164 A HISTORY OF THE COLONY OF VICTORIA 



the gay colours of miscellaneous flags. The settlers who had guns 

 fired irregular volleys of welcome, and those who had none made 

 up for it by the vigour of their cheers. Very unlike the ceremonious 

 dignity with which the later Governors were received was the 

 aspect presented by the crowd, rough in manner and uncouth in 

 dress, indifferent to the requirements of fashion or society, but 

 honestly enthusiastic in their welcome, and highly elated with 

 anticipations of the coming importance of their little village. Cap- 

 tain Lonsdale and his officials, Ensign King and his small detach- 

 ment of troops, together with some of the leading settlers, set in a 

 picturesque background of blanketed aboriginals, were drawn up in 

 due form on the wharfless bank of the river to receive the illustrious 

 visitors. And the Governor gave immediate proof that he meant 

 business, for while Captain Hunter was superintending the erection 

 of the tents to form an encampment for the party, near the corner 

 of Bourke and William Streets, His Excellency was promptly 

 mounted, and, under the guidance of the local Surveyors, proceeded 

 at once to ride round and carefully inspect the proposed plan on which 

 the future town was to be laid out. From Queen Street westward to 

 Batman's Hill a considerable amount of clearing had been done, and 

 although the stumps remained ungrubbed, the general contour of 

 the land was easily apparent. But to the east of Queen Street the 

 timber was scarcely touched, and the neighbourhood now adorned 

 by the Parliament Houses and the principal Government Offices 

 reposed in the shadows of the primeval forest. In a few hours the 

 blazed trees and survey pegs were duly verified, the cross streets 

 traversed, and the whole generally approved. By five o'clock in 

 the evening the Governor was in camp, prepared to receive the 

 inevitable addresses. In flowing periods the settlers offered him 

 their hearty congratulations on his safe arrival, and thanked him 

 for having at so early a period visited the newly settled district. 

 They dwelt upon the importance of prompt action in fixing the 

 sites of towns, and regretted that owing to the difficulties of com- 

 munication many of the leading settlers had been prevented from 

 taking part in the welcome which they desired to extend to him. 

 The Governor in reply, while thanking the settlers for their words 

 of welcome, expressed his entire concurrence in their estimate of 



