adoration to the
great body of the people, because the official lickspittles by whom he
was surrounded vied with each other in flattering his imbecile vanity.
Had he been left to his own devices he would have been like the doomed
king who refused to believe that his people were hungry until thirty
thousand starving _sans-culottes_ were thundering at his palace gates.

It soon became generally known throughout the country that strained
relations existed between Judge Willis and the whole race of officialdom
at the capital. The new Judge was known to have given expression to a
desire for a reform of the law; and it was commonly assumed that it was
to his liberal ideas that he was indebted for the hostility with which
he was regarded by the ruling faction. The Reform Party warmly espoused
his cause, and their organs devoted much space to extolling his wisdom,
moderation and other high qualities. Addresses to him were circulated
throughout some of the rural constituencies, and there was a manifest
disposition to cater for his favour and patronage. Had he been endowed
with discretion and good judgment he might, without any dereliction from
his judicial duty or integrity, have rendered incalculable service to
the cause of freedom and good government. Doubtless the rendering of
such service would sooner or later have involved him in complications
with the official party, but if he had kept his head it is doubtful if
they could have prevailed against him. Unfortunately he proved to be too
weak for his position, and allowed himself to be completely
out-manoeuvred. He ruined himself, without accomplishing anything for
the cause which he wished to serve. The time was rapidly drawing near
when, by means of a judicial decision, he was to shut the door forever
upon any prospect of his advancement in this country, and when he was to
be made the subject of official communications resulting in his
permanent removal therefrom.

As has already been mentioned, there had been frequent differences of
opinion between Mr. Willis and his colleagues, almost from the beginning
of the former's assumption of judicial functions. The acting justices of
the Court of King's Bench were at that time three in number, and
consisted of the Hon. William Campbell, Chief Justice, the Hon. Levius
Peters Sherwood, senior puisne judge, and Mr. Justice Willis himself.
During the first Term which ensued after Mr. Willis's arrival in this
country--which was Michae