"The first night on shore after so long a voyage could scarcely seem otherwise than strange one missed the eternal rocking at which so many grumble on board ship. Dogs (Melbourne is full of them) kept up an incessant barking; revolvers were cracking in all directions until daybreak giving one a pleasant idea of the state of society; and last not least of these annoyances was one unmentionable to ears polite which would alone have sufficed to drive sleep away from poor wearied me. How I envied my companion as accustomed to these disagreeables she slept soundly by my side; but morning at length dawned and I fell into a refreshing slumber. The next few days were busy ones for all though rather dismal to me as I was confined almost entirely within doors owing to the awful state of the streets; for in the colonies at this season of the year one may go out prepared for fine weather with blue sky above and dry under foot and in less than an hour should a colonial shower come on be unable to cross some of the streets without a plank being placed from the middle of the road to the pathway or the alternative of walking in water up to the knees."