the eureka stockade-第14章
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5。 JOHN MANNING； born in Ireland； and an Irishman to the back…bone； appeared above forty years of age。 His head was bald； perhaps from thinking three times more than he ought； his forehead showed intelligence； but care was there with the ploughthe plough of dreaming too much of virtue； believing the knaves are not the majority on earth。 He had come young to this colony； had passed hard days； and so he had got the colonial habit； now and then； 'Divo jucundo Baccho cultum prestare；' hence his hair was fast turning grey。 He was a self…educated man； but wanted judgment to discipline his fermenting brain； for the control of his heart； which was good； honest； always warm； affectionate to man； woman； and child。 When he took his quill he was 'all there；' but soon manifested the sort of reading of his youth； and experience； however hard； had not yet taught him the sober reality of the things of the worldthat is； he had remained an Irishman； not John Bullised。
6。 Oh！ you long…legged VERN！ with the eyes of an opossum； a common nose； healthy…looking cheeks； not very small mouth； no beard； long neck for Jack Ketch； broad shoulders； never broken down by too much work； splendid chest； long armsthe whole of your appearance makes you a lion amongst the fair sex； in spite of your bad English； worse German； abominable French。 They say you come from Hanover； but your friends have seen too much in you of the Mexico…Peruvian。 You belong to the school of the 'Illuminated Cosmopolitans；' you have not a dishonest heart； but you believe in nothing except the gratification of your silly vanity； or ambition； as you call it。
7。 The next was a skinny bouncing curl who affected the tone and manners of a Californian； he acted throughout the part of a coward； I scorn to mention his name。
8。 Thank God there is among us a man； not so tall as thick； of a strong frame； some thirty five years old； honest countenance； sober forehead； penetrating look； fine dark whiskers。 His mouth and complexion denote the Irish； and he is the earnest； well…meaning； no…two…ways； non…John…Bullised Irishman； PETER LALOR； in whose eyes； the gaseous heroism of demagogues； or the knavery of peg…shifters is an abomination； because his height of impudence consisted in giving the diggers his hand； and leaving with them his arm in pawn； for to jump the Ballaarat claim in St。 Patrick's Hall。 More power to you Peter！ Old chummy； smother the knaves！ they breed too fast in this colony。
9。 Myself； CARBONI RAFFAELLO； DA ROMA； Member of the College of Preceptors （1850）； Bloomsbury…square； professor； interpreter and translator of the Italian； French； Spanish and German Language into English or vice versa late of 4； Castle…court； Birchin…lane； Cornhill； London； now； gold…digger of Ballaarat； was present。
10。 PATRICK CURTAIN； an old digger； well known among us； at the time a storekeeper； husband and father of a beloved family。 His caste is that of the Irishman…Johnbull； tall； robust； some forty years old； he is no friend to much yabber…yabber； of deep thinking； though very few can guess what he is thinking of。 He smiles but never laughs to his heart's content。 Curtain was captain； and subsequently lieutenant of the pikemen division； when they chose HANRAHAN for their captain。 Said pikemen division was among the first that took up arms on Thursday； November 30th； immediately after the licence…hunt。 It was formed on Bakery…hill； and received Lalor on the stump with acclamation。 It increased hourly and permanently； was the strongest division in the Eureka stockade； in comparison to others； it stood the most true to the 'Southern Cross；' and consequently suffered the greatest loss on the morning of the massacre。 Now； to explain how both its gallant leaders escaped unhurt； safe as the Bank； so that a few weeks afterwards； both were working happy and jolly in broad day…light on Gravel…pits； within a rifle shot from the Camp； that would be a job of a quite different kind just at present： sufficient the trouble to mention； that when I came out of gaol； I met them both in a remunerative hole in Gravel…pits； as aforesaid。
11。 12。 There were two other individuals of the John…bull caste； perhaps cross…breed； who had taken up arms in the cause of the diggers； because their sly…trade was flagging； but； as a rotten case abides no handling； I will let them pass。
Manning； handed over to Lalor the motion drawn up in my tent。 Here it is：…
Proposed by John Manning；
Seconded by Carboni Raffaello；
I。 That Peter Lalor has acted worthy of the miners of Ballaarat； in organizing the armed men on Bakeryhill； against the wanton aggression from the Camp this morning。
II。 That he be desired to call in all captains of division now present on the spot； as well as other persons of importance； well…known good…wishers to the cause of the diggers。
III。 That said parties constitute the council…of…war for the defence。
IV。 Lalor to be the president pro。 tem。
V。 That he proceed at once to the election of the Commander…in…Chief； by the majority of votes。
Lalor tore up immediately the slip of paper containing the above motion； because he did not think it prudent to leave written things about in a public store。 I transcribe it from the scrap left among the papers in my tent。
Chapter XXXVI。
Quousque Tandem Abutere； Toorak； Patientia Nostra？
Lalor rose； and said：
〃Gentlemen； I find myself in the responsible position I now occupy； for this reason。 The diggers； outraged at the unaccountable conduct of the Camp officials in such a wicked licence…hunt at the point of the bayonet； as the one of this morning； took it as an insult to their manhood； and a challenge to the determination come to at the monster meeting of yesterday。 The diggers rushed to their tents for arms； and crowded on Bakery…hill。 They wanted a leader。 No one came forward； and confusion was the consequence。 I mounted the stump； where you saw me； and called on the people to 'fall in' into divisions； according to the fire…arms they had got； and to chose their own captains out of the best men they had among themselves。 My call was answered with unanimous acclamation； and complied to with willing obedience。 The result； is； that I have been able to bring about that order； without which it would be folly to face the pending struggle like men。 I make no pretensions to military knowledge。 I have not the presumption to assume the chief command； no more than any other man who means well in the cause of the diggers。 I shall be glad to see the best among us take the lead。 In fact； gentlemen； I expected some one who is really well known （J。 B。 Humffray？） to come forward and direct our movement！ However； if you appoint me your commander…in…chief； I shall not shrink； I mean to do my duty as a man。 I tell you； gentlemen； if once I pledge my hand to the diggers； I will neither defile it with treachery； nor render it contemptible by cowardice。〃
Brave Peter； you gave us your hand on the Eureka； and left there your arm： an incontestable evidence of Lalor's Pledge。
Manning then proposed Raffaello； and pointed at his scars as an evidence of his tiger…pluck against the hated Austrian rule； which was now attempted； in defiance of God and man； to be transplanted into this colony。
I declined； because； during the past winter； I had over…tasked my physical strength； and did not possess that vigour essential to such an emergency。 Confidence is the bond necessary between the soldier and his officer。 It was my decided opinion； however much a foreigner may be respected on the gold…fields； that the right man should be taken from among Britons。
Vern here began a portentous lecture on military science； military discipline； military tactics； and other sorts of militaryism； but his English was so wretched； his ideas so sky…blathering； his martial ardour so knocking down； that no one could make anything out of his blabberdom。
Of this I have perfect recollection。 He was boasting eternally of his German rifle…brigade！ 500 strong。 That he had this brigade he urgently asserted； but where it was； that's the rub！
No possible inquiry from Lalor could get at the bottom of Vern's prodigal brigade。 Is；
