o was half frightened to death,
with some degree of envy, because she was a prominent actor in the
scene.

At length his excellency condescended to enlighted his audience, and
read the paper which he held in his hand, although he boiled with rage
as he did so. The note was as follows:--

"MOST WORTHY GOVERNOR.--For the very kind manner in which you have
entertained me this evening, please accept my thanks. I have drank
your wine, eaten your ices, and enjoyed your refreshments as well
as any gentleman present, and had I remained long enough I would
have added to my exploits by kissing your lady friends, including
your wife. As I did not, please perform the ceremony for me. The
next time that I visit you I hope you will have a quantity of ice
to cool the wine, as I am accustomed to such luxuries, and
champagne tastes insipid without it. I think that your excellency
should change your wine merchant, for some of the liquor that I
tasted to-night never saw France, and I hope never will, for that
polite nation would feel eternally disgraced at the thought of
concocting such beverages. Hoping that I shall, at no distant day,
meet your excellency in the bush, where I can return a few of the
civilities which I have received this evening, and, I trust,
relieve you of a portion of your worldly cares, in the shape of
wealth, allow me to humbly subscribe myself, your friend and
well-wisher,

"SAM TYRELL, _Bushranger_."

"The impudent scoundrel!" was the general exclamation, and I think that
the reader will agree with the guests, and pronounce the bushranger a
bold man, and one of considerable address and nerve.

Of course, the mounted police were set in motion, and the country
scoured for miles in extent, but no signs of Sam were discovered; and
the mortification of my friend Murden may be better imagined than
described when he was afterwards informed that Sam did not even take the
trouble of leaving the city that night, but changed his clothes, and
passed a large portion of his time with a lady who was somewhat noted
for liberality towards the male sex; and when he was tired of a
metropolitan residence, he dressed himself in female attire, and with a
veil to conceal his face, passed soldiers and police, and rejoined his
gang, who were fifty miles from Melbourne.

The story of the aide-de-camp was a curious one. He said that the
stranger requested ti