale as a light-site, in lieu of Shortland's Bluff. T w o deputations interviewed His Excellency to protest against the threatened conversion of the district into a penal colony. O n e represented the Anti-transportation League, and the other, the Magistrates of both City and Territory. They were received separately, and the Governor's reply to both was of the same tenor, viz.:—That in consequence ofthe public addresses already at various times presented on the subject, and a strong recommendation urged some time since by the Superintendent (Mr. Latrobe) an Q assurance was given that in the event of any more convicts being sent to Port Phillip, they should not be allowed to land here, but be forwarded straight on to Sydney. This announcement communicated intense satisfaction, because there was an almost undivided public agreement to resist, by every possible means, the moral degradation of the district by making it a receptacle for British criminals. T h e circumstances which led up to this feature of the Governor's visit, will be detailed in a future chapter. Afterwards His Excellency drove to Heidelberg and lunched at Mr. Joseph Hawden's. Coming back he looked in at the Lunatic Asylum, was delighted with the bend of the Yarra there, and approved of the arrangements. T h e Melbourne Hospital was subsequently visited, and the day pleasantly w o u n d up at a dinner with members of the Melbourne Club. A grand ball was given to the Governor on the evening of the 20th, at the Royal Hotel, where, it was avouched " two hundred of the rank, beauty and fashion of the colony, added to the brilliancy of the entertainment." T h e supper was only tolerably good, the dancing m u c h better, but the musical arrangements eclipsed anything of the sort previously attempted. T h e musical conductor was a Mr. Megson, one of the orchestra brought to Melbourne from Launceston in 1845, by M r . George Coppin, on his first arrival. At 10 o'clock the Governor and t Mr. Latrobe m a d e their appearance, and took their seats side by side on a sofa placed " on a raised and well-carpeted platform at the end of the room." At 1 a.m. supper was announced, and was represented as being " excellent—nothing too much, nothing too little." After the Queen's health was bumpered, Mr. M'Kenzie (the Sheriff) proposed "His Excellency Sir Charles Fitzroy," which was toasted with m u c h acclamation; and the Governor, in response, said "that though 'Separation' was the watchword in Port Phillip, and they ought to have it, he was selfish enough to wish that the district was still more closely allied to Sydney than it was, that he might have an opportunity of personally returning the many acts of kindness and attention which had been shown to him since his arrival in this beautiful province." A newspaper of the next day declared " that loud cheers broke forth at this happy passage." T h e Governor remained until half-past four, and early on the morning ofthe 22nd the " Havannah " sailed away and the Governor with her. Sir Charles Fitzroy was a good-tempered, easy-going kind of gentleman, w h o did not suffer the worries of the world to discompose him unnecessarily. H e was very popular during his stay in N e w South Wales, which he left on the 28th January, 1856, and died in London two years after. LADY FRANKLIN.
A postscript to a lady's letter is generally supposed to be its most important part, and it is, therefore, no discourtesy to give a nook at the end of this chapter to the adventurous wife of a Governor of V a n Diemen's Land, w h o did Melbourne the honour of a flying visit so early as 1839. This was Lady Franklin, the consort of Sir John Franklin, the great ill-starred explorer, w h o was then administering the Government ofthe island over the Straits. Her Ladyship and suite arrived in Port Phillip on the morning of the 4 th April, in the " Tamar," from Launceston, and put up at the popular resort k n o w n as Fawkner's Hotel, corner of Collins and Market streets. T h e inhabitants were not slow in doing honour to such an " illustrious stranger," and a deputation of them waited upon her Ladyship with a complimentary address, to which, in a well-conceived reply, she expressed delight at the " cordiality of the amicable feeling which exists between the two countries (Port Phillip and Van Diemen's Land), so naturally and nearly related." In the afternoon she took a drive through the town, and in the evening a very weak attempt was made to get up an illumination, and there was a fire-work exhibition by the discharge of a few crackers O n e over-excited individual essayed a feu de joie from a rusty blunderbuss, which, instead of going off decently, burst, and carried away a slice of the man's arm. Dr. Cussen, Colonial Surgeon, was obliged to sever the h m b thefirstamputation performed in the colony. Lady Franklin, after a short stay, proceeded overland