as the mere disposition to rebel was
concerned, but he had lost any influence he had ever possessed, and
counted for nothing. It was tolerably certain that he would sooner or
later overstep the limits at which it would be possible to leave him
alone. Then, when he should have placed himself in such a position that
no loyal subject could defend him, would be the time to make an
effectual disposition of him. By all means, then, give him an abundance
of rope. This was the spirit in which the little man and his proceedings
were regarded by the authorities, and he availed himself of the freedom
of speech and action to the fullest conceivable extent. "First," says
Sir Francis,[286] "he wrote, and then be printed, and then he rode, and
then he spoke, stamped, foamed, wiped his seditious little mouth, and
then spoke again; and thus, like a squirrel in a cage, he continued with
astounding assiduity the centre of a revolutionary career."
Attorney-General Hagerman was instructed to report to his Excellency as
soon as Mackenzie had proceeded so far in the direction of treason that
his conviction would be certain, and meanwhile he was permitted to
invoke the Spirit of Freedom, both in prose and poetry, to his heart's
content.

In the Lower Province matters had so shaped themselves as to favour
Mackenzie's designs. Sir John Colborne was kept tolerably well informed
as to the proceedings of Papineau and the other fomenters of revolt, and
he had become aware that he would very soon be compelled to have
recourse to the strong hand. He felt perfectly secure, but at the same
time determined to neglect no precaution which might conduce to a swift
and decisive victory. He mustered all the forces at his command, and
satisfied himself, from personal supervision, as to their efficiency.
There were a few troops stationed in Toronto. Sir John shared Sir
Francis Head's confidence in the loyalty of the Upper Canadians, and
acquiesced in the opinion that an Upper Canadian rebellion was
altogether out of the question. As he believed that there was no
likelihood of the troops being needed there, he deemed it prudent to
strengthen his position by removing them to Kingston, where they would
be more readily available in case of his requiring their services to
crush the rebellion in Lower Canada. When this removal had been
effected, Toronto was left wholly unguarded by military. By command of
the Lieutenant-Governor, several thousand stand of arms which