rdered.
Indeed there were few politicians in the country, politics not having
yet become a trade. The Commons replied to Sir Peregrine Maitland just
as he wished. They were convinced that a convention of delegates could
not exist without danger to the constitution. Nay, they even went
further, and on the 19th of October, presented an address expressing
just indignation at the systematic attempts that had been made to
excite discontent and organize sedition in the province, and they
deeply regretted that the designs of one man should have succeeded in
drawing into the support of his vile machinations so many honest men,
and loyal subjects of His Majesty. A bill was passed indeed to prevent
the organization of persons, who might degrade the character of the
province, and after assenting to several bills Sir Peregrine Maitland
closed the session by thanking parliament for the seasonable aid of "An
Act for preventing certain meetings within the province." He conceived
that if the people were aggrieved they could send a petition to the
foot of the throne. The Surveyor General's Department was to be
abolished. He was proud of the sentiments expressed by the House of
Assembly and would send them to His Majesty's government. Had the
public mind been tranquil, he would have brought before the Houses a
few objects of general importance, one of which was a remedy for the
unequal pressure of the road laws. Mr. Gourlay was retained in gaol,
then ordered to leave the province, and, on refusing to go, was tried
for disobeying an Act of parliament. He was forcibly ejected from the
province, and it was not until 1847 that the province of Canada offered
him redress in the shape of a pension of some fifty pounds a year, Mr.
Gourlay being then resident in Scotland. Governor Maitland again met
the parliament of Upper Canada on the 7th of June, 1819. He informed
the parliament that the Queen had closed a long life, illustrious for
the exemplary discharge of every public and private duty; that the
Regent had authorised the governors of both Canadas to bestow lands on
certain of the provincial army and militia, "which served" during the
late war; that recent purchases from the natives had been so far
effected, as would enable him to set apart tracts in the several
districts, to accommodate such of their respective inhabitants as were
within the limits of the royal instruction; but that he (Governor
Maitland) did not consider himself justified i