one-sided. Forsyth is referred to therein as "a person
notoriously of indifferent character;" and the Assembly and its
committees are maligned in language highly improper to be employed in a
confidential communication from the Lieutenant-Governor of a colony to
his superiors at home.[95] The Colonial Secretary, however, was shrewd
enough to penetrate the veil of misrepresentation in which the despatch
was enveloped, and to arrive at a pretty just appreciation of the merits
of the case. He officially expressed his opinion that there had been
adequate grounds for inquiry by the Assembly. "I cannot but consider,"
he wrote, "that Sir Peregrine Maitland would have exercised a sounder
discretion had he permitted the officers to appear before the Assembly;
and I regret that he did not accomplish the object he had in view in
preventing Forsyth's encroachments by means of the civil power, which is
said to have been at hand, rather than by calling in military aid." This
despatch, however, was written, not to Sir Peregrine Maitland himself,
but to his successor, Sir John Colborne. The Forsyth case, coming, as
it did, in the wake of other ill-advised proceedings on the part of Sir
Peregrine, determined the Home Government to withdraw him from Upper
Canada, where it was quite evident that his usefulness--if he had ever
had any--was gone. He was transferred to Nova Scotia, whither it is not
necessary that this narrative should follow him.

With respect to Forsyth, it may he added that, being unable to obtain
any recompense for the Phillpotts invasion, and being harassed by
protracted litigation, he sold his property at Niagara Falls at a price
considerably below its value, and removed from the spot. It cannot be
said that he deserved much sympathy, for he had brought his losses on
himself by his own selfishness. He took advantage of the situation to
pose in the character of a martyr to Executive tyranny, and he succeeded
in deceiving many of his contemporaries into the belief that he was a
much injured man. The historical interest, however, centres not in him,
but in the consequences arising out of the employment of soldiers to do
the Sheriff's work in a time of profound peace, and without any
initiatory civil process having been issued. The popular excitement
consequent on the outrage encouraged Forsyth to petition the Assembly.
The petition led to the appointment of the Committee of Inquiry, which
in its turn led to the summoning o