Only Kerr and myself responded!  We may take a mitigated view of the others, for everyone was busy over something in those days, many embarrassingly so for want of servants, who had “bolted” to the diggings, while most of the committee had had legislation and incessant deputations and public meetings to look after besides.  As to myself, I had vainly tried to find fifteen consecutive minutes for the subject.  When Mr. Kerr asked me for my paper, I excused myself by pleading that it was so meagre that I would rather first hear his.  Thereupon, in his deliberate way, he drew forth a sheet of foolscap, and read to me “The Convicts Prevention Act.”  Such it was, for, with a few comparatively unimportant mitigations, secured by the ability and influence of Attorney-General Stawell, the impatient Assembly, highly appreciating and determined to have the measure, promptly passed it by a large majority.  This was Kerr’s culminating public service, and I am the more pleased to have this opportunity to say so, as my name was rather unduly attached to the bill, from its having been committed to my charge.  His prompt remedy, I doubt not, saved many a colonist, not only as to life, limb, and property, but from outrage in some cases worse than death.  His scathing measure introduced, indeed, a new principle, for we unceremoniously clapped people into prison who held up to our courts the Queen’s pardon.  Her Majesty’s representatives at Home did not at all like it.  The Home Government, indeed, refused to confirm the temporarily enacted measure; but by that happy safety-valve understanding, which has perhaps saved some explosions, it was renewed and re-renewed as long as required.  The letter of imperial law was doubtless violated; but Her Majesty’s Government first violated the spirit, by authorizing men unfit for England to go to Victoria.

WILLIAM NICHOLSON, MAYOR OF MELBOURNE, AND PREMIER OF THE COLONY.

“An honest man, sir, is able to speak for himself, when a knave is not.”  —­As You Like It.

In one of our colonial municipalities, which of them I have forgotten, as I heard my story so long ago, a working furniture-maker, who had secured an order from the Mayor for his official chair, was observed to be at particular pains over its construction, and, on being asked the reason, replied that he intended some day to occupy it himself.  If the subject of this sketch had been of that particular trade, this would have been a very likely story to fix upon him.  Not that he was of inordinate ambition; for, on the contrary, he looked quiet and contented beyond most around him.  But he was always ready and willing to respond to the many opportunities of a new colony, and from his great natural gifts usually able to do them justice.  Nature had given him all she could to make him a good and useful colonist; but there was one thing he had not had from her, because not within her power, and that was the school.  He was probably