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a had no desire to embrace Republicanism. They demanded reforms, and met with the response, Traitor! It is not surprising, therefore, that leaders were led into excess, particularly when we recall the unconstitutional conduct of the representative of His Majesty in the Province, Sir Francis Head. If Bidwell and Mackenzie were rash, their rashness may with truth be ascribed to the conduct of Sir Francis, who, according to Lord Durham’s report, “appears to have thought that the maintenance of the connection with Great Britain depended upon his triumph over the majority in the Assembly.” In March, 1832, a stormy meeting was held in the Court House, Brockville, the object being the formation of the Emigrant Society, in compliance with the recommendation of Sir John Colborne. The requisition calling the meeting was signed by Charles Jones, L: C., Jonas Jones, H. Jones, M..P. P.,. R. D. Fraser, M.P. Daniel Burritt, Dunham Jones, Bartholomew Carley, Henry Burritt, W. L. Whiting, A. McMillan, A. Sherwood, A. McLean, Sylvester Wright, Joseph K. Hartwell, George Crawford. D. Breakenridge, QO. R. Gowan, John L. Read, After the object of the meeting proper had been accomplished, it was proposed to draft an address, to be presented to His Majesty the King. As the address recited “that the Province was in a most flourishing condition, enjoying the blessings of a free constitution, and a Government most liberally and impartially administered,” it was violently opposed by the Liberals present. Speeches were made by Paul Glasford, Richard D. Fraser, Walter C. Crofton, Norton Buell, Mr. Pennock, Jonas Jones, George Crawford, Adiel Sherwood, Bartholomew Carley, James Gray, Henry Jones, Robert Harvey, James Morris, and Ogle R. Gowan. The debate waxed so hot that, at one time, there was danger of a serious encounter. The Liberal party, under the leadership of Mr. Buell, left the Court House, and proceeded to organize a meeting at the inn of Mr. Mair, at which a petition was prepared, of a diametrically opposite character from the one submitted at the Court House. The following persons were nominated to circulate the petition: Truelove Butler, Charles Booth, Samuel Pennock, Samuel Lee, Hugh Scott, Richard Coleman, Thos. Purvis, John Dickey, David Mallory, James B. Howard, Allan Sweet, Levi Soper, James Phillips, George Delong, Silas Smith, Jonathan B. Day, Thomas Knowlton, Peter Howard, Joshua Bates, Elisha Landon, John Ketchum, Samuel Olds, Joseph Haskin, Edward Howard, John Weeks, Samuel a Booth, John Henderson, Robert Clark, William Cowan, William Bryan, Jonathan Lyman, Daniel Berney, B. F. Wilson, Abel Wright, Robert Powell, and Patrick Murphy. | Year after year, the contest increased in bitternesss, until Mackenzie and a few followers were to capture Little York. The prisons were filled with persons charged with treason. Numbers fled to the United States. Many American citizens were, in consequence, impressed with the idea that the majority of Canadians were desirous of annexing the Province to the United States. of personal aggrandizement were organized. public meetings held, and a secret society formed, known as Hunter’s Lodges, for the purpose of preparing an Private schemes army for the invasion of Canada. But very few many were smarting from the infliction of grievous wrongs. The following is a list of those arrested for treason in the Johnstown District :— Thomas Wilson, Methodist preacher, Dec. 13, 1837; not tried, discharged by magistrates. William H. Sherman, shoemaker, Dec. 18, 1837 ; not tried, discharged by magistrates. William Pike, yeoman, Dec. 18, 1837; not tried, discharged by magistrates—no evidence. Charles Swift, saddler, Dec. 27, 1837; discharged by magistrates. Charles R. Bryan, Jan. 2, 1838; discharged by magistrates. John Thomas, yeoman, Feb. 6, 1838; discharged by magistrates. James Malone, tailor, July 25, 1838; discharged by magistrates. | William Parrott, laborer, Aug. 8, 1838; discharged by magistrates. On December 29th, 1837, a small force, under the command of Lieutenant Drew, R.N., was despatched by Sir Allan McNab to Navy Island, and the Steamer Caroline (which had been acting as a supply boat for the force under General Rensselaer, at that time threatening Canada,) cut away, set on fire and sent over Niagara Falls. On the r2th day of February, 1838, William L. McKenzie, who had made his escape to the United States, addressed the citizens of Ogdensburg on the Canadian question. In the evening and following morning a cannon was fired Several persons from Prescott crossed to ascertain the matter, and were illegally arrested and detained over night. This action upon the part of the Americans increased the growing hostility, and embittered the feeling along the frontier, On the 18th several times, in honor of the speaker. = fe a et tes a 7 a
