VICTORIA THEATRE. 433 



monotony of existence in the settlement, where 

 however at the moment of our arrival an unusual 

 degree of excitement prevailed through the activity 

 of Captain Stanley. Ever anxious to provide for 

 the amusement of others, he had been for some 

 time engaged in getting up a play, which was now 

 nearly ready to be performed. Its name I regret 

 to have forgotten ; it was however nothing very 

 deep, and was selected from a volume that had al- 

 ready performed a voyage to the North Pole. This 

 adventurous play book, which had certainly done 

 its duty, was originally picked up by its owner on 

 Tower-hill. The scenery was painted by Captain 

 Stanley with earths of the country, who also was 

 stage manager and general planner of the whole. 

 The wives of some of the garrison supplied female 

 costumes, while a large workshop was converted 

 into a theatre. At length, after the difficulties 

 usually attendant on private theatricals, every thing- 

 was in readiness for the first performance of the 

 drama in Northern Australia. Tickets were is- 

 sued, of which I have one before me, a small 

 piece of card containing the words — " Victoria 

 Theatre, Port Essington, August 24th, 1839." In 

 after years this will be looked upon as a curious 

 relic in connection with the history of this part of 

 the continent. As if to cause the first performance 

 of a play at Victoria, to take place under smiling 

 auspices, such as the occasion properly called for, 



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