Fothergill, who belonged to a good Yorkshire family, and was
therefore fully entitled to rank as a gentleman.[119]

Collins was excusably indignant at the gross insult which had been
hurled at him. He considered himself as at least the social equal of any
member of the Government, for he claimed descent from the old Irish
kings, and on one or two occasions when more than ordinarily exhilarated
he had even been known to refer to his ancestor, Brian Boru. Yet, for
all this mendacious and vainglorious boasting, Collins was a man of
unquestionable ability, and when fully aroused could write a paragraph
well calculated to make the ears of his enemies to tingle. His
nationality was clearly indicated by his personal appearance, his
features being rough-hewn and unmistakably Celtic; while his red hair
and beard, usually not very well cared for, gave him an aspect of
uncouth wildness. Up to this time he had not taken any very conspicuous
part in politics since his arrival in Canada; but henceforward the
Executive had no more bitter or sleepless foe. He continued to report
the proceedings in Parliament, and kept his eyes ever open for an
opportunity to strike the Government with effect. In 1825 he succeeded
in establishing the _Freeman_, which was thenceforth to some extent a
rival of Mackenzie's _Advocate_. It was from the first conducted with
great energy, and the editorials, which were often set up without being
committed to paper, displayed exceptional vigour, but they were
frequently disfigured by a coarseness and bad taste equal to anything of
Mackenzie's production. For some time the better class of Liberals
fought shy of the enterprise, but the editor steadily forced his way
into general recognition.

The _Freeman_ was permitted to continue its course unchecked for nearly
three years. During that time it followed up the shortcomings of the
Executive with ceaseless vigilance. To Sir Peregrine Maitland and
Attorney-General Robinson it was a veritable thorn in the flesh. There
was abundant occasion for criticism, and it was seldom, if ever, that
Collins resorted to pure invention for the purpose of attacking the
innumerable abuses of the time. There was always a sufficient substratum
of truth in his accusations to render it inexpedient to prosecute him
for libel. The punishment of what was false would have involved the
public exposure of what was true. The official party realized the force
of the laureate's dictum, not the