to April 1878. On 'Black Wednesday,' 8 Jan. 1878, money to pay the services failed, and Berry, consistent with his previous views, preferred the dismissal of public servants to borrowing. This strong measure, though generally condemned, had the effect of weeding the overcrowded departments. In April 1878 a compromise was effected, and Berry sought anew to strengthen the power of the lower house. But the other chamber offered uncompromising resistance. At the very end of the year he came to England with Charles Henry Pearson [q. v.] in the hope of inducing the central government to pass an Act for amending the Constitution of Victoria. His mission is locally known as 'the embassy.' He was recommended to try other methods. On his return in June 1879 he introduced a reform bill, and early in 1880 appealed to the constituencies. He incurred defeat, and on 5 March 1880 Mr. Service took office for less than six months. On 3 August 1880 Berry was once more prime minister and reached a working compromise with the upper chamber, whereby the franchise qualifications for the upper chamber were reduced. On 9 July 1881 he was defeated in parliament and resigned.
The political passion roused by Berry's policy had paralysed administration and became known as the 'Berry blight.' Rest was sorely needed and a sort of sufferance government carried on the administration till 1883. Then at a general election Berry and Service found themselves at the head of equal numbers in the house. On 8 March 1883 a coalition government was formed with great benefit to the colony; a new Public Service Act and a Railways Management Act, both aimed at the evils of patronage, were amongst its achievements. In May 1883 Berry represented the colony at the general postal conference at Sydney, and won golden opinions.
In February 1886 Berry resigned office and proceeded to London as agent general for the colony. In June 1886 he was made K.C.M.G. He represented Victoria at the colonial conference of 1887.
Returning to Melbourne in 1891, Berry represented Victoria at the federal convention of that year; he re-entered parliament in April of 1892 as member for East Bourke Boroughs, and joined William Shiel's ministry as treasurer. In 1894 he was elected speaker in succession to (Sir) Thomas Bent [q. v. Suppl. II], and held that office with success till 1897, when he lost his seat. An annuity of 500l. a year was voted by the new house of assembly.
Save that in 1897 and 1898 he represented his colony at federal conventions at Sydney and Adelaide, Berry thenceforth lived in retirement until his death at Balaclava on 25 Jan. 1904; a public funeral at Boroondara cemetery was accorded him.
A self-made man, without education, a democratic leader with a fervent belief in democratic principles, and a fluent speaker, he was no violent demagogue. According to Mr. Alfred Deakin, afterwards prime minister of the Australian commonwealth, 'he had the pronounced gift of generalship both in the house and in the country; was a resolute and far-seeing premier and a fighting chieftain, conspicuously able, earnest, and consistent' (John's Notable Australians; cf. Victorian Parliamentary Debates, lxxxvii. 763).
Among his other honours was the cross of the legion of honour, which he received as commissioner of Victoria at the Paris Exhibition of 1889.
Berry was twice married: (1) in 1846, to Harriet Anne Blencowe, who died in 1866, leaving eight children; (2) in 1869, to Rebecca Madge, daughter of J. B. Evans of Victoria, who survived him; by her he left seven children.
[Heaton's Australian Dict. of Dates; Mennell's Dict. of Australasian Biog.; Blair's Cyclopædia of Australasia; Melbourne Age, 26 Jan. 1904, and Argus of same date; Leader 30 Jan. 1904; The Times, 26 Jan. 1904; Who's Who, 1901; private information.]
BESANT, Sir WALTER (1836–1901), novelist, born on 14 Aug. 1836 at 3 St. George's Square, Portsea, was fifth child and third son in a family of six sons and four daughters of William Besant (d. 1879), merchant, of Portsmouth, by his wife Sarah Ediss (d. 1890), daughter of a builder and architect, of Dibden near Hythe. His eldest brother, William Henry Besant, F.R.S. (b. 1828), senior wrangler (1850) and fellow of St. John's College, Cambridge (1853), became a mathematician of repute. Mrs. Annie Besant (b. 1847), theosophical lecturer and author, was wife of his brother Frank, vicar of Sibsey, Lincolnshire, from 1871. Much of Walter's boyhood is described by him in his novel 'By Celia's Arbour.' As a boy he devoured his father's small but representative library of the English classics. After education at home, he was sent in 1848 to St. Paul's grammar school, Portsea (now a Wesleyan chapel), where
