the eureka stockade-第30章
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L O'NEIL； County Clare； do。 6 THOMAS CALLANAN； do。 do。 7 PATRICK CALLANAN； do。 do。 8 FRANK SYMMONs； England。 9 JAMES WARNER； County Cork； Ireland。 10 LUKE SHEEHAN； County Galway； do。 11 MICHAEL MORRISON； County Galway； do。 12 DENNIS DYNAN； County Clare； do。
（Signed） PETER LALOR； Commander…in…Chief。
What has become of GEORGE BLACK； was； and is still； a MYSTERY to me。 I lost sight of him since his leaving for Creswick…creek； on December 1； 1854。
Chapter LXXVIII。
Homo Natus De Muliere； Brevi Vivens Tempore Repletur Multis Miseriis。 Qui Quasi Flos Conterritur Et Egreditur； Postea Velut Umbra Disperditur。
It is not the purpose of this book； to begin a lamentation about my four long； long months in the gaol。 My health was ruined for ever： if that be a consolation to any one； let him enjoy it。 To say more is disgusting to me and would prove so to any one； whose motto is 'Fair…play。'
A dish of 'hominy' （Indian meal）； now and then fattened with grubs； was my breakfast。
A dish of scalding water； with half a dozen grains of rice； called soup； a morsel of dry bullock's flesh； now and then high…flavoured； a bit of bread eternally sourany how the cause of my suffering so much of dysentery； and a couple of black murphies were my dinner。
For tea； a similar dish of hominy as in the morning； with the privilege of having now and then a bushranger or a horse…stealer for my mess…mate； and often I enjoyed the company of the famous robbers of the Victoria Bank。
But the Sunday！ Oh the Sunday！ was the most trying day。 The turnkeys； of course； must enjoy the benefit of the sabbath cant； let the prisoners pray or curse in their cells。 I was let out along with the catholics； to hear mass。 I really felt the want of Christian consolation。 Our priest was always in a hurry； twice did not come； once said half the mass without any assistant； never could I hear two words together out of his short sermon。 Not once ever came to see us prisoners。
After mass； I returned to my cell； and was let out again for half an hour among all sorts of criminals； some convicted； some waiting their trial； in the large yard； to eat our dinner； and again shut up in the cell till the following Monday。
Chapter LXXIX。
'Souvenirs' De Melbourne。
Five things I wish to register： the first for shame； the second for encouragement； the third for duty； the fourth for information； the fifth for record。
1。 We were one afternoon taken by surprise by the whole gang of turnkeys； ordered to strip； and subjected to an ignominious search。 The very private parts were discovered and touched。 'Veritatem dico； non mentior。'
2。 Manning felt very much the want of a chew of tobacco。 He and Tuhey would make me strike up some favourite piece out of the Italian opera； and the charm succeeded。 A gentle tap at the door of our cell was the signal to get from a crack below a stick of tobacco； and then we were all jolly。 We decreed and proclaimed that even in hell there must be some good devils。
3。 Mr。 Wintle； the governor； inclining to the John Bull in corporation； had preserved even in a Melbourne gaol； crammed as it is at the end of each month with the worst class of confirmed criminals； his good； kind heart。 With us state prisoners； without relaxing discipline； he used no crueltyspoke always kindly to uswas sorry at our position； and wished us well。 He had regard for me； on account of my bad health； that I shall always remember。
4。 Some day in January we received a New…Year's Presentthat is a copy of the indictment。 I protest at once against recording it here： it is the coarsest fustian ever spun by Toorak Spiders。 I solemnly declare that to my knowledge the name of Her Most Gracious Majesty was never mentioned in any way； shape； or form whatever； during the whole of the late transactions on Ballaarat。 I devoured the whole of the indictment with both my eyes； expecting to meet with some count charging us with riot。 The disappointment was welcome； and I considered myself safe。 Not so； however； by a parcel of shabby solicitors。 They said it would go hard with any one if found guilty。 The government meant to make an example of some of of us； as a lesson to the ill…affected； in the shape of some fifteen years in the hulks。 They had learned from Lynn of Ballaarat that there were no funds collected from the diggers for the defence。 'Cetera quando rursum scribam'and thus they won some 200 pounds out of the frightened state prisoners； who possessed ready cash。
〃What will be the end of us； Joe？〃 was my question to the nigger…rebel。
〃Why； if the jury lets us go； I guess we'll jump our holes again on the diggings。 If the jury won't let us go； then〃and bowing his head over the left shoulder； poking his thumb between the windpipe and the collarbone； opened wide his eyes； and gave such an unearthly whistle； that 1 understood perfectly well what he meant。
Chapter LXXX。
The State Prisoners。 （From 'The Age'； February 14th； 1855。）
The following is the copy of a letter addressed by the state prisoners now awaiting their trial in the Melbourne Gaol； to the Sheriff； complaining of the treatment they have received：…
Her Majesty's Gaol； Melbourne； February 6th； 1855。 To the Sheriff of the Colony of Victoria：…
SirAs the chief officer of the government； regulating prison discipline in Victoria； we； the undersigned Ballaarat state prisoners； respectfully beg to acquaint you with the mode of our treatment since our imprisonment in this gaol； in the hope that you will be pleased to make some alteration for the better。
At seven o'clock in the morning we are led into a small yard of about thirty yards long and eight wide； where we must either stand； walk or seat ourselves upon the cold earth （no seats or benches being afforded us）； and which at meal times serves as chair； table； etc。； with the additional consequence of having our food saturated with sand； dust； and with every kind of disgusting filth which the wind may happen to stir up within the yard。
We are locked in； about three o'clock in the afternoon； four or five of us together； in a cell whose dimensions are three feet by twelve； being thus debarred from the free air of heaven for sixteen hours out of the twenty…four。 The food is of the very worst description ever used by civilized beings。 We are debarred the use of writing materials； except for purposes of pressing necessity； are never permitted to see a newspaper； and strictly prohibited the use of tobacco and snuff。 We have been subjected to the annoyance of being stripped naked； a dozen men together； when a process of 'searching' takes place that is debasing to any human being； but perfectly revolting to men whose sensibilities have never been blunted by familiarity with crimean ordeal of examination； and the coarse audacity with which it is perpetrated； as would make manhood blush； and which it would assuredly resent； as an outrage upon common decency； in any other place than a prison。 And again； when the visiting justice makes his rounds； we are made to stand bareheaded before him； as ifetc。
We give the government the credit of believing that it is not its wish we should be treated with such apparent malignity and apparent malice； and also believe that if you； sir； the representative of government in this department； had been previously made acquainted with this mode of treatment； you would have caused it to be altered。 But we have hitherto refrained from troubling the government on the subject； in expectation of a speedy trial； which now appears to be postponed sine die。
We； each of us； can look back with laudable pride upon our lives； and not a page in the record of the past can unfold a single transgression which would degrade us before man； or for which we would be condemned before our Maker。 And we naturally ask why we should be treated as if our lives had been one succession of crime； or as if society breathed freely once more at being rid of our dangerous and demoralising presence。 Even the Sunday； that to all men in Christendom is a day of relaxation and comparative enjoyment； to us is one of gloom and weariness； being locked up in a dreary cell from three o'clock Satu
