Page:Victoria, with a description of its principal cities, Melbourne and Geelong.djvu/23

 is too hackneyed, or ourselves accused of following a beaten track.

The principal object we have in view is to do honour to the memory of a friend, one much beloved, and who gloriously fell whilst gallantly and honourably leading his men on to that victory, which, however inglorious, was at his country's commands, and in obedience to the voice of duty.

Our second object is, to give a correct account of Victoria at the period alluded to, interspersed with adventurous anecdotes which have come under our own immediate notice, or derived from reliable sources. We arrogate to ourselves no style beyond the "plain unvarnished tale," in which we have hitherto appeared before the public; yet, the politician may gather facts from our narrative suggestive of thoughts, at least worthy of reflection; the future emigrant may derive hints for his guidance; the settler will find a record of the first great convulsive throe which disturbed the harmony of Australia's progress; the memory of the tourist will become refreshed with the place of action of many a spirit-stirring scene; and the fireside reader, in the perusal of our pages, will feel a pleasing animation as we depict the unquestionably picturesque beauties of many of our rambles, or from the recital of anecdotes thrilling with interest, yet of such frequent occurrence in our Antipodean possessions.

The continued excitement which has existed for such a length of time in the public mind, in