the eureka stockade-第34章
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〃His Honour was not responsible for this。 Prisoner's attorney was the party； and he must speak to him。 It is the business of your attorney to get these witnesses。〃
The following advertisement appeared in 'The Age'； February 24th； 1855； immediately above the leading article of said day：…
Document II。
State Trials。
〃The trial of Raffaello has been postponed on account of the absence of Dr。 Alfred Carr； Mr。 Gordon； of the store of Gordon and M‘Callum； and other witnesses for the defence。 It is earnestly requested that they will be in attendance on Monday morning at latest。
〃J。 MACPHERSON GRANT； 〃Solicitor for the defence。〃
The following letter； and comment on it； appeared in 'The Age'； March 16th； 1855：…
Document III。
。。。〃I was； Mr。 Editor； present at Ballaarat on the memorable morning of the 3rd December； and in the pursuit of my usual avocation； happened to meet Raffaello； now one of the state prisoners； on the Redhill； he being then in search of Dr。 Carr's hospital。。。 We were directed the hospital； and soon returned to the Eureka； Raffaello bringing Dr。 Carr's surgical instruments。 We entered the stockade； and saw many lying almost dead for want of assistance and from loss of blood； caused by gun…shot and bayonet wounds。 I did not remain long in the stockade； fearing if found there at that time I would be arrested。 I made my escape； but poor Raffaello； who remained rendering an act of mercy to the dying； would not leave。 He might； during that time； have easily made his escape； if he wished to do so； and I am sure； ran no inconsiderable risk of being shot； through the constant explosion of fire…arms left in the stockade by the diggers in their retreat。
〃J。B。〃
〃Melbourne； 15th March； 1854。
〃The writer of the above states； in a private note； that he wishes his name kept secret； but we trust that his intimacy with the Camp officials will not prevent him from coming forward to save the life of a fellow creature； when the blood…hounds of the government are yelling with anxiety to fasten their fangs upon their victims。〃Ed。 A。
'The Age' who certainly never got drunk yet on Toorak small…beer； had an able leading article； headed； 'The State Trials'see January 15th concluding； 〃If they be found guilty； then Heaven help the poor State Prisoners。〃 Now turn the medal； and 'The Age' of March 26thalways the same year； 1855that is； the day after my acquittal； gives copy of a Bill of the 'LAST PERFORMANCE； or； the Plotters Outwitted。'
Document IV。
〃To…day； the familiar farce of 'STATE PROSECUTIONS； or； the Plotters Outwitted；' will be again performed； and positively for the last time； on which occasion that first…rate performer； Mr。 W。 F。 Stawell； will （by special desire of a distinguished personage） repeat his well…known impersonation of Tartuffe； with all the speeches； the mock gravity； etc。； which have given such immense satisfaction to the public on former occasions。 This eminent low comedian will be ably supported by Messrs。 Goodenough and Peters； so famous for their successful impersonations of gold…diggers； and it is expected that they will both appear in full diggers' costume； such as they wore on the day when they knelt before the 'Southern Cross；' and swore to protect their rights and liberties。 The whole will be under the direction of that capital stage manager； Mr。 R。 Barry； who will take occasion to repeat his celebrated epilogue； in which he willif the audience demand itintroduce again his finely melodramatic apostrophe to the thunder。
〃With such a programme； what but an exceedingly successful farce can be anticipated？ A little overdone by excessive repetition； it may be said； but still an admirable farce； and； as we have said； this is positively the last performance。 Therefore； let it go on； or as Jack Falstaff says； 'play out the play。'〃
Of course； I leave it to my good reader to guess； whether after four long months in gaol； which ruined my health for ever； I did laugh or curse on reading the above。
