Page:Victoria, with a description of its principal cities, Melbourne and Geelong.djvu/134

 the great body of the miners. Speaking of the double license fee—which, by the by, is not a tax upon gold, but upon the chance of obtaining it—it seems a piece of injustice likely to cause serious disturbances amongst them. After this Act had miscarried, orders were issued to prohibit the sale of all spirits within the bounds, with one or two exceptions; ostensibly to put a stop to sly grog-selling, so as to keep the diggers from drinking together. A whole brood of informers instantly sprang up, and acts of the grossest injustice were every day perpetrated in the name and by sanction of the law.

"At this time endeavours were made, amongst the more moderate party, to establish a mint for the purpose of coining gold, and thereby avoid the enormous tax we pay the mother country in the shape of freight and difference of price. The excitement on this subject was very great, and the democratical party skilfully took advantage of these times of excitement to inculcate and spread abroad their peculiar notions; thus a feeling of discontent took possession of the people, and I have no doubt will soon burst forth against the Government. A little consideration, a slight exertion of common sense, would avert this, and conciliate a great mass of the Australian settlers. But no, the Government measures are in the hands of a clique who will involve the social edifice in a blaze."

Thus wrote a gentleman of moderation and education some time previous to the outbreak; and,