and Dr. W. J. O'Grady, somewhile editor of _The
Correspondent and Advocate_. I can find no confirmatory evidence of
this statement, and some of Dr. Rolph's letters would seem, at least by
implication, to contradict the assertion that he had any hand in its
preparation. The question of authorship, however, is not important. The
document was discussed at considerable length. Dr. Morrison, who was
present, fully approved of its contents, but objected to sign it, as he
would thereby place himself in a dubious position as a member of
Parliament. This argument was not acquiesced in by James Lesslie, and
the Doctor finally appended his signature. His example was followed by
all the other members present except James Lesslie, who withheld his
name until the document should be signed by Dr. Rolph, who was absent
from the meeting.[278]

On the afternoon of Friday, the 28th of the same month, the Declaration
was submitted to and discussed for the second time by a number of
Reformers assembled at Elliott's. There was to be a large meeting the
same evening at Doel's brewery, at which it was thought desirable that
the platform should be adopted. Some discussion arose as to several
clauses, however, and one or two immaterial alterations were made, after
which it was thought best to postpone the final adoption of the
Declaration in its entirety until a subsequent meeting. The meeting held
during the evening at Doel's was very numerously attended. About three
hundred persons were present,[279] and a good deal of important
discussion took place. A motion expressive of sympathy and admiration
for Papineau and his compatriots was proposed by Mackenzie, and passed
without a dissentient voice, and it was resolved that "the Reformers of
Upper Canada" should make common cause with those of the Lower Province.
The persons present at this meeting of course had no authority to speak
on behalf of the Reformers of Upper Canada as a whole, but they fairly
enough represented the Radical wing of the party, which was quite large
enough to be formidable. The meeting further resolved that a convention
of delegates should be assembled at an early period in Toronto, "to take
into consideration the state of the Province, the causes of the present
pecuniary and other difficulties, and the means whereby they may be
effectually removed;" and that persons be appointed by the said
convention to proceed to Lower Canada, "there to meet the delegates of
any congres