seen fit, soon after the opening of the session, to take a leading part
in another expulsion, and to make contemptuous references to the conduct
of the Colonial Secretary himself. The Attorney-General had expressed an
opinion that the Secretary might have found something better to do than
to sit down and answer "Mackenzie's rigmarole trash." Solicitor-General
Hagerman had remarked that the Secretary had stultified himself by
noticing statements which rested on no better authority than that of a
person who had been twice expelled the Assembly, and who had been
declared unfit to sit therein in consequence of his having "fabricated
and reiterated libels of the grossest description." Lord Goderich
signified his disapprobation of this conduct in the most emphatic manner
by dismissing the two virulent critics from office. Their dismissal was
effected by a despatch to Sir John Colborne dated March 6th, 1833. "By
the accounts I have lately received of the proceedings of the
Legislature of Upper Canada," wrote his Lordship, "I have learnt that
the Attorney and Solicitor-General of that Province have, in their
places in the Assembly, taken a part directly opposed to the avowed
policy of His Majesty's Government. As members of the Provincial
Parliament, Mr. Boulton and Mr. Hagerman are of course bound to act upon
their own view of what is most for the interest of their constituents,
and of the colony at large. But if, upon questions of great political
importance, they unfortunately differ in opinion from His Majesty's
Government, it is obvious that they cannot continue to hold confidential
situations in His Majesty's service without either betraying their duty
as members of the Legislature, or bringing the sincerity of the
Government into question by their opposition to the policy which His
Majesty has been advised to pursue." It was intimated that the Law
Officers of the Crown could not be permitted to impede the Government
policy, and that in order that those gentlemen might be at full liberty
to follow their own judgment, they were to be relieved from their
offices.[155]

When this despatch reached York, towards the end of April, its contents
were communicated to Attorney-General Boulton. Mr. Hagerman had started
for England a short time before on a mission connected with the Clergy
Reserves, and, as was said,[156] in order to obtain a permanent
appointment to a judgeship. He learned of his dismissal immediately upon
his arriva