ther subject, were of one mind as to this, and
officially pronounced upon it with a vehemence which commended itself to
popular opinion. Petitions without number were sent over the sea. "The
Imperial Government," says Mr. Lindsey,[208] "was besieged with
petitions, praying for the annulment of the rectories. The temper of the
public mind became imbued with that sullenness which a sense of injury
begets, and which forebodes the approach of civil commotion. It was the
idea of violated Imperial faith; of a broken compact between the
Sovereign and his Canadian subjects, that constituted the sting of the
injury. The people recurred to the promise of Lord Goderich that their
wishes should be the Sovereign's guide in the matter, and regarded
themselves as the victims of a deception which brought dishonour on the
Crown and distrust on Imperial faith." The Home Government were in two
minds about repudiating the transaction. The right of the
Lieutenant-Governor to create and endow without the express assent of
the King was not perfectly clear, and the Law Officers of the Crown were
consulted on the question. Those gentlemen, on the case submitted for
their consideration, pronounced the opinion that there had been an
excess of authority, and that the creation and endowment were invalid.
Dr. Strachan, upon becoming acquainted with this circumstance, prepared
a report embodying certain facts and documents which had not been before
the Law Officers, to whom the case was now submitted a second time. The
additional data placed a different face upon the question, and the Law
Officers arrived at a conclusion contrary to that which they had
formerly expressed. The grantees were accordingly permitted to retain
their property undisturbed, but the name of Sir John Colborne continued
to be execrated in Upper Canada for his share in the transaction for
many a year.[209]

FOOTNOTES:

[191] _Ante_, pp. 231, 232.

[192] See _Report of a Select Committee of the House of Assembly on the
Political State of the Provinces of Upper and Lower Canada_, p. 25.
Toronto, 1838.

[193] See _Rough Notes on Head's Narrative_, by a Liberal, p. 17.
London, 1840.

[194] See his _Narrative_, Chapter III.

[195] _Narrative_, Chapter II.

[196] _Ib._

[197] See _Reminiscences of his Public Life_, by Sir Francis Hincks,
K.C.M.G., C.B. p. 14. Montreal, 1884.

[198] _Ib._, p. 15.

[199] See _The Canadian Portrait Gallery_, vol iv., p. 172.

[200] _Remini