HISTORICAL REVIEW OF VICTORIA. 



349 



and the administration of the Government devolved on Major-General Macarthur. A few 

 weeks before this event, namely, 'on the 23rd of November, 1855, a n *-' w Constitution, 

 prepared by the Legislative Council of Victoria, and sanctioned by the Imperial Parliament, 

 was proclaimed. It established responsible government, and created two Chambers, both 

 of them elective. The first Cabinet, with Mr. Haines as its chief, took office, and at 

 the first general election, Messrs. Lalor and Humffray the latter also one of the insur- 

 gents at the Eureka Stockade were returned to the Assembly for the district of Ballarat. 



SIR HENRY BAKKLY BURKE AND WILLS. 



Sir Henry Barkly, who had been appointed to succeed Sir Charles Hotham, did not 

 arrive in the colony until the 23rd of December, 1856, and the first few months of his 

 residence in Victoria were 

 darkened by a domestic be- 

 reavement, which occasioned 

 general sorrow. Lady Barkly 

 was driving out in a pony- 

 phaeton, when her vehicle was 

 overturned by a runaway om- 

 nibus, and she herself was 

 violently thrown out. A few 

 days afterwards she was pre- 

 maturely delivered of a son ; 

 the shock had proved too 

 great for her system ; she 

 sank under it, and was laid 

 in the same grave with her 

 infant. Lady Barkly was uni- 

 versally popular, and the tru- 

 est sympathy was expressed 

 on all sides for her discon- 

 solate husband, who was sur- 

 rounded at the same time 

 with the troubles and anxie- 

 ( ties of the first ministerial 

 crisis which had occurred in 

 the newly-constituted colony. 



During the seven years 

 in which he held office some 



radical changes were made by the Legislature in its own Constitution and in the laws of 

 the colony. Manhood suffrage and vote by ballot were instituted, and the property quali- 

 fication for Members of the Assembly was abolished. Large areas of land were thrown open 

 for selection, in quantities not exceeding six hundred and forty acres for each person, 

 and State aid to religion was abrogated. Among the incidents with which Sir Henry 

 Barkly was personally identified was the memorable Burke and Wills expedition. 



SIR CHARLES HOTHAM. 



