The Eureka Stockade [57]
for is this:--If it be just to grant an amnesty to a citizen of one country, 'equal justice' claims an amnesty for all. We wish it to be distinctly understood by our American friends, that we do not for a moment find fault with His Excellency for allowing their countrymen to go free, but we do complain, in sorrow, that he does not display the same liberality to others--that he does not wisely and magnanimously comply with the prayer of our petition by granting a general amnesty.
But is is stated further in the reply, that 'no exception had been made in favour of any person against whom a charge was preferred.' With all becoming deference to His Excellency, we think this does not meet the point. If the gentleman were innocent, why guarantee him against arrest? And if his friends (and we give them credit for good tact) anticipated the 'preferment of a charge,' it does not create any special grounds for an amnesty in contradistinction to a general amnesty.
Again, upon whom lies the onus of 'preferring charge?' 500 pounds was offered for Vern, 'DEAD OR ALIVE' and 400 pounds for Lalor and Black; and yet we presume there was no charge, or charges, 'preferred' against them any more than the gentleman alluded to. We yet trust that the same good feeling that induced His Excellency to give James M`Gill his liberty will increase sufficiently strong to unbar the prison-doors, and set the state captives free, that they may be restored to their homes, their sorrowing families, and sympathising countrymen. By such an act, the Lieutenant-Governor will secure the peace of society, and the respect and support of the people, and be carrying out the glorious principle he has proclaimed of 'Equal Justice to All.'
J. BASSON HUMFFRAY, C. F. NICHOLLS, (of Ballaarat.) Melbourne, 23rd January, 1855.
Chapter LXXVI.
Quid Sum Miser, Nunc Dicturus.
At Bacchus Marsh we were thrown into a dark lockup, by far cleaner than the lousy one of Ballaarat. Captain Thomas, who must have acknowledged that we had behaved as men, sent us a gallon of porter, and plenty of damper; he had no occasion to shoot down any of us. I write now this his kindness with thanks.
At last, after a long, long day, smothered with dust, burning with thirst, such that the man in the garb of a digger had compassion on us, and shouted a welcome glass of ale to all of us--we arrived before the Melbourne gaol at eight o'clock at night.
From the tender mercies of our troopers, we were given up to the gentle grasp of the turnkeys. The man in the garb of a digger introduced us to the governor, giving such a good account of us all, that said governor, on hearing we had had nothing to eat since mid-day, was moved to let us have some bread and cheese.
We were commanded to strip to the bare shirt--the usual ignomy to begin a prison life with--and then we were shown our cell--a board to lie down on, a blanket--and the heavy door was bolted on us.
Within the darkness of our cell, we now gave vent to our grief, each in his own way.
Sleep is not a friend to prisoners, and so my mind naturally wandered back to the old spot on the Eureka.
Chapter LXXVII.
Requiescant In Pace.
Lalor's Report of the Killed and Wounded at the Eureka Massacre, on the morning of the memorable Third of December, 1854:-
The following lists are as complete as I can make them. The numbers are well known, but there is a want of names. I trust that the friends or acquaintances of these parties may forward particulars to 'The Times' office, Ballaarat, to be made available in a more lengthened narrative.
KILLED.
1 JOHN HYNES, County Clare, Ireland. 2 PATRICK GITTINS, Kilkenny, do. 3---- MULLINS, Kilkenny, Limerick, Ireland. 4 SAMUEL GREEN, England. 5 JOHN ROBERTSON, Scotland. 6 EDWARD THONEN (lemonade man), Elbertfeldt, Prussia. 7 JOHN HAFELE, Wurtemberg. 8 JOHN DIAMOND, County Clare, Ireland. 9 THOMAS O'NEIL, Kilkenny, do. 10 GEORGE DONAGHEY, Muff, County Donegal, do. 11 EDWARD QUIN, County Cavan, do. 12 WILLIAM QUINLAN, Goulbourn, N.S.W. 13 and
But is is stated further in the reply, that 'no exception had been made in favour of any person against whom a charge was preferred.' With all becoming deference to His Excellency, we think this does not meet the point. If the gentleman were innocent, why guarantee him against arrest? And if his friends (and we give them credit for good tact) anticipated the 'preferment of a charge,' it does not create any special grounds for an amnesty in contradistinction to a general amnesty.
Again, upon whom lies the onus of 'preferring charge?' 500 pounds was offered for Vern, 'DEAD OR ALIVE' and 400 pounds for Lalor and Black; and yet we presume there was no charge, or charges, 'preferred' against them any more than the gentleman alluded to. We yet trust that the same good feeling that induced His Excellency to give James M`Gill his liberty will increase sufficiently strong to unbar the prison-doors, and set the state captives free, that they may be restored to their homes, their sorrowing families, and sympathising countrymen. By such an act, the Lieutenant-Governor will secure the peace of society, and the respect and support of the people, and be carrying out the glorious principle he has proclaimed of 'Equal Justice to All.'
J. BASSON HUMFFRAY, C. F. NICHOLLS, (of Ballaarat.) Melbourne, 23rd January, 1855.
Chapter LXXVI.
Quid Sum Miser, Nunc Dicturus.
At Bacchus Marsh we were thrown into a dark lockup, by far cleaner than the lousy one of Ballaarat. Captain Thomas, who must have acknowledged that we had behaved as men, sent us a gallon of porter, and plenty of damper; he had no occasion to shoot down any of us. I write now this his kindness with thanks.
At last, after a long, long day, smothered with dust, burning with thirst, such that the man in the garb of a digger had compassion on us, and shouted a welcome glass of ale to all of us--we arrived before the Melbourne gaol at eight o'clock at night.
From the tender mercies of our troopers, we were given up to the gentle grasp of the turnkeys. The man in the garb of a digger introduced us to the governor, giving such a good account of us all, that said governor, on hearing we had had nothing to eat since mid-day, was moved to let us have some bread and cheese.
We were commanded to strip to the bare shirt--the usual ignomy to begin a prison life with--and then we were shown our cell--a board to lie down on, a blanket--and the heavy door was bolted on us.
Within the darkness of our cell, we now gave vent to our grief, each in his own way.
Sleep is not a friend to prisoners, and so my mind naturally wandered back to the old spot on the Eureka.
Chapter LXXVII.
Requiescant In Pace.
Lalor's Report of the Killed and Wounded at the Eureka Massacre, on the morning of the memorable Third of December, 1854:-
The following lists are as complete as I can make them. The numbers are well known, but there is a want of names. I trust that the friends or acquaintances of these parties may forward particulars to 'The Times' office, Ballaarat, to be made available in a more lengthened narrative.
KILLED.
1 JOHN HYNES, County Clare, Ireland. 2 PATRICK GITTINS, Kilkenny, do. 3---- MULLINS, Kilkenny, Limerick, Ireland. 4 SAMUEL GREEN, England. 5 JOHN ROBERTSON, Scotland. 6 EDWARD THONEN (lemonade man), Elbertfeldt, Prussia. 7 JOHN HAFELE, Wurtemberg. 8 JOHN DIAMOND, County Clare, Ireland. 9 THOMAS O'NEIL, Kilkenny, do. 10 GEORGE DONAGHEY, Muff, County Donegal, do. 11 EDWARD QUIN, County Cavan, do. 12 WILLIAM QUINLAN, Goulbourn, N.S.W. 13 and