d for in some way or other."

I could only bow my thanks to the kind gentleman, but before I could
reply, the inspector joined us.

"Ah, Ben, you and Charley here," he said, in a careless way. "How does
the indignation meetings and the petitions get along?"

"Wall, we have another meetin' to-night, and I think that it will be a
rouser. We shall make ourselves heard yet, Mr. Brown."

"I have no doubt that you will, but it will be in a different manner
from what you anticipate. Let me advise moderation, or there may be
trouble."

"There kin be a muss if we is disregarded, and made to pay for what we
don't have," answered Ben, sullenly; and with that shot the Americans
left the tent.

"Of all the unreasonable brutes that I ever encountered, the miners of
Ballarat appear to be the worst," ejaculated Mr. Brown. "That fellow,
Charley, has not worked ten weeks in the mines, and yet he talks as
glibly of the evils of taxation as though the government was wringing
the last shilling from his possession. He is a pot house wrangler, as we
call them in England, and is a positive nuisance at Ballarat"

Mr. Brown appeared to be disgusted with our countryman, for he displayed
more temper than we had seen since we had made his acquaintance.

"But the miners have some reason for complaint," I said. "Taxation
without representation is wrong, and has occasioned much ill feeling and
bloodshed."

"True; but without the present tax, how can government support a police
force, and send gold to the cities under the escort of soldiers? How can
the hospitals at Sydney and Melbourne, always filled with disabled
miners, be kept open, and how can the roads be kept clear of
bushrangers? The tax is not unreasonable per month, and yet through its
collection see how much government is enabled to do? All goes to the
benefit of the miner, and every pound is expended for his protection or
comfort. As far as representation in our House of Assembly is concerned,
I'm certainly in favor of it; but just show me how we are to arrive at
any satisfactory conclusion regarding the number of members Ballarat is
entitled to. I've been here ever since the mines were discovered, and I
can't tell. To-day there may be fifteen thousand, and to-morrow not ten.
People are coming and going continually. They change from mine to mine
at every rumor, and I assure you that change is not beneficial to their
financial affairs."

"In that case we shall have to do a cash b