ds by threats, but all to no purpose. When Judge Thorpe
began to figure as a sort of popular tribune, Willcocks declared himself
as being also on the side of the people. When the Judge became a
candidate for Parliament, the Sheriff, who had a vote in the
constituency, recorded it in his favour. For this he shared the fate of
the Surveyor-General, and was promptly dismissed from office by the
Lieutenant-Governor. But he came of a fighting stock, and was not to be
suppressed by the mere circumstance of being deprived of an official
income. He started a newspaper called _The Upper Canada Guardian, or
Freeman's Journal_. In this sheet, which was edited by Mr. Willcocks
himself, various desirable measures of reform were advocated, and the
dominant faction were from time to time referred to in opprobrious, but
certainly not untruthful or unmerited language. The paper obtained a
considerable circulation, and soon made its editor an object of bitter
hatred on the part of the authorities. The vilest abuse was poured out
upon him, and he was subjected to a course of persecution well-nigh as
grievous as subsequently fell to the lot of Robert Gourlay. Governor
Gore himself, in a letter still extant, written in 1807, refers to him
as "that execrable monster who would deluge the Province with blood."
The execrable monster's influence, however, continued to grow, and upon
Judge Thorpe's retirement from Upper Canada, he was returned to the
Assembly in his stead, for the West Riding of the County of York, the
First Riding of the County of Lincoln, and the County of Haldimand. As
he was a ready and powerful speaker, as well as a vigorous writer, it
was felt that he would soon become intolerable if his career were not
effectively checked. He was accordingly tried before the Assembly on a
frivolous charge of having, in a private conversation held at the house
of a Mr. Glennan, in York, spoken disrespectfully of some of the
members. The proceedings were the veriest travesty of the forms of
justice. The accused was found guilty, and committed to the common jail
of the Home District, there to remain during the sitting of
Parliament.[53] This indignity he was compelled to suffer, being
confined for many weeks in a small close cell, which he was not
permitted to leave for a single moment. He was further wrought upon by
informations for libel, as well as by secret inquisitions into his
private affairs. After his enlargement he continued to publish