Melbourne is badly situated in
case of an invasion. There is at present not the least protection;
and unless the home government sends us out two or three good war
steamers, we shall most certainly get a good thrashing some day.
The French have possession of the island of New Caledonia, which is
not very far from here, and is a convenient place of rendezvous for
them. I see by your letter to my father that you are rather afraid
the French may invade England. For my part I believe they have more
sense. It is the most hopeless thing they can attempt. I send you
two or three photographs; they are very poor, and not stereoscopic
as I intended. The artist made a failure of the matter and gave me
these. He is going to try it again some day with a better camera;
but as that would be too late for the mail I must send you these
now, and you may expect better next time. I find that the mail is
to close this afternoon instead of Monday morning, but if a
supplementary bag should be made up on Monday I will write again. I
hope that in future you will direct my letters to Melbourne instead
of Ballaarat, for I seldom get them until the return mail is about
to start.
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