A Tramp to the Diggings; Being Notes of a Ramble in Australia and New Zealand in 1852 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1852 edition. Excerpt: ...satisfaction of all that portion of the colonists who are dependent upon him; and, as far as the routine of his duties goeSj to the satisfaction of his political opponents. No one will deny to the honourable gentleman the praise due to his assiduous industry, t--to his extensive information on matters concerning his office-r-to his invincible urbanity, --to his good-natured endurance of all the avanies necessarily attaching to the position which he occupies as working head of the Government. In council, Mr. Thompson is never taken aback. If, by chance, any startling motion is brought forward in the house--a rare occurrence, be it known--the Colonial Secretary may feel surprised at his own unpreparedness, but he never shows it. On the contrary, he rises with his usual self-possession; and, advancing to the table, and leaning on both his hands, turns his head towards the Speaker, and says--' I do not rise, sir, to oppose the motion of the honourable member, ' exactly in the same tone, and with the same self-confident nonchalance which he would exhibit on making a motion of course. You never feel afraid for him. There is no halting nor hesitation in his movements--nor, although his eloquence be but of the smallest, does he ever seem at a loss for words. He strings his sentences together with a very unnecessary number of urns and ahs--but the machine does not stop; the wheel never wants greasing--Insults. Edward Deas Thompson has always something to say. What that something is, may be fairly questioned. Nine times out of ten no one knows except the Colonial Secretary himself; and, perchance, his parliamentary aide-de-camp, Mr. Michael Fit/patrick, who, though not a member of the house, takes his seat as regularly at Mr. Thompson's left hand as the clock...