THE FIRST LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 359 



for members were somewhat inflated with the prodigious growth 

 of the revenue, the unprecedented yields of the gold mines, and the 

 optimistic views of the future which such novel conditions stimu- 

 lated. An indication of their self-complacent enthusiasm may be 

 found in a formal address which the Council adopted in September, 

 1853, begging Her Majesty to take into consideration the eligibility 

 of the Colony of Victoria to be constituted the seat of supreme 

 government in Australia. The Duke of Newcastle replied that Her 

 Majesty was greatly pleased and interested in the marvellous pro- 

 gress of the district bearing her name, but he could not recommend 

 her to fix any central seat of authority in the Australian colonies at 

 present. 



The Council grew in numbers in accordance with the increase 

 of population, though the local allotment of representatives was far 

 from satisfying the diggers, who were fast overtaking the number of 

 the original settlers. In 1853 sixteen new members were elected, 

 of whom nine were given to existing country constituencies and 

 seven to towns, the Metropolis gaining three more members. To 

 these the Government added eight nominees, as provided by the 

 Act. In 1855 eight new members were elected, representing gold- 

 field constituencies, and four more nominees were added, bringing 

 the total strength of the Chamber up to sixty-six. 



The most important work they had to consider was undoubtedly 

 the adaptation of their inchoate Constitution to the widely altered 

 conditions and greatly extended requirements of the colony. A 

 good deal of fault-finding with the limited powers which the 

 Council possessed had been voiced by Mr. Fawkner and other inde- 

 pendent members. But their suggested improvements met with 

 very cold response. It was not until the opening of the third 

 session on the last day of August, 1853, that the matter came im- 

 pressively before the House in the Lieutenant-Governor's speech. 

 Mr. Latrobe presented a despatch from Sir John Packington, which 

 practically invited Victoria to frame a Constitution to suit herself 

 and submit it for Her Majesty's approval. The debating power of 

 the Chamber had been greatly increased by the recent extensions, 

 and there had been changes in the Executive which made for 

 strength. Captain Lonsdale, the Colonial Secretary, had retired 



