nt. Being a brilliant and eloquent talker, strong in
opinion and logical in argument, he made many converts to his views, the
number of whom was not lessened by the course of treatment adopted
towards the Bidwells. It seems to have been about this time that he took
up his abode at Dundas, where he subsequently resided for many years.
When the general elections of 1824 took place the Reformers of Middlesex
brought out John Rolph and Captain John Matthews, both of whom were
returned at the head of the poll.

Rolph made his presence felt in the Assembly from the time of taking his
seat there. He was then thirty-one years of age, and of a compact,
well-built figure, inclining to portliness. His face was at once
handsome and intellectual, and his presence carried with it a suggestion
of undoubted power. He spoke comparatively seldom during his early
Parliamentary sessions, but when he did speak it was always with effect.
His diction was singularly luminous and expressive, and would have
attracted attention in any public assembly in the world. There was a
clear metallic ring in his voice which did full justice to the language
employed, and there were few empty benches in the House when it was
known that Rolph was to speak.

His colleague from Middlesex, though a staunch Reformer, was a man of
very different cast. Captain Matthews was a retired officer of the royal
artillery, who had seen twenty-seven years' service. At a very early
period of his residence in Upper Canada he had become disgusted with
Family Compact rule, and had spoken his mind on the subject with much
freedom. Being a resident of the County of Middlesex, and being held in
much esteem there among the adherents of Liberal principles, he was
induced to offer himself along with Dr. Rolph at the general election of
1824 as one of the candidates for the county. His candidature was
successful, and he became very popular in the House, though the texture
of his mind was somewhat light and airy, and he was not well fitted,
either by nature or by training, to deal with such grave constitutional
questions as were continually forcing themselves upon public attention.

Another prominent Reformer who now took his seat in Parliament for the
first time was Peter Perry, who had been returned as young Marshall
Bidwell's colleague in the representation of Lennox and Addington.
Although thirty-four years have elapsed since his death, Mr. Perry is
still well remembered by the ol