Page:Victoria, with a description of its principal cities, Melbourne and Geelong.djvu/160

 in the Derwent, with the intelligence of the outbreak at Ballaarat, and an exaggerated account of the loss of life on the occasion, also a rumour that our gallant friend and late guest had been killed, which spread a gloom among us. The following mail brought a more veracious account of his being severely wounded, but that strong hopes were entertained of his ultimate recovery. On this occasion was evinced that sympathy of nationality so peculiar to the British nation; for immediately that it was understood how the Victorians were embroiled in a civil war, the greatest possible interest and anxiety to assist them was evinced by all classes of the Tasmanians. Public meetings were held, and resolutions passed, expressing it; the Government, too, with equal alacrity obeying the call, despatched three hundred chosen men of the 99th Regiment, under Colonel Jackson, with but a few hours' notice, to Melbourne. On the arrival of this force in Hobson's Bay, words can but ill depict the excitement prevailing through the community: — the whole disposable force of both the navy (from two ships of war then lying in the Bay) and the military, 12th and 40th Regiment, with the exception of a few sailors and marines left as a guard in the city, having departed, as before detailed, under the command of Sir Robert Nickle, for Ballaarat. They found the city in a state of considerable alarm, from the varied and conflicting rumours hourly arriving from Ballaarat; the minds of most