e western part of the Province to Michigan. Such was the
"tranquillity" upon which Sir Francis plumed himself, and upon which he
continued to dilate at recurring intervals until he was roused from his
slumbers by the intelligence that "the rebels" were at Montgomery's.

The Legislature at once proceeded to pass a Bill to provide for the
support of the Civil Government for the current year, a circumstance of
which the Lieutenant-Governor hastened to apprise Lord Glenelg. Various
matters of importance occupied the attention of Parliament during the
session. Among other questions which came up for discussion was the
long-standing grievance of the Clergy Reserves. On Thursday, the 8th of
December, a Bill was introduced into the Assembly by Hiram Norton,
member for Grenville, having for its object the disposal of the Reserves
for purposes of general education. It passed the second reading on the
13th of the same month, whereupon the House, in Committee of the Whole,
after several days consideration and discussion, reported a resolution
in favour of appropriating the Clergy Reserves lands and the proceeds
arising from the sales thereof to the religious and moral instruction of
the people. This gave rise to a motion of amendment by Dr. Rolph, "That
it is expedient to provide for the sale of the Clergy Reserves, and the
application of the proceeds to the purposes of general education, as one
of the most legitimate ways of giving free scope to the progress of
religious truth in the community." In support of this amendment the
Doctor made what was unquestionably the most noteworthy speech of his
life--a speech which a well-known writer[263] has pronounced to be
without a parallel in the annals of Canadian Parliamentary debate. Its
copiousness and felicity of illustration, its fluent and harmonious
elegance of diction, could not have failed to stamp it as a great effort
if it had been delivered before any audience in the world. No higher
praise can be awarded to it than to record the simple fact that it added
to the Doctor's already high reputation as an orator, and that it evoked
the admiration of many persons who could not subscribe to the doctrines
and arguments it contained. But no oratory and no arguments would have
availed with that House. The amendment was lost, and on Friday, the
16th, the original resolution was carried by a vote of thirty-five to
twenty-one. The matter was then referred to the Upper House for its
concurre