[Editor: This is a chapter from The Eureka Stockade by Raffaello Carboni. A glossary has been provided to explain various words and phrases that may be unfamiliar to modern readers.]
XLVII.
Non nobis, non nobis, sed pax vobiscum.
It was eight o’clock. Drilling was going on as on the previous day. Father Smyth came inside the stockade: it was my watch. He looked very earnest, a deep anxiety about the hopelessness of our struggle, must have grieved his Irish heart. He obtained permission from Lalor to speak to those under arms, who belonged to his Congregation. Vern consented, and Manning announced it to the men. Father Smyth told them, that the government Camp was under arms, some seven or eight hundred strong; that he had received positive information, that government had sent other reinforcements from Melbourne, which would soon reach Ballaarat; warned them against useless bloodshed; reminded them that they were Christians; and expressed his earnest desire to see all of them at Mass on the following (Sunday) morning.
Father Smyth, your advice was kindly received; if it did not thrive, was it because you sowed it on barren ground?
The following document may in time help to bring forth truth to light:—
“Colonial Secretary’s Office,
“Melbourne, lst December, 1854.“Rev. Sir,—
“In acknowledging the receipt of your letter of yesterday’s date, I am desired by his Excellency to thank you for the earnest efforts which, in your professional calling, you are making to allay the disturbances. Unless the government enforce the laws which may be in operation, disorder and licentiousness must prevail.
“You know a commission is issued for the purpose of inquiring into the state and condition of the digging population: until they make their report, the laws his Excellency found in force must be obeyed.
“I have the honour to be, Rev. Sir,
“Your most obedient servant,
“J. MOORE, A.C.S.
“The Rev. Patrick Smyth,
“Catholic Priest, Ballaarat.”
Source:
Raffaello Carboni. The Eureka Stockade: The Consequence of Some Pirates Wanting on Quarter-Deck a Rebellion, Public Library of South Australia, Adelaide, 1962 [facsimile of the 1855 edition], pages 60-61
Editor’s notes:
licentiousness = having no regard for accepted rules or standards; ignoring the law or lacking moral discipline
non nobis, non nobis, sed pax vobiscum = (Latin) “not to us, not to us, but peace be with you”; from a combination of two verses in the Bible: from Psalm 113: in the Latin Vulgate Bible [in various other Bibles, this is in Psalm 115:1, as the numbering of the Psalms varies between different versions of the Bible], “Non nobis, Domine, non nobis, sed nomini tuo da gloriam” (“Not to us, O Lord, not to us; but to thy name give glory”) [Psalm 113:9 is used as a short Latin hymn, known as “Non nobis”]; and from Genesis 43:23 in the Latin Bible, “At ille respondit: Pax vobiscum” (“But he answered: Peace be with you”)
References:
non nobis, non nobis:
Biblia Sacra Vulgatae Editionis, Nicolaum Pezzana [Nicolas Pezzana], Venetiis [Venice, Italy], 1669, page page 433 (accessed 20 January 2013)
“Psalms 113:9 : Douay-Rheims Bible parallel: Christian Community, New Jerusalem, Clementine Latin Vulgate, Biblia Sacra Vulgatam”, Veritas Bible (accessed 9 January 2013)
“Psalm 114/115”, New Advent [Psalm 114/115:9] (accessed 9 January 2013)
“Psalm 115:1”, Online Multilingual Bible (accessed 9 January 2013)
“Non nobis”, Wikipedia (accessed 9 January 2013)
pax vobiscum:
“Genesis 43 ”, New Advent (accessed 9 January 2013)
“Genesis 43:23”, Veritas Bible (accessed 9 January 2013)
The Institute of Australian Culture
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