ssed that he was in
many respects well qualified for the post.

He addressed himself to his tasks with redoubled assiduity. The Province
was mapped out into four districts, each of which was again subdivided
into minor divisions. Local branch societies were formed or remodelled
in all neighbourhoods where Reformers were numerous. Each of these was
directed to report regularly to a central society, and all the latter
were to report to the Corresponding Secretary, by whom the reports were
classified, digested, and laid before the central committee in Toronto.
Mackenzie at once proceeded to hold a fresh series of meetings,
beginning with the townships in which he was best known, and thence
flitting hither and thither as was deemed advisable. In this way, in the
course of the late summer and autumn he went over the whole of the Home
District, and over a great part of the adjoining country. His soul was
in the work he was doing, and he put into it all the energy which he
could command. He did not succeed in arousing such a feeling in the west
as Papineau did in the east. He had not Papineau's marvellous Gallic
eloquence, nor were the farmers of Upper Canada composed of such
inflammable material as the _habitans_ of the Lower Province. But
Mackenzie, when thoroughly aroused, as he now was, had considerable
power to move the masses, and he exerted himself to this end as he had
never done before. The manifold wrongs he had endured had exasperated
his nature almost beyond endurance, and he could lash himself into a
storm of indignation at a moment's notice. He succeeded in awakening
enthusiasm in persons who had formerly been remarkable for stolidity.
He presented few new subjects for the consideration of his auditors, but
he presented old subjects in a light which was suggestive of new ideas.
He declaimed against the iniquities of the Executive, the supineness of
the Imperial Government, and the culpable indifference of the British
Parliament. The Declaration, in fact, was the test upon which his
harangues were founded, but he presented its respective clauses in
ever-recurring novelty of aspect. The document was itself submitted to
the various meetings for approval, accompanied by Mackenzie's fiery
commentary. As a general thing the Radical element was largely in the
ascendant at the gatherings, and he had no trouble about carrying his
resolutions, frequently by very large majorities. He adapted his oratory
to his audience. Whe