Suppose I give now the kind (!) answer from Police-inspector HENRY FOSTER!
it will give general satisfaction, I think:-
Police Department,
Ballaarat, Nov. 2, 1854.
Sir,--In reply to your communication, dated 26th ultimo, on the subject of
your having been deprived of your clothing during your arrest at this
Camp, in December, 1855 [I think, Mr. Foster, it was in 1854] I have the
honour to inform you, that to the best of my recollection, the clothing
you wore when you were brought to the Camp consisted of a wide-awake hat,
or cap, a red shirt, corduroy or moleskin trousers, and a pair of boots.
Of these articles, the cap, shirt, and boots were put amongst the surplus
clothing taken from the other prisoners, and I am not aware how they were
disposed of afterwards.
I must add, that the shirt alluded to was made of wool, under which you
wore a cotton one, the latter of which you retained during your
confinement.
I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your obedient servant,
HENRY FOSTER,
Inspector of Police.
(To) SIGNOR CARBONI RAFFAELLO.
Ballaarat.
-----
My money is not mentioned though! Very clever: and yet I know it was not
Foster who did rob me.
However, good reader, if you believe that a Ballaarat miner, of sober
habits and hard at work, has not got about his person, say a couple of
one pound rags, well...there let's shut up the book at once, and here
is the
END
P.S. If John Bull, cross-breed or pure blood, had been robbed in Italy,
half less wantonly, and twice less cruelly, than myself, the whole British
press and palaver 'in urbe or orbe terrarum' would have rung the chimes
against Popish gendarmes and the holy (!) inquisition of the scarlet city.
So far so good.
A friendless Italian is ROBBED under arrest on British ground, close by
the British flag, by British troopers and traps: oh! that alters the case.
What business have these foreign beggars to come and dig for gold on
British Crown lands?
BASTA COSI; 'that is', Great works!