monstrances. For the hundredth
time he pointed out the defenceless state of the capital. Within the
last few days the troops which had been removed from Toronto to Kingston
had been withdrawn from the Province altogether by Sir John Colborne, in
order that they might be used against the rebels in Lower Canada. The
whole of the Upper Province was therefore without means of defence.
Mackenzie pledged his word that the whole Radical element were anxious
to rise in the good cause. He asserted that he had received lists signed
by thousands of persons, each one of whom had pledged himself to rise in
revolt at any moment when summoned. Rebellion, he declared, must come,
as the spirit of insurrection had been thoroughly aroused; and he
upbraided his interlocutors for their lukewarmness in the cause of the
people. After several hours of discussion and deliberation it was agreed
that Mackenzie should proceed through the country and distinctly submit
the question to the different political unions. If they really felt
ready and anxious to put down the existing Government by force of arms,
as Mackenzie declared, they should have their way. A plan was discussed
for seizing the arms in the City Hall, for taking into custody the chief
Government officials, and for establishing a Provisional Government with
Dr. Rolph at its head. All this, it was believed, could be easily
effected without firing a shot, and without the sacrifice of a single
life. It was also distinctly understood that private property was to be
respected, and that all money in the banks was to be regarded as private
property, except such as actually belonged to the Government. It was
however expressly stipulated that nobody was to be finally committed to
any definite course of procedure until Mackenzie's return from his rural
tour with the sanction of the various political unions. No authority
whatever was meanwhile given to Mackenzie, either expressly or by
implication, to stir the people up to rebellion. He was simply
authorized to ascertain their views. At his own urgent request
permission was given him to use the names of Rolph and Morrison, but
only so far as to state that if the people were really desirous of
effecting a revolution, they might depend upon receiving the countenance
of those two gentlemen. On this distinct understanding Mackenzie left
Dr. Morrison's house, and started the same night or early on the
following morning for the north.

FOOTNOTES:

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