nce. As the measure fell through during the session, and
ultimately came to nothing, it seems unnecessary to follow its fortunes
any farther.

[Sidenote: 1837.]

Dr. Rolph made another powerful speech during the session; a speech
which would of itself have entitled him to a high place as a
Parliamentary orator, and which was inferior in vigour only to the one
on the Clergy Reserves. It arose out of Dr. Duncombe's charges against
the Lieutenant-Governor. Having received from the Colonial Secretary a
copy of the complaint which had been submitted to the House of Commons,
his Excellency, who was of course able to rely implicitly upon the
Assembly as then constituted, handed it over to that body to be dealt
with. The result fully justified his confidence. A partisan Committee
was appointed, by whom the question was approached in a spirit very far
removed from judicial fairness. How the inquiry was conducted has
already been recorded.[264] Dr. Duncombe had made certain charges, some
of which were easily susceptible of positive proof, while others were
from their nature of a kind which admitted of nothing stronger than
indirect evidence. With regard to one or two damnatory charges, he
implicitly believed them to be true, but he failed to secure any
substantial proof whatever. He presented himself once before the
Committee, only to find, as he had expected, that he must not look to
obtain a fair or patient hearing. Under these circumstances he felt that
nothing was to be gained by any further attempt to establish the truth
of his allegations, and permitted the case to go by default. The
Committee accordingly proceeded to take evidence on their own
responsibility. The verdict arrived at was such as might easily have
been foreseen. Every charge and insinuation made against his Excellency
was declared to be "wholly and utterly destitute of truth." Not only was
his conduct vindicated in this comprehensive manner, but he was referred
to as one to whom the Province owed a large debt of gratitude. In due
course the report came before the Assembly on a motion for its adoption.
The proceeding had from the first been of the nature of a practical
impeachment of the Lieutenant-Governor, a matter which was really beyond
the jurisdiction of any Canadian tribunal. It afforded to Dr. Rolph an
opportunity for addressing the House at considerable length, and in a
speech which, as remarked by Mr. Mackenzie's biographer, "will ever be
memorable