ess common rumour seriously belied him, were
not seldom committed at his own instigation. At any rate he maintained
the most amicable relations with the libellers, and allowed no
opportunity of serving their material interests to pass unimproved. Such
inconsistency forced itself upon public attention. People who up to that
time had supported the official party began to ask where this
one-sidedness was to end. The Attorney-General had no right, it was
said, to reward his friends for doing precisely the same things as those
for which he punished and imprisoned his enemies. It was remembered
against him how, when disputing with Judge Willis as to the nature of
his official duties, he had with scorn repudiated the suggestion that he
should proceed in the absence of instructions, even against notorious
evil-doers. It was remembered that he had declined to take any official
cognizance of so serious an offence against the public peace as the
type-riot, which had been committed by his own friends and proteges. Yet
he had here gone out of his way to prosecute to his ruin a poor wretch
who, certainly not without great provocation, had merely accused him of
falsehood and native malignancy. A man who accommodated his conduct to
his inclinations in this way might perhaps be much beloved by his
friends, but he certainly had no claim to be considered either good or
great. The faction, from Dr. Strachan downwards, had for years been
holding up John Beverley Robinson to the admiration of Upper Canadians.
By many he had been accepted at their valuation. The Selkirk and Gourlay
episodes, together with a score of others less noteworthy, had been
slurred over. As the worst of these had occurred some years before, they
had been partly forgotten by the existing generation. But the
remorseless vindictiveness and cruelty displayed throughout the Collins
prosecution were patent to everybody. They did much to lower the
Attorney-General in popular estimation, and to destroy public confidence
in the integrity of the Judges. They gave rise to an uneasy feeling of
discontent, and doubtless had their share in bringing about the troubles
of 1837-38.

Collins went to jail, where, in spite of great exertions on his behalf,
he was compelled to remain for many months. The fine was paid, like the
damages in the type-riot case, by public subscription. Appeals from
various quarters to the Lieutenant-Governor on the prisoner's behalf
were made in vain. The inc