Chap. III. UNDIGNIFIED LANDING OF THE GOVERNOR. 45 
ing the Governor on his landing, or making any other 
active demonstration of dislike ; but it was sorrowfully 
whispered how passionate a welcome from the true 
hearts of some thousand Englishmen would have 
echoed along the hills, had they been about to receive a 
ruler who had deserved common respect or gratitude. 
The next day at noon, having engaged apartments at 
Barrett's hotel, his Excellency landed on the beach, 
close to the door, A considerable assemblage of the 
first people in the place had been standing on the road 
near the hotel and Medical Hall, previous to this time, 
talking over the rumoured intentions of Captain Hob- 
son ; but as his boat neared the shore, they stepped 
silently into the houses in a marked manner. I well 
remember that I was rebuked by a large party who 
had retreated into Dr. Dorset's sitting-room for even 
looking out at the window ; but I was determined to 
have a good view of the expected " power and dignity." 
I was not disappointed. 
As the boat grated on the silent and almost deserted 
beach, some nameless tuft-hunter came up just in time 
with a mob of about forty ragged labourers, whom he 
had collected among the idlers at a public-house, and 
they raised a very faint cheer, probably because badly 
paid for. Two still less reputable characters formed 
part of the deputation to receive his Excellency. These 
were Mr. Davy, the embezzling candidate for orders, 
and a drunken Sydney horse-breaker, named Bob Bar- 
rett, who had fastened a smart cavalry saddle-cloth on 
to a wretched old nag, and who rode into the water by 
the side of the boat, splashing the Governor and his 
suite all over, and begging him to ride in procession on 
the horse. Beyond this, I will venture to say that no 
land-owner, no holder of capital, no respectable mecha- 
nic or decent tradesman, no person who had a name to 
