successful rogues--men who do things neatly, and escape being found
out. The first and second are often useful to each other; the third
benefit by the first and second, inasmuch as they learn by their
experience, without paying for it themselves." He then cautions me
against certain money speculations. Another paragraph says: "I find
I am likely to change my station, but have no instructions as yet.
I do not care if they keep me here another month. I have first-rate
neighbours, a Mr. and Mrs. M., who live just across the creek; very
nice people, and no humbug. Mr. M. resembles you in many ways." He
then mentions a colt he had reared, called Nelly; says she goes in
and out of the tent as if she had been born in it, shakes hands
with any one as soon as asked, and carries Mr. M.'s little boy
Willie on her back with perfect gentleness. On his way back to
Melbourne, he taught a colt of mine, in two or three days, to be
equally docile, until it became the pet of the community. It was
reared by hand, and I fear I lost it through the kindly-meant
attention of one of my neighbours.

In the summer of 1858 he went down to Melbourne in consequence of a
disagreement between Mr. Byerly and the Chief Commissioner of Land
and Works at that time, Mr. Duffy. He was not then employed in the
regular survey, but took occasional contracts, under Mr.
Hodgkinson, Deputy Surveyor General, who always expressed his
admiration of his character. A letter to his mother at this date
says:--

Melbourne, August 15th, 1858.

MY DEAR MOTHER,