EXCITEMENT IN VICTORIA.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXII, Issue 2658, 7 April 1868, Page 2 (Supplement)

EXCITEMENT IN VICTORIA.

The excitement and consternation in Victoria on the news of the attempt on the life of the Prince reaching that colony were intense, and public meetings were held all over the country^ to give the inhabitants an opportunity of expressing their feelings. The Argus of the 14th, says : — " Victoria never saw such a public meeting as that convened by the Mayor of Melbourne, in the now Exhibition building, last evening, to place on record the abhorrence of the people of Victoria at the horrible outrage perpetrated the day before in Sydney on the person of Prince Alfred. The newspapers of the morning stated that such a meeting would take place, a few placards were issued late in the afternoon, and yet 6000 persons crowded the body of the hall, and fully 400 of the leading politicians of Victoria and citizens of Melbourne occupied the gallery. It gave the spectators in the gallery quite a thrill to hear the cheers that followed every patriotic sentiment, or to see the forest of waving hats and hands when a resolution was carried by acclamation. The only difference of opinion of which there was the faintest expression was in respect to the authorship of the outrage, whioh every speaker concurred in stating could as yet bo only attributed to an individual, and which a portion of the audience ; appeared inclined to charge to the account of the ' Fenians. It is n °t often that such orators as Messrs Higinbothain, Aspinall, Verdon, O'Shanassy, and McMahon meet on the same platform, and are greeted with the same enthusiastic applause, but such was the case last night. The Mayor of Melbourne (Mr J. S. Butters) occupied tho chair, and shared the general approbation, for the audience were not sparing in their acknowledgments of the way in which he had called the meeting at the very first opportunity, and thus enabled a report of the proceedings to go homo by the s.s. Great Britain, in anticipation of the mail. Upon the whole, last night's proceedings amply achieved their object, and the effect was to demonstrate once more tho deep-seated sentiment of loyalty which animates Victorians." March 14 and 15, Saturday and Sunday, were observed as days of public prayer and fasting in Melbourne. Tho Argus of the 16th says in reference to this : — « Seldom has a day of public prayer or fast been more thoroughly observed than on Saturday or yesterday, and the occasion when public prayers were put up at the various religious sorvices by members of creeds of all opinions on behalf of his Royal Highmess Prince Alfred, that he may have a speedy recovery, and a happy return to his royal mother." The Victorian Gazette of March 13th, contained the following proclamation :— " Whereas a murderous attempt has been made upon the life of his Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, his Excellency the Governor of Victoria, by and with the advice of the Executive Counoil, hereby invites the clergy and ministers of religion, and all other her Majesty's subjects in tho colony of Victoria, to observe a public day of special prayer on Sunday, tho 15th day of March inst, that so wo, her Maiesty's subjects in this part of the empire, may offer up our prayers to Almighty God to preserve the life and to restore the health of the son of our beloved Queen." Xhe following, from the Argus of March 16th, is a brief account of the public services for the recovery of H. R. H. : — "The Hebrew Sabbath gave priority to those of our fellow citizens who worship "in the grand dialect the prophets spake," in addressing their public intercessions to Divine Providence for the safe and speedy recovery of H. R. H. Prince Alfred. Bnt yesterday, as of one mind, alike Roman Catholics, Episcopalians, (Church of England) Presbyterians, and Congregationalists, of all degrees, joined in prayer, all and each beyond doubt hearty and loyal, in beseeching tho G-od of Mercy to spare the life and health of the Prince, as well as to rescue the name of our adopted country from a threatening source of shame and blame. Unusually large congregations thronged almost every place of worship, and it may perchance be thought that the most urgent prayers were offered rather for the safety- x»f. the - rTlnceTDefovoiof _ a natrnlin. ao well as of England, rather than to the ordinary exercises of humility and devotion on behalf of selves and homes. At some places of worship, the national feeling was shewn by incumbents and people, by the services concluding with a solemn and earnest rendering of the National Anthem, and " God save the Queen," rang from the faithful voices of both old and young. The Very Rev. tho Vicar General had requested that the prayers of the Catholic congregations bo invited for the speedy . recovery of the Prince, and that a form of prayer (given below) should be said after each mass. It is needless to add that this was done, and the hundreds that thronged each chapel and cathedral court-yard whenever an expression was to be heard, it was in warm consonance with the sympathy prominently displayed throughout the Sunday in connexion with other churches and chapels. Both the Hebrew congregations of Melbourne had a special prayer for the occasion, and on their Sabbath the attendance was far above the average." In the Roman Catholic Churches, after each Mass, the following prayer was offered up by the officiating priest. The congregation are described as joining in rapt attention in their responses : — " O Lord, who hast promised to help Thy servants who call upon Thee in the day of affliction, to heal the wounded, raise the dejected, and strengthen the weak ; prostrate before Thee, we implore Thy merciful goodness in behalf of our gracious Prince Alfred, who is sick and wounded. Come, therefore, O Lord, to his assistance ; stretch forth Thy hand and help him ; let Thy divine power protect him, and T,hy goodness comfort him, and Thy mercy defend him ; show Thyself a tender Father, and in Thy compassion restore him to perfect health, and bless and prosper him for ever. We nsk this, O Lord, through tho merits of our dear Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who livest and reignest with Thee, God, world without end. Amen."