That the law had been grossly violated no one can really dispute.

The violation was the more serious because it excited no notice.

No appeal was apparently made to the Courts.

The Governor--the representative of Imperial power and Imperial justice--knew presumably what was going on, yet he uttered not one word of remonstrance.

The Agent-General for Victoria, when at last a private person in England called attention to the outrage at Melbourne, pleaded in effect the plea of necessity, and described the act of tyranny, whereby British citizens were in a British colony turned into outlaws, as 'an act of executive authority.' The Imperial Government did I believe--what was perhaps the wisest thing it could do--nothing.