Concerning the four documents above； so far so good for the present； and the Farce will be produced on the stage of 'Teatro' Argentina； Roma； by Great…works。 The importance of the following observation； however； is obvious to any reader who took the proper trouble to understand the text of the first chapter of this book。
Why Dr。 A。 Carr； Sub…inspector Carter； Messrs。 Gordon and Binney were not present as witnesses on my trial； was； and is still； a MYSTERY to me。
'Sunt tempora nostra！ nam perdidi spem： Melior nunc lingua favere。'
Chapter XC。
Peccator Videbit Et Irascetur； Dentibus Suis Fremet Et Tabescet： Desiderium Peccatorum Peribit。
AT the end of Mr。 Aspinall's able oration； the jury appeared to me； to be decidedly willing to let me go； with an admonition to sin no more： because Mr。 Aspinall took the same line of defence as Mr。 Michie； the counsel in the trial of John Manning； that is； he confessed to the riot； but laughed at the treason。 However rashly the diggers had acted in taking up arms； however higgledy…piggledy had been the management of the stockade； yet they were justified in resisting unconstitutional force by force。
His Honour tried the patience of the jury； well knowing by experience； that twelve true…born Britons can always afford to put up with a good long yarn。
The jury retired at nine o'clock。 My first thought was directed to the Lord my God and my Redeemer。 Then naturally enough； to sustain my courage； I was among my dear friends at Rome and London。
To remain in the felon's dock whilst your JURY consult on your fate； is a sensation very peculiar in its kind。 To be or not to be； that is the actual matter…of…fact question。 Three letters making up the most important monosyllable in the language； which if pronounced is life； if omitted is death： an awkward position for an innocent man especially。
The jury； after twenty minutes past nine； were again in the jury…box。 I was satisfied by their countenances that 'the People' were victorious。
The Clerk of the Court： 〃Gentlemen of the Jury； have you considered your verdict？〃
Foreman： 〃We have。〃
The Clerk： 〃Do you find the prisoner at the bar Guilty or Not Guilty？〃
Foreman； with a firm voice： 〃NOT GUILTY！〃
'Magna opera Domini'（God save the People）thus my chains sprang asunder。 The people inside telegraphed the good news to the crowd outside； and 〃Hurrah！〃 rent the air in the old British style。
Chapter XCI。
Accidenti Alle Spie。
I WAS soon at the portal of the Supreme Court； a free man。 I thought the people would have smothered me in their demonstrations of joy。 Requesting silence； I stretched forth my right hand towards heaven； and with the earnestness of a Christian did pray as follows：I hereby transcribe the prayer as written in pencil on paper whilst in gaol in the lower cell； No。 33。
〃LORD GOD OF ISRAEL； our Father in Heaven！ we acknowledge our transgressions since we came into this our adopted land。 Intemperance； greediness； the pampering of many bad passions； have provoked Thee against us； yet； Oh； Lord our God； if in thy justice； Thou are called upon to chastise us； in Thy mercy save this land of Victoria from the curse of the 'spy system。'〃
Timothy Hayes answered； 〃Amen；〃 and so did all the people； present； and so will my good reader answer； Amen。
Chapter XCII。 & XCIII。
TO LET； No。 33； LOWER CRIBS； IN WINTLE'S HOTEL； NORTH MELBOURNE。
See 'Geelong Advertiser'； November 18th。 MACKAY v。 HARRISON。 'Merci bien； je sors d'en prendre。'
The pair of chapters will see darkness 'SINE DIE'； that is； if under another flag； also in another language。
GREAT…WORKS。
'Hesperia！ Quando Ego te Auspiciam？ Quandoque Licebit Nunc Veterum Libris； Nunc Somno Et Inertibus Horis； Ducere Solicitae Licunda Oblivia Vitae。'
Chapter XCIV。
EXPLANATION； TO BE SUBMITTED TO HER MOST GRACIOUS MAJESTY QUEEN VICTORIA； LONDON； AND TO HIS HOLINESS PIUS IX。； PONTIFEX MAXIMUS； ROME。 BY MY BROTHER DON ANTONIO CARBONI； D。D。； Head…master of the Grammar School； Coriano； Romagna。
…
'Homo Sum； Nil Humani a me Alienum Puto。'
How do I explain； that I allowed one full year to pass away before publishin
