It was not to the tax of eighteen pounds per annum that the miners objected; but to the manner in which it was levied and enforced. The diggers did not like to be so often accosted by a body of armed men, and compelled to show a piece of paper--in the event of them not having it about them, to be dragged off to the court, and fined five pounds. After some show of opposition to this tax--or rather to the way of enforcing it--had begun to exhibit itself, the government officials became more industrious than ever at their occupation of "digger-hunting." A commissioner, with a band of mounted troopers, might have been seen out every day--scouring the country far and near, and commanding every man they met to produce his licence. Not unfrequently an honest miner would be required to exhibit the disagreeable document as often as four or five times a day! The diggers soon got tired of this sort of thing, which was enough to have exasperated men of a more tranquil tone of mind, than gold-diggers usually are. Meetings were called and attended by many hundreds of miners, at which strong resolutions were passed; to resist the arrest of any man, who should be taken up for not having a gold licence. These resolutions could not be effectually carried into effect, without some organisation amongst those who had passed them. This was to a certain extent accomplished; by about four hundred diggers forming themselves into an organised band, and commencing to drill and discipline in a sort of military fashion. Thinking the wrongs of the diggers a sufficient justification for this action on their part, I joined one of the companies thus formed--with the full determination to assist, as far as lay in my power, in the removal of the injustice complained of. I did not think there was anything in English law--properly understood and administered--that would allow thousands of men to be constantly hunted, harassed and insulted by bands of armed police, demanding to see a piece of paper; but perhaps my experience of the way "justice" was administered at Avoca, had something to do in guiding my resolution to resist it at Ballarat. At our meetings, the diggers indignantly declared their determination to overthrow the system that made them game for the minions of the Government; and to prove that they were in earnest in what they said, many of them were seen to tear up their licences upon the spot, and light their pipes with the torn fragments of the paper! From that time, whenever an attempt was made by the police to arrest a man without a licence, it was resisted by large mobs of diggers; and on two or three occasions both police and troopers were compelled to retreat to their encampment. The police force on Ballarat was soon increased in number; and a large body of regular troops was sent up from Melbourne.