in no such spirit. He set his mind firmly against
concession, feeling convinced, as he said, that the more he yielded the
more would be demanded of him. In this respect he--no doubt
unconsciously--emulated the example of James the Second, who was of
opinion that his father owed the loss of his head to his concessions to
the House of Commons. That this opinion was altogether erroneous does
not admit of argument. Sir Francis was equally wrong, and equally
stubborn in maintaining his opinion. His conduct was the last straw
heaped upon the back of the much-enduring camel, and the outbreak which
followed must in large measure be attributed to his misgovernment.

FOOTNOTES:

[210] See the letter, in Head's _Narrative_, chap. iii.

[211] This proceeding was not relished by the Assembly. Sir John
Colborne had already delivered one Speech from the Throne at the opening
of the session, and this delivery of a second one was resented as a
breach of privilege. After much time had been wasted in discussion, a
precedent for the Lieutenant-Governor's action was found under date of
December, 1765, and this matter was allowed to drop.

[212] In the third chapter of his _Narrative_ Sir Francis attempts to
excuse himself for this senseless act. The reader who thinks it worth
while to consult the rhetorical plea there attempted to be set up will
recall Pembroke's dictum, in _King John_, that

"----oftentimes excusing of a fault
Doth make the fault the worse by the excuse."

[213] This is the despatch referred to _ante_, p. 246, which had been
treated with such contempt by the Law Officers of the Crown, and which
had been returned by the Provincial Legislative Council to the
Lieutenant-Governor.

[214] See the 8vo edition of the Report, p. xxxix.

[215] See the rejoinder of certain citizens of Toronto to the reply of
the Lieutenant-Governor to their address, dated 25th March, 1836.

[216] _Ib._

[217] _Ib._

[218] _Life of Mackenzie_, vol i., pp. 345, 346.

[219] _Narrative_, chap. iii.

[220] _Ib._

[221] _Narrative_, chap. iii.

[222] See Head's despatch to Lord Glenelg, dated February 22nd, 1836, in
_Narrative_, chap. iv.

[223] _Ib._

[224] See the extra number of the _Gazette_ issued on that date. A very
full account of the negotiations and conferences which led to this
result will be found in a letter written by Robert Baldwin to Peter
Perry, dated "Front Street, 16th March, 1836," and published in the
pa