THE CONFUSION OF 1852, 1853, 1854 389 



affairs on the same basis as Mr. Latrobe had done until that Con- 

 stitution had been formally proclaimed, but it was assumed that he 

 would be influenced by its principles, and might give anticipatory 

 effect to some of the most liberal aims. It was determined to give 

 him a reception in conformity with these great expectations. In 

 the absence of telegraphic communication, even with Port Phillip 

 Heads, the unexpectedly early arrival of the Queen of the South in 

 Hobson's Bay took the citizens by surprise. A party of officials, 

 headed by the Mayor, boarded the steamer and asked His Excellency 

 to delay his landing until next morning, in order that the jubilant 

 arrangement might be duly announced to the people. On the 

 following day when he stepped upon the newly erected pier at 

 Sandridge he found his path embowered with greenery, radiant 

 with flags of all nations and lined with an imposing display of 

 military, flanked by a cheering multitude of spectators. With 

 salvoes of artillery and the plaudits of the crowd he was escorted 

 to Prince's Bridge, where he received the welcome of the corpora- 

 tion under a triumphal arch bearing the inscription " Victoria 

 welcomes Victoria's choice," and to the Government offices, where 

 he was officially installed and took the oaths of office as Governor 

 of the colony. 



A week later he held his first levee, on the third anniversary 

 of separation. It was thronged with representatives from all parts 

 of the colony, and the welcome appeared most cordial. A few 

 weeks were passed in efforts to master some of the pressing 

 questions of finance already alluded to, and then he set out on 

 a country tour. He was feted and banqueted at Geelong, Ballaarat, 

 Maryborough, Castlemaine and Bendigo, meeting everywhere with 

 a tumultuously enthusiastic reception. At some places the horses 

 were taken from his carriage, and replaced by a score or so of 

 stalwart diggers. Elated by the display of such hilarious rejoicings, 

 he was inexperienced enough to receive them as demonstrations of 

 personal regard. His isolated life on the quarter-deck had left him 

 ignorant of the fickleness of popular ovations, and he failed to see 

 that the animating spirit was a lively sense of favours to come. 

 The natural reticence of a somewhat cold and haughty disposition 

 was conquered by the apparent warmth of feeling displayed, and 



