218 A HISTORY OF THE COLONY OF VICTORIA 



ruin to many civil servants, of the dislocation of the business of 

 the community and the loss of hundreds of thousands of pounds in 

 the depreciation of property which followed the episode of Black 

 Wednesday, with its accompanying injury to credit and expulsion 

 of capital. For many years afterwards men counted losses and 

 business troubles engendered in that rueful time when what was 

 generally called "The Berry Blight" spread over the land. Few 

 old colonists can look back without shame and mortification at 

 the mischievous pranks which this politician was encouraged by 

 the masses to play with the well-being of his fellow-men. The 

 popularising of the Legislative Council was effected despite all his 

 efforts to block moderate suggestions, and yet he had the audacity 

 in the face of his recorded speeches to claim the credit of having 

 carried it, and to pose as a martyr when he was refused a dissolu- 

 tion. He never again acquired supreme power, though as a lieu- 

 tenant under the disciplinary hand of Mr. Service he subsequently 

 occupied a Ministerial position, in which his restless energy was 

 restrained and guided into more useful courses. But during the 

 O'Loghlen administration, while Mr. Service was yet absent from 

 the colony, he was a thorn in the Premier's side, and a focus of 

 incessant though unsuccessful intrigue. 



