ion was equally
unsuccessful. During the debate, the Assembly was favoured with a
characteristic specimen of Attorney-General Boulton's oratory. He
stigmatized the assumption that the House was entitled to appoint its
own chaplain as of a piece with the assumption of an assassin that he
has a right to shoot down a man in the street--the right of brute force.
This nonsensical tirade he shrieked out by way of peroration to a speech
intended as a defence of the right of the Government in the matter of
the chaplaincy. It is strange that the House should have listened to
such balderdash, not only with patience, but even with apparent
submission. Solicitor-General Hagerman spoke in a similar strain, but
with less of irascibility. He warned the House that the Government was
too powerful for them; that the Lieutenant-Governor had strong feelings
on this subject, and that if they persisted in opposing his wishes
confusion would ensue, and an end would be put to their proceedings.

But Mackenzie was not to be dismayed by the want of success of his
exertions to popularize the religious ceremonial of the Assembly. He
next moved for an inquiry into the state of the representation. Such an
inquiry was urgently needed, for the House was full of postmasters,
county registrars, inspectors of licenses, and other placemen who held
office at the will of the Executive, and who therefore could not be
expected to be honest exponents of public opinion in their respective
constituencies. Mackenzie, in the course of a vigorous speech, presented
such an array of facts that a committee of inquiry was appointed. This
success he followed up by a motion for an inquiry into certain pensions,
fees and salaries. Then he instituted a crusade against the management
of the Bank of Upper Canada, of which institution Attorney-General
Boulton was solicitor. Each of these motions afforded opportunities for
inflammatory speeches, in the course of which the Government and its
official favourites were handled with scant consideration. The
Attorney-General was several times lashed into a state of almost insane
fury, and on one occasion seemed to be on the point of rushing across
the floor and making a personal onslaught upon Mr. Mackenzie. The
"little mannikin from York," as he was called, always had the courage of
his opinions, and rather courted such an attack than otherwise. That he
had many and grave faults cannot be denied, but certainly cowardice was
not amo