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th shall be carried into execution against any such person without my express consent thereto： ＇'Great works！'＇ And I do hereby with the advice aforesaid； notify this my Proclamation to all subjects of Her Majesty in the Colony of Victoria。
Given under my Hand and the Seal of the Colony； at Melbourne； this fourth day of December； in the year of Our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty…four； and in the eighteenth year of Her Majesty's Reign。
（L。S。） CHARLES HOTHAM； By His Excellency's Command； JOHN FOSTER。 God save the Queen！
…
Great works！
Chapter LXVII。
Ecce Amaritudo Mea Amarissima。
We were frightened by the report that a gang of red…coats were sinking a large pit in the Camp。
〃Are they going to bury us alive without any flogging？ That's not half so merciful as Haynau's rule in Austria；〃 was my observation to a mate prisonera shrewd Irishman。
〃Where did you read in history that the British Lion was ever merciful to a fallen foe？〃 was his sorrowfully earnest reply。
Oh！ days and nights of the 3rd； 4th； 5th； and 6th of December； 1854； your remembrance will not end； no； not even in my grave。
They were happy days in my youth； when I thought with Rousseau； that the heart of man is from nature good。 It was a sad fatality now that compelled me to feel the truth from the prophet Isaiah； that the heart of man is desperately wicked。
I was really thunderstruck at the savage eagerness with which spies and red…coats sprang out of their ranks to point me out。 Though a British soldier was not ashamed to swear and confess his cowardice of running away from before my pike； which I never had on the stockade； where the fellow never could have seen me； I shall not prostitute my intelligence and comment on the 'evidence' against me from a gang of bloodthirsty mercenary spies。 The printer will copy my trial from the public newspaper； 'The Age'。
Chapter LXVIII。
Condemn The Wicked； And Bring His Way Upon His Head； Oh； Lord God Of Israel！
The first witness against me was such a rum sort of old colonial bird of the jackass tribe； and made such a fool of himself for Her Majesty's dear sake； about the monster meeting； where as it appeared； he had volunteered as reporter of the Camp； that now God has given him his reward。 He is a gouty cripple； still on 'Her Majesty's fodder' at the Camp； Ballaarat。
Who will sharpen my quill and poison my inkstand； that I may put to confusion the horrible brood of red…tape that ruled on Ballaarat at the time。 To administer justice in the sacred name of Her Most Gracious Majesty； they squandered the sweat of self…over…working diggers； on a set of devils； such that they actually competed with one another； in vomiting like sick dogs！ Their multitude was taken as a test of their veracity； on the Mosaical ground； that 'out of the mouth of two witnesses shall the guilty be condemned；' and yet； with the exception of spy Goodenough； and spy Peters； none other to my knowledge ever did see my face before。
I assert and declare as an honest man and a Christian； that my eyes never did see the witnesses against me； before I was under arrest at the Camp。 My soul was drowned in an ocean of bitterness when of that brood of Satan； one did swear he had run from before my pike； another had fired at me； but his pistol 'snapped；' a third made me prisoner within the stockade； a fourth took me up chained to other prisoners who had surrendered； from the stockade to the Camp。
Such； then； is the perversity of the human heart！ In vain did I point out to the sitting magistrate the absurdness of their evidence； and the fact that Sub…inspector Carter and Dr。 Carr could prove the contradiction。 I was so embittered and broken…hearted at the wickedness of so many infuriated mercenary rascals； that had made up their mind to sell the blood of an honest man； in as much as I had repeatedly told each and all of them； when they came to 'recognize' in our prison； that they must mistake me for another as I was not within the stockade that Sunday morning； that I。。。but it is too humiliating to say any more。
Mr。 Sturt； with an odious face； whose plumpness told me at once he was no friend to fasting； strutted to the magisterial chair； and committeed me and the nigger…rebel； to whom I was kindly hobbled； to take our trial for high treason！
Chapter LXIX。
Vox Populi； Vox Dei。
In the course of the day （December 7th）； in spite of all the bayonets and blunderbusses； the report reached us that the Melbourne people had had a Monster Meeting of their own； equal to ours of November 29th； and that Mr。 Foster； the 'Jesuit；' had been dismissed from office。
The tragical act on Ballaarat was over； the scenery changed； and the comedy now proceeded to end in the farce of the State Trials in Melbourne。
Between Wednesday and Thursday； all the 160 prisoners were liberated； with the necessary exception of thirteen； reserved to confirm the title of this book。
I do not wish to omit one significant circumstance。 On Tuesday night； December 5th； I was hobbled for the night to young Fergusson； an American； and shared with him his blankets。 I felt very much for this young man； for he suffered from consumption； and as I do respect him； so I shall not disclose our private conversation。 This； however； is to the purpose。 He was among us； and with us at four o'clock on Saturday； at one and the same time when spy Peters was within the stockade。
No spy； no trap； no trooper appeared against young Fergusson。 Doctor Kenworthy； his countryman； had the management of getting him off。 I was glad at his obtaining his liberty； because he was a brave； kind…hearted； republican…minded young American； and I intend to keep his blue blankets he left to me in prison for my comfort； in his remembrance。
Chapter LXX。
Audi Alteram Partem。 'Fair Play'。
As I wish to be believed； so I transcribe the following from 'The Argus'； Friday； December 15； 1854；
MAINTENANCE OF LAW AND ORDER。
The Lieutenant…Governor received a deputation from； with an address signed by； five hundred bankers； merchants； and other classes resident in Melbourne； placing themselves； their services； and their influence unreservedly at His Excellency's disposal； for the maintenance or order and upholding of the paramount authority of existing （！） law。
His Excellency listened with marked attention to the address； to which he gave the following answer：
〃Gentlemen。。。
〃。。。It is necessary to look its （the Colony's） difficulty full in the face。
〃Here we have persons from all parts of the globe；men who come to look for gold and gold alone； men of adventurous spirit； of resolution； and of firm purpose to carry out the principles which actuate them。 If gold fails； or the season is unfavourable； we must expect such outbreaks and such dangers as have given rise to the most loyal and valuable address which you present to me。 ＇'Pardon； Monsiegneur； apres lecture des versets 28； 29； du chap。 I。； et versets 17； 18； 19； du chap。 III。； de la Genese； favorisez s'il vous plait l'exploitation de l'activite de tous ces gaillards la； par la Charrue： l n'y a pas mal de terres ici； et bien pour tout le monde。