Page:Victoria, with a description of its principal cities, Melbourne and Geelong.djvu/169

 on a firmer basis; to enforce obedience to the laws; and, by making every inquiry and investigation relative to the causes of discontent, be enabled to enact laws more equable and more likely to prove satisfactory to the well-being of the community at large.

Immediately after the outbreak, a Commission of Inquiry was appointed, which consisted of the Chief Commissioner of the Gold Fields (ex officio), and Messrs. Westgarth, as President, O'Shanassy, Fawkner, Strachan, and Hodgson. They proceeded to Ballaarat, and thence, after a few days, to the other Gold Fields. As the members of the Commission were, with one exception, members of the Legislative Council, and anxious to conclude the investigation during the Christmas recess, their tour was soon brought to a conclusion, and they returned to Melbourne to examine further evidence, and to draw up their Report upon the matter. Their first act, however, was the recommendation of a general amnesty. Sir Charles Hotham refused to sanction or notify it, alleging that the Commission had exceeded their powers. Such was also recommended to his Excellency by various sections of the public. Two deputations from Melbourne and from the diggers at Ballaarat presented petitions to the same effect; these likewise were refused, and thirteen of the men arrested on the charge of high treason were, after many delays caused by the legal informalities in their indictments, at length brought to trial, and acquitted.