Firebrand Ross, stupid courts, stupid Rede, treacherous (?) Smyth; but no Lalor
On 1 November, which we note was the first sitting day of Hotham's inquiry into Scobie's death, 1,000 miners met on Bakery Hill again. An interestingly small turn out. They heard four blokes speak, including Henry Ross, the young Canadian digger who was initially known as "Lieutenant" Ross, and later as "Captain" Ross. He's also noted in some official documents as "Charles" Ross.
We hate to be repetitive, but notice once again that Peter Lalor didn't speak. There's no indication he was there at all. However, Ross was a bit of a firebrand, and this may have been a meeting of extremists, which Lalor definitely was not.
Some sources claim another seven miners were arrested and accused of the arson of Bentley's pub. If so, we're unsure who they were, or what happened to them.
On 11 November, a major meeting of miners formed the Ballarat Reform League. While Lalor was a member, he doesn't appear to have been an organiser or a leader.
On 16 November, Hotham made another belated attempt to calm things down. He established a Royal Commission to inquire into conditions on the goldfields. Too little, too late.
On 20 November, Bentley and two others were convicted of the manslaughter of Scobie, on the basis of the extremely dubious testimony of two reward seekers. To balance this, the three miners initially arrested for the arson of Bentley's hotel were also rather dubiously convicted and sentenced. The miners didn't regard this as a balance at all.
On 25 November, Rede was advised the government camp will be attacked if the three accused and convicted supposed arsonists are not released.
On 26 November, a deputation of Ballarat Reform League leaders, which, once again, doesn't include Lalor, met with Hotham to demand the release of the three supposed arsonists. Hotham, inevitably, doesn't reckon the miners have any right to “demand" anything, and his attempts to cool things down all fly out the window with that one bit of English class-based arrogance. Although, it has to be said, such attempts as he made didn't really do much to cool things down, because they were misdirected.
On the same day, Father Smyth secretly informed Rede that the government camp is at risk of attack. Presumably, Smyth believed he was helping his parishioners, in the expectation that Rede would do something to help calm things down. If so, he seriously misunderstood Rede. We do not accord with some who reckon Smyth was simply hoping to get his £5 back, or even a retrial for his servant.
We hate to be repetitive, but notice once again that Peter Lalor didn't speak. There's no indication he was there at all. However, Ross was a bit of a firebrand, and this may have been a meeting of extremists, which Lalor definitely was not.
Some sources claim another seven miners were arrested and accused of the arson of Bentley's pub. If so, we're unsure who they were, or what happened to them.
On 11 November, a major meeting of miners formed the Ballarat Reform League. While Lalor was a member, he doesn't appear to have been an organiser or a leader.
On 16 November, Hotham made another belated attempt to calm things down. He established a Royal Commission to inquire into conditions on the goldfields. Too little, too late.
On 20 November, Bentley and two others were convicted of the manslaughter of Scobie, on the basis of the extremely dubious testimony of two reward seekers. To balance this, the three miners initially arrested for the arson of Bentley's hotel were also rather dubiously convicted and sentenced. The miners didn't regard this as a balance at all.
On 25 November, Rede was advised the government camp will be attacked if the three accused and convicted supposed arsonists are not released.
On 26 November, a deputation of Ballarat Reform League leaders, which, once again, doesn't include Lalor, met with Hotham to demand the release of the three supposed arsonists. Hotham, inevitably, doesn't reckon the miners have any right to “demand" anything, and his attempts to cool things down all fly out the window with that one bit of English class-based arrogance. Although, it has to be said, such attempts as he made didn't really do much to cool things down, because they were misdirected.
On the same day, Father Smyth secretly informed Rede that the government camp is at risk of attack. Presumably, Smyth believed he was helping his parishioners, in the expectation that Rede would do something to help calm things down. If so, he seriously misunderstood Rede. We do not accord with some who reckon Smyth was simply hoping to get his £5 back, or even a retrial for his servant.