sends for him. The departure of the patriot is announced to the colony, and a split in the Ministry is printed in large letters as a leading article in the Colonial Times, full of direful import if the country rejects Snoggs, without a searching investigation into the cause of his retirement. The critical dissection of some of the Premiers of the colony is certainly characteristic and peculiar by some of their opponents, and couched in language perhaps acceptable to a new country, but which would sound rather remarkable in the columns of the Times. In one case I read that the Premier had mistook his vocation, he wanted to show off as a regular Jehu, and mounted the box, and cracking the whip, he went off at such a thundering pace as to have run the vehicle slap bang against the first stump that stood in the way, and as to have left himself sprawling in a ditch, out of which he has not been able to scramble. Of the Hoggs Ministry, the least said the sooner mended. The leader of this team had every vice that an animal could have. Jibbing, shying, buck-jumping, and kicking over the traces, all came natural to him, and he had to be given up as thoroughly impracticable and unmanageable. The Ministry has been defeated A vote of want of confidence, or at least a want of manners, has been carried, and the city is on the qui vive to know who is to be the Premier. The next morning small knots of patriots and expectants are discussing the matter in the main street of our village. A rumour has gone abroad that Smorltork has been sent for, but the idea is soon dismissed as too absurd, as he has not grasp of intellect enough to guide the helm of state. Two or three gentlemen, who have lost their berths, gesticulate vehemently, and insist that they must be included in the new programme.

The

members of the Reform party shut themselves up in the upper room of a public house, and the expectant public are not allowed to know what is going on, and in consequence the interest increases amazingly, and the opposition look haggard and anxious, and are afraid Snoggs is proposing some wonderful progressive policy satisfactory to the masses, and the hopes of a nation are with them. The next rumour is than McGroggins has been sent for by his Excellency, much to the indignation of the intellectuals, who observe that this gentleman can hardly read or write, but this heresy is repudiated by Whoskietoddie and friends, who cannot see any necessity for a practical business man to trouble himself too much with such vain pursuits, and think the nation might make a worse choice.

After 'great excitement, the party in the high room of the "Hostelrie carry the day. They have deliberated so long, and been so mysterious in their policy, and so active in reporting through others that their policy is especially directed for the welfare of the working classes, that they go in with acclamation, and prove their gratitude to the people by immediately putting an extra tax upon tobacco and other luxuries, as they think, in the present depressed state of the colony, that the labouring classes should not indulge in them.

CHAPTER XII.

TOWN COUNCIL.

THIS eminent conclave surpasses even the House of Assembly in the courtesies of public life and the charms of rhetoric; and the scenes which take place at their meetings are unequalled for noise, insolence, and buffoonery. The press of the colony condescends to be indignant at the want of manners discernible amongst the citizens of our village, and sometimes rates them soundly, and hopes they will not disgrace the colony in the eyes of their neighbours, and maintain that dignified position which South Australia should always uphold in consideration of her superior moral and intellectual attributes compared to the surrounding colonies. The scenes in the bear garden, or colonial Council Chamber, have at least the merit of affording occasional innocent diversion to a few citizens, who, from want of any amusement, and dearth of employment, are compelled, in desperation, to frequent even a Council Chamber for novelty. A friend of mine, who resorted there on one occasion, being fond of the study of natural history, was much delighted with the exhuberant spirits exhibited by an Irishman in the gallery, who exclaimed, during an animated duett between two members of the civic body, which was rapidly approaching a consummation quite inconsistent with dignity.-Hoorah! this is better than the circus! no doubt this gentleman spoke feelingly, as the entertainment had the ad

ditional merit of being on the gratis principle. In 1857, an attorney who by superior knowledge and cooler bullying than his compeers attained to the honour of the mayoralty, informed the members about him on returning thanks for the distinction, that they had elected a person who would do honour to the office, and continued a small oration in the same strain of bombastical egotism.

This distinguished member of the legal profession in Adelaide, perhaps, did intend to do honour to his position, and would probably have been mayor of the first magnitude, if his career could have proceeded free from an unfortunate accident, which prevented his talents from being devoted to the service of his adopted country. About three weeks after his election, his worship was detected in a small case of forgery, and it appeared that he had been carrying on these little eccentricities for some time previous, (under the guise of his honourable profession) but like many other specious villians, on carrying the game too far, was caught at the most inopportune moment for his dignity. His worship who was elected on the first of December, spent his Christmas Day in the retirement of Her Majesty's Gaol, and in honour of the event of such a distinguished arrival, the other prisoners unanimously elected him chairman of their christmas dinner, which is annually supplied to them by the charitable donations of the public. This unfortunate and weak member of the legal profession, (having allowed himself to be caught he forfeited in consequence all the respect of his brethren) pleaded guilty to the charge of forgery, and with a voice broken with emotion, and tears that would have dismayed a crocodile, prayed for a lenient sentence in the terms of the most abject humility. Many who

had been tricked and insulted by this man, now enjoyed their hour of triumph, and no better example could be found of the wretched meanness displayed by a petty tyrant when brought to exposure and punishment. Like many other distinguished criminals he had sympathizers, who gave him a good character, and hoped he would receive a lenient sentence; one correspondent to the papers alleging as a reason for mitigation of punishment, that he had been a regular attendant at church, this worthy gentleman no doubt thinking from his own experience, that the possession of hypocricy in addition to fraud was deserving of merciful consideration from the legislative authorities of South Australia. The case was however too flagrant to allow any such potent reasons to have any weight, and the forger was condemned to six years penal servitude at the "Stockade." I do not intend to give any specimens of municipal eloquence, which may be characterized as being of an inferior quality to that of the House of Assembly, but as a specimen of their manners and customs, I may mention that on an occasion 'an honourable member informed his worship that he would thank him not to obtrude his cheek so near his in future, or he should feel inclined to slap it, and on another occasion a member ejaculated by way of reply to the observation of one of the members, thank Heaven I never stood in a felon's dock!!

The number of polite inneudoes amongst the members, and the numerous expressions enunciated respecting the desirability of leaving the Council Chamber, and having it out on the most approved principles of pugilistic art, induced a humorous gentleman to indite the following letter addressed to the Corporation, and publicly read before that august body: