pers of the time. See _post_, p. 312.

[225] See the representations of the Councillors to the
Lieutenant-Governor, dated Friday, 4th March, 1836.

[226] See _Report of the Select Committee to which was referred the
Answer of His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor to an Address of the
House of Assembly, relative to a Responsible Executive Council_, p. 6.
Toronto, 1836.

[227] _Ib._, p. 7.

[228] _Narrative_, chap. v.

[229] _Narrative_, chapters iv., v.

[230] Kaye's _Life and Correspondence of Charles, Lord Metcalfe_, vol.
ii., p. 339. Revised edition, 1858.

[231] It is fair to say that some of these were due to the efforts of
the Radicals in the Assembly, who had sent out blank petitions to local
friends, with instructions to obtain signatures and fill in the name of
the constituency.

[232] _Ante_, pp. 303, 304.

[233] See his despatch to Lord Glenelg, dated April 28th, 1836, in
_Narrative_, chap. v.

[234] Sir Francis himself has gravely recorded that certain militia
officers publicly declared him to be "the d----dest liar and d----dest
rascal in the Province." See despatch of 6th February, 1837, in
_Narrative_, chap. ix.

[235] The evidence will be found in appendix to Journal of 1836, 2nd
Session, Twelfth Parliament, vol. iii., No. 106, pp. 57, 58.

CHAPTER XVI.

THE TRIUMPHS OF A TRIED REFORMER.

While the public excitement continued unabated, the Lieutenant-Governor
resolved upon a step which was little calculated to allay it. This step
was the dissolution of the existing Parliament. He and his advisers,
sworn and unsworn, believed that the time was opportune for a general
election. If the numerical majority of the Opposition in the Assembly
were reversed, the Government could afford to laugh at what they called
"low-bred democracy." Such a reversal, it was thought, might now be
effected. The disloyalty cry might safely be trusted to do its work, not
only by clearing the Assembly of the chief members of the Opposition,
but by giving the Government party an easy working majority. In order,
however, that his Excellency might seem to be following public opinion
in this matter instead of guiding it, the official party caused
petitions to be sent in from various quarters, praying that a
dissolution and a general election might take place. This not only
served the intended purpose of misleading the public as to the designs
of the Executive, but also afforded Sir Francis an opportunity of
p