144 A HISTORY OF THE COLONY OF VICTORIA 



money from a bank in round sums for such payments was dis- 

 continued for two sufficient reasons. The Governor would not 

 consent to what looked like a conspiracy to defeat the law, and 

 if he had done so, the source of supply was dried up, for the 

 London Board of the bank had put their veto on the granting 

 of such accommodation. But the Crown Remedies Act gave all 

 creditors of the Crown a right with which the Governor could 

 not interfere, and when the Treasurer announced that such claims 

 would not be defended, a rush of litigants soon provided a season 

 of profitable activity for the legal fraternity. 



Meanwhile, by the aid of Loyal Liberal Conventions and other 

 outlets for the most advanced radicals, a loud manifestation of 

 sympathy with the Ministry and antagonism to the Council spread 

 through all the large centres of population. In Melbourne, to- 

 wards the close of 1867, the demonstrations in the form of public 

 meetings were manifold and vehement. The Exhibition Building, 

 the Eastern Market, the theatres and public halls, even the sur- 

 rounding park lands were overrun by mass meetings, where the 

 speakers were riotously unanimous for sweeping away the ob- 

 structive Council. Mr. Higinbotham declared to a huge gathering 

 that all that was required for good Government was a represent- 

 ative of the Crown and the representatives of the people. The 

 third estate which they had foolishly created was an oligarchy 

 of wealth, insolently claiming to be the principal of the three. It 

 was in vain that the constitutional party pointed out the inevitable 

 tyranny of an unchecked Assembly. It was with difficulty any 

 of them could get a hearing, and some of their meetings were 

 broken up by violence. The fighting spirit was abroad, and to 

 ensure a conflict to the bitter end, the cheering crowds returned 

 the Ministry with an increased majority to meet Parliament in 

 February. 



Before the Assembly met the Governor received a despatch 

 from the Colonial Secretary, the Duke of Buckingham, which said : 

 " You ought not again to recommend the vote to the acceptance 

 of the Legislature, except on a clear understanding that it will be 

 brought before the Legislative Council in a manner which will 

 enable them to exercise their discretion respecting it, without the. 



