of the
obnoxious Bill. The proceedings of the House of Assembly will also
tend to awe the turbulent. I trust, therefore, that the peace of the
city will not be again disturbed.

The Ministry are blamed for not having made adequate provision against
these disasters. That they by no means expected that the hostility to
the Rebellion Losses Bill would have displayed itself in the outrages
which have been perpetrated during the last few days is certain.[3]
Perhaps sufficient attention was not paid by them to the menaces of
the Opposition press. It must be admitted, however, that their
position was one of considerable difficulty. The civil force of
Montreal--a city containing about 50,000 inhabitants of different
races, with secret societies and other agencies of mischief in
constant activity--consists of two policemen under the authority of
the Government, and seventy appointed by the Corporation. To oppose,
therefore, effectual resistance to any considerable mob, recourse must
be had in all cases either to the military or to a force of civilians
enrolled for the occasion. Grave objections, however, presented
themselves in the present instance to the adoption of either of these
courses until the disposition to tumult on the part of the populace
unhappily manifested itself in overt acts. More especially was it of
importance to avoid any measure which might have had a tendency to
produce a collision between parties on a question on which their
feelings were so strongly excited. The result of the course pursued
is, that there has been no bloodshed, and, except in the case of some
of the Ministers themselves, no destruction of private property.

The passions, however, which appeared to have calmed down, burst out with
fresh fury the very day on which these sentences were penned. The House of
Assembly had voted, by a majority of thirty-six to sixteen, an address to
the Governor-General, expressive of abhorrence at the outrages which had
taken place, of loyalty to the Queen, and approval of his just and
impartial administration of the Government, with his late as well as with
his present advisers. It was arranged that Lord Elgin should receive this
Address at the Government House instead of at Monklands. Accordingly, on
April 30, he drove into the city, escorted by a troop of volunteer
dragoons, and accompanied by several of his