in to the Lieutenant-Governor a
pathetically-worded petition, in which the desolate condition of his
young and helpless family was alluded to in brief but moving terms. It
set out that, in consequence of his imprisonment, the business whereby
he had supported his family was all but ruined, as its success depended
solely on his personal exertions. Finally, he prayed to be restored to
his liberty. Accompanying the petition were affidavits setting forth the
admitted ignorance of one of the jurymen, and the pre-determination of
the other two to convict. But the prisoner knocked at the gates of Sir
John Colborne's heart in vain. The Lieutenant-Governor was by this time
as completely hand and glove with the official party as his predecessor
had ever been. Dr. Strachan and John Beverley Robinson managed him with
great skill, and, by dint of much seeming deference, had him under
complete control. Without being in the least aware of it, he was clay in
the hands of the potter, who moulded him at will. As well might poor
Collins have appealed for mercy to a half-famished tiger of the jungle
as to these two Provincial representatives of law and gospel. His
memorial, dated "York Gaol, November 26th, 1829," was not replied to
until more than three weeks had elapsed, and when the answer came its
contents indicated perfect callousness to the prisoner's unhappy
condition. He was curtly informed that the Lieutenant-Governor could not
think it right to comply with the petition, but that on the expiration
of the specified term of imprisonment, any application which he might
desire to make would be taken into consideration.

From this time forward the prisoner seems to have resigned himself to
his fate, although his friends did not relax their exertions on his
behalf. It seemed useless to apply for a new trial, as the application
would have to be made to either Sherwood or Hagerman, from neither of
whom could he hope to obtain justice. The _Freeman_ continued to make
its appearance, although its publication was necessarily carried on
under great disadvantages. The editor's spirit was by no means broken,
and he sent forth from his place of confinement a succession of
editorials as bitterly vigorous as any previous efforts of his pen. He
also wrote a series of open letters addressed to the Attorney-General,
in which that official's career, from his infancy onwards, was reviewed
with caustic bitterness.[129] These letters were published in succ