Hobart Town, Van Diemen's Land, July 5th, 1854.

I returned to Melbourne in good time to witness the arrival of the new Governor, Sir Charles Hotham. A triumphal arch was erected on the bridge over which he had to pass into the town, where, of course, the kangaroo and emu cut a prominent figure with the Hotham arms, and the union Jack, indicative of Sir Charles being an admiral, and over all a grand motto “Victoria welcomes Victoria's choice;” on which the Argus put forth a mischievous paraphrase, “Victoria welcomes Hobson's choice;” having a double allusion to Hobson's Bay, in which the new ruler lay at anchor, and to the colony having no choice but Hobson's in the matter. A clerk in a Government office, also, being requested to sketch a design adapted to the embellishment of this arch, humorously sent in a hot ham smoking on a dish.

But these were only the jocose ebullitions of fun and good humour. The whole population were most cordially disposed to welcome their new viceroy, and to hope all sorts of benefits from his administration. The train which attended his entrance seemed endless. Liardet's beach, where he landed, is about three miles from the town, and the throng of carriages, horsemen, and people appeared to fill the whole way. There was no lack of banners and evergreen garlands, showy rugs, and lengths of carpet hung out of windows in continental style; and the streets and house-tops exhibited thronging thousands.