had
recently been sent from Kingston, together with a quantity of
ammunition, were committed to the custody of the municipal authorities
and deposited in the City Hall. Two constables were placed in charge,
and this was absolutely the only precaution taken against the seizure of
both arms and ammunition by any determined body of men who might think
proper to possess themselves thereof.

Mackenzie believed that the propitious time had arrived, and that the
resolve to postpone until the following spring any active measures
against the Government should be rescinded. He received an additional
impetus from certain messages which reached him through Jesse Lloyd, on
Monday, the 9th of October, from the leaders of the movement in Lower
Canada. These messages apprised him that the French Canadians were about
to make what they called a "brave stroke for liberty" without further
delay. They entreated him to cooeperate with them by simultaneously
raising the standard of revolt in the Upper Province. Lloyd himself
favoured the idea, and counselled its adoption.

Such a momentous step, however, could not very well be taken without the
concurrence of others. Mackenzie, who at the time of receiving the
messages was out on Yonge Street, some miles from Toronto, hastened into
town, and summoned a small secret caucus to meet at Doel's brewery. I am
unable to fix the exact date of holding this caucus, but it must have
been on the evening of either Monday the 9th or Tuesday the 10th of
October.[287] Eleven persons were present. They were, 1. Mackenzie
himself; 2. John Doel, the owner of the brewery; 3. Dr. Morrison; 4.
John Mackintosh, who sat in the Assembly for the Fourth Riding
of York; 5. John Elliott, who, as already mentioned, acted as
Secretary-in-Ordinary to the Reform Union meetings in Toronto; 6.
Timothy Parson, who kept a straw bonnet and fancy warehouse on King
Street; 7. Robert Mackay, a grocer and wine merchant; 8. William
Lesslie, one of the firm of Lesslie & Sons, booksellers, stationers and
druggists, at number 110-1/2 King Street; 9. John Armstrong, a
manufacturer of edged tools, having a place of business at number 33
Yonge Street; 10. Thomas Armstrong, a carpenter, residing at number 11
Lot (now Queen) Street; 11. John Mills, hatter, 191 King Street. Dr.
Rolph and J. H. Price had been asked to attend, but they did not see fit
to do so. No one except Mackenzie appears to have had any idea of the
real object for which t