The Eureka Stockade Part 31

"The writer of the above states, in a private note, that he wishes his name kept secret; but we trust that his intimacy with the Camp officials will not prevent him from coming forward to save the life of a fellow creature, when the blood-hounds of the government are yelling with anxiety to fasten their fangs upon their victims."--Ed. A.

'The Age' who certainly never got drunk yet on Toorak small-beer, had an able leading article, headed, 'The State Trials'--see January 15th-- concluding, "If they be found guilty, then Heaven help the poor State Prisoners." Now turn the medal, and 'The Age' of March 26th--always the same year, 1855--that is, the day after my acquittal, gives copy of a Bill of the 'LAST PERFORMANCE; or, the Plotters Outwitted.'

Doc.u.ment IV.

"To-day, the familiar farce of 'STATE PROSECUTIONS; or, the Plotters Outwitted,' will be again performed, and positively for the last time; on which occasion that first-rate performer, Mr. W. F. Stawell, will (by special desire of a distinguished personage) repeat his well-known impersonation of Tartuffe, with all the speeches, the mock gravity, etc., which have given such immense satisfaction to the public on former occasions. This eminent low comedian will be ably supported by Messrs. Goodenough and Peters, so famous for their successful impersonations of gold-diggers; and it is expected that they will both appear in full diggers' costume, such as they wore on the day when they knelt before the 'Southern Cross,' and swore to protect their rights and liberties. The whole will be under the direction of that capital stage manager, Mr. R. Barry, who will take occasion to repeat his celebrated epilogue, in which he will--if the audience demand it--introduce again his finely melodramatic apostrophe to the thunder.

"With such a programme, what but an exceedingly successful farce can be antic.i.p.ated? A little overdone by excessive repet.i.tion, it may be said; but still an admirable farce; and, as we have said, this is positively the last performance. Therefore, let it go on; or as Jack Falstaff says, 'play out the play.'"

Of course, I leave it to my good reader to guess, whether after four long months in gaol, which ruined my health for ever, I did laugh or curse on reading the above.

Concerning the four doc.u.ments above, so far so good for the present; and the Farce will be produced on the stage of 'Teatro' Argentina, Roma, by Great-works. The importance of the following observation, however, is obvious to any reader who took the proper trouble to understand the text of the first chapter of this book.

Why Dr. A. Carr, Sub-inspector Carter, Messrs. Gordon and Binney were not present as witnesses on my trial, was, and is still, a MYSTERY to me.

'Sunt tempora nostra! nam perdidi spem: Melior nunc lingua favere.'

Chapter XC.

Peccator Videbit Et Irascetur; Dentibus Suis Fremet Et Tabescet: Desiderium Peccatorum Peribit.

AT the end of Mr. Aspinall's able oration, the jury appeared to me, to be decidedly willing to let me go, with an admonition to sin no more: because Mr. Aspinall took the same line of defence as Mr. Michie, the counsel in the trial of John Manning; that is, he confessed to the riot, but laughed at the treason. However rashly the diggers had acted in taking up arms, however higgledy-piggledy had been the management of the stockade, yet they were justified in resisting unconst.i.tutional force by force.

His Honour tried the patience of the jury; well knowing by experience, that twelve true-born Britons can always afford to put up with a good long yarn.

The jury retired at nine o'clock. My first thought was directed to the Lord my G.o.d and my Redeemer. Then naturally enough, to sustain my courage, I was among my dear friends at Rome and London.

To remain in the felon's dock whilst your JURY consult on your fate, is a sensation very peculiar in its kind. To be or not to be; that is the actual matter-of-fact question. Three letters making up the most important monosyllable in the language, which if p.r.o.nounced is life, if omitted is death: an awkward position for an innocent man especially.

The jury, after twenty minutes past nine, were again in the jury-box.

I was satisfied by their countenances that 'the People' were victorious.

The Clerk of the Court: "Gentlemen of the Jury, have you considered your verdict?"

Foreman: "We have."

The Clerk: "Do you find the prisoner at the bar Guilty or Not Guilty?"

Foreman, with a firm voice: "NOT GUILTY!"

'Magna opera Domini'--(G.o.d save the People)--thus my chains sprang asunder. The people inside telegraphed the good news to the crowd outside, and "Hurrah!" rent the air in the old British style.

Chapter XCI.

Accidenti Alle Spie.

I WAS soon at the portal of the Supreme Court, a free man. I thought the people would have smothered me in their demonstrations of joy. Requesting silence, I stretched forth my right hand towards heaven, and with the earnestness of a Christian did pray as follows:--I hereby transcribe the prayer as written in pencil on paper whilst in gaol in the lower cell, No. 33.

"LORD G.o.d OF ISRAEL, our Father in Heaven! we acknowledge our transgressions since we came into this our adopted land. Intemperance, greediness, the pampering of many bad pa.s.sions, have provoked Thee against us; yet, Oh, Lord our G.o.d, if in thy justice, Thou are called upon to chastise us, in Thy mercy save this land of Victoria from the curse of the 'spy system.'"

Timothy Hayes answered, "Amen," and so did all the people, present, and so will my good reader answer, Amen.

Chapter XCII. & XCIII.

TO LET, No. 33, LOWER CRIBS, IN WINTLE'S HOTEL, NORTH MELBOURNE.

See 'Geelong Advertiser', November 18th.

MACKAY v. HARRISON.

'Merci bien, je sors d'en prendre.'

The pair of chapters will see darkness 'SINE DIE'; that is, if under another flag, also in another language.

GREAT-WORKS.

'Hesperia! Quando Ego te Auspiciam? Quandoque Licebit Nunc Veterum Libris, Nunc Somno Et Inertibus Horis, Ducere Solicitae Licunda Oblivia Vitae.'

Chapter XCIV.

EXPLANATION, TO BE SUBMITTED TO HER MOST GRACIOUS MAJESTY QUEEN VICTORIA, LONDON, AND TO HIS HOLINESS PIUS IX., PONTIFEX MAXIMUS, ROME.

BY MY BROTHER DON ANTONIO CARBONI, D.D., Head-master of the Grammar School, Coriano, Romagna.

'h.o.m.o Sum, Nil Humani a me Alienum Puto.'