. 330.

[265] Lindsey's _Life of Mackenzie_, vol. i., p. 392.

[266] Member for Middlesex.

[267] See the report in the number of _The Correspondent and Advocate_
for Wednesday, March 15th.

[268] Forty-two members were present at the vote on the Speakership, all
of whom voted for Mr. McNab with the exception of David Gibson, of the
First Riding of York, who recorded his solitary vote in the negative.

CHAPTER XVIII.

THE FORGING OF THE PIKES.

It will be remembered that, during the summer of 1836, Dr. Baldwin,
George Ridout and J. E. Small had been dismissed by Sir Francis Head
from certain offices held by them at the pleasure of the Crown. Mr.
Ridout had appealed to Lord Glenelg, to whom the Lieutenant-Governor had
soon afterwards found himself called upon to defend his conduct. The
only reason which had at first been assigned by his Excellency for Mr.
Ridout's dismissal was that the latter was presumed to be a member of
the Constitutional Reform Society. This society, just before the
election, had issued and circulated a printed address wherein his
Excellency was charged with a disregard of constitutional Government,
and of candour and truth in his statements. Mr. Ridout had undoubtedly
attended and spoken at some of the meetings of the society, but he was
not a member of it, and had no difficulty in establishing the fact to
the satisfaction of the Colonial Secretary, who, after mature
consideration, conveyed to Sir Francis His Majesty's commands that Mr.
Ridout should be reinstated in the various offices from which he had
been removed. With this command, as mentioned towards the close of the
last chapter, Sir Francis did not see fit to comply. Finding himself
beaten upon the case as it stood, he proceeded to amend the record by
alleging other matters against the accused. In this course he met with
little encouragement from his Lordship, who patiently combated his
untenable positions, and repeated the injunction that Mr. Ridout should
be reinstated. While the matter was in abeyance, another difference of
opinion arose between Lord Glenelg and Sir Francis. During the spring of
1837, Mr. Jameson having been appointed Vice Chancellor, and Archibald
McLean and Jonas Jonas having been appointed Judges of the Court of
King's Bench, it became necessary for Sir Francis to submit these
appointments to his Lordship, together with those of Mr. Hagerman and
Mr. Draper respectively to the offices of Attorney-Gener