as pining with disease.
Nature was everywhere struggling with misrule. And civilization itself
was on the decline. In Upper Canada the image and transcript of the
British constitution was now only reflected by Major-General Sir
Peregrine Maitland, and five executive councillors. Legislation was
embraced in a governor's speech from the throne.

About the time of the prorogation of the session, His Grace, the Duke
of Richmond, came to Upper Canada, on a tour of inspection. His Grace
and his son-in-law went to Niagara together. Important internal
improvements were contemplated, and the two governors were desirous of
ascertaining how they might be effected. The Duke, after a short stay
in Upper Canada, bade farewell to his relative, and, with Colonel
Ready, his secretary, was on his way to Quebec, when, somewhere between
Kingston and Montreal, he became seriously ill. It is not very certain
what ailed him. He was said to have been bitten by a fox. However, he
died, in a few hours, of excruciating suffering. He supported, for the
brief period, a disease, supposed to be hydrophobia, with undaunted
constancy, and yielded up his spirit on the 28th of August, 1819. His
remains were brought to Quebec, and there interred with great pomp and
ceremony, beneath the altar of the Church of England Cathedral, but as
yet no monument has been erected to his memory.

The administration of the government of the province of Lower Canada
was, on the death of the Duke of Richmond, assumed by the senior member
of the Executive Council, Mr. Monk, and President Monk issued his
proclamation to that effect, on the 20th of September. He summoned the
legislature to meet for the despatch of business on the 21st of
February, 1820. Mr. Monk had, however, hardly assumed the government
when Sir Peregrine Maitland arrived in Quebec, from Upper Canada, to
take the administration of affairs into his hands, according to
instructions which, on his appointment to the Lieutenant-Governorship
of Upper Canada, he had received from the imperial government. He did
not stay long. He merely advised Mr. Monk, whom he left in charge of
the government, and on the 9th of February he set out again for Upper
Canada, to dissolve the parliament. The existing parliament had been
very refractory and had been admonished even by the late
Governor-in-Chief. The Parliament was dissolved and writs for an
election, returnable on the 11th of April, issued. Gaspe being very
remotely