which, leaping up to the sky, illumined the then houseless surrounding country. There was a " Wer-raap," or native sorcerer, amongst them, but in his soothsaying yabberings he evinced little prevision of the strange " corroborees " of supposed civilization yvhich the same spot was destined, or doomed, to witness before the world was very m u c h older. A n d thus it was that the King's Birthday was kept up. As a rule, from 1840 to the present time, no colony in the British dominions has been more punctilious in its manifestations of loyalty; scarcely a natal anniversary has been allowed to pass without a "Birth-night Ball," and during the day some attempt at a parade, review, or other open-air celebration. Five of these demonstrations are deserving of special mention. QUEEN VICTORIA'S MARRIAGE.
On receipt, in 1840, ofthe intelligence of this auspicious event the colonists hastened to give public expression to their congratulations, and a meeting was convened by the following gentlemen at the rooms ofthe Auction Company on the 24th July, 1840, for that purpose:—William Henry Yaldwyn, J.P. ; Joseph Hawdon, A. H . W . Ranken, J.P. ; Arthur Kemmis, J.P. ; J. Barroyv Montefiore, William Meek, D. S. Campbell, P. W . Welsh, J. O. Denny, Jonathan B. Were, James Simpson, J.P.; Robert Deane. T h e Superintendent of the Province presided at the meeting, and, on the motion of Mr. R e d m o n d Barry, the following Address prepared by Mr. Barry was adopted, and ordered to be transmitted through the proper official channel to its destination :— " T o H e r Majesty, Victoria, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Queen, Defender of the Faith, etc, etc. " W e , the undersigned inhabitants ofthe T o w n of Melbourne and District of Port Phillip, beg leave, yvith sentiments of profound respect, to present to your Majesty our sincere and heartfelt congratulations on the event of your Majesty's marriage, intelligence of which has but lately reached these distant shores. " Although situated at so remote an extremity of your Majesty's dominions, we beg leave to assure your Majesty that our veneration for the institutions of our parent country remains unabated, and our affectionate attachment to the Royal person and family of your Majesty glows with undiminished ardour in our breasts. " With such feelings w e beg leave to express a fervent hope that the alliance your Majesty has been pleased to form may prove auspicious, both as regards your Majesty's domestic relations, and also as regards the varied interests of the vast population of your Majesty's extensive empire." BIRTH OF THE PRINCE OF WALES.
The news of the birth of an Heir Apparent to the throne, was received with a thrill of pleasure in the Province, and at a public meeting held on the 23rd April, 1842, in the Royal Exchange Hotel, Collins Street, Mr, S. Raymond, the Deputy-Sheriff, moved that His Honor C. J. Latrobe should preside. Major St. John seconded the motion, and His Honor briefly and appropriately addressed the assemblage. M r . William Verner moved, and Dr. Martin seconded the folloyving resolution :— "That the intelligence of the birth of an Heir to these Realms has been received yvith the greatest joy throughout the Province of Australia Felix."—Carried. O n the motion of the Hon. J. E. Murray, and seconded by Mr. F. A. Powlett, it yvas resolved, "That the following Address be adopted as the Address ofthe colonists of Australia Felix to H e r Majesty on this joyful occasion ": — " T o the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty. " The humble Address of her subjects in Australia Felix : " Most Gracious Sovereign.—We, the inhabitants of your Majesty's distant, but most loyal Province of Australia Felix, embrace the earliest opportunity in our power of congratulating your Majesty on the auspicious birth of a Prince. " So important an eventfillsus with gratitude to that Providence yvhich has thus early crowned your Majesty's domestic happiness, and opened to your people the cheering prospects of permanence and stability to the blessings they derive from the wisdom and steadiness of your Majesty's propitious reign.
