the supplies had caused
incalculable mischief to the province; but the country was,
nevertheless, powerfully advancing in improvement. The people,
generally, were contented. He had hitherto averted the unhappy
consequences of the stoppage of the supplies, by taking upon himself
certain responsibilities, but as his advice with regard to the payment
of the civil list, had been, even yet, unavailing, he would in future
guide the measures of the government by the strict letter of the law.
He thanked the Council for the calm, firm, and dignified character of
their deliberations. And he fervently prayed that the wisdom of the
proceedings of the Legislative Council would make a just impression
upon the loyal inhabitants of the province and lead them to that
temperate and conciliating disposition which is always best calculated
to give energy to public spirit, to promote public harmony, and ensure
public happiness, the great advantages which resulted from a wise
exercise of the powers and privileges of parliament. The
Governor-in-Chief of Lower Canada was on his knees fervently praying
for that which was not very likely to happen. Energy or public spirit
does not ordinarily spring from the temperate and conciliatory tone of
such inhabitants of a province as Lord Dalhousie would have considered
loyal.

It is desirable to know what Sir Peregrine Maitland was about in Upper
Canada. He had made a speech to parliament which he considered to be
his last. It was little wonder--Sir Peregrine Maitland was intolerably
tyrannical. He had gagged Mr. Gourlay. He had destroyed conventions. He
had suppressed public meetings. And he had been censured for it by Sir
George Murray. In 1822 the Honorable Barnabas Bidwell was returned to
the Upper Canada Assembly as a reformer. Mr. Bidwell was a man of very
considerable ability. He was eloquent, and his ideas of civil and
religious liberty were liberal. Born a British subject, during the
period of the revolution, but too young to take a part in it, he
remained in the United States, after the declaration of independence.
It was not long before he attained an elevated station in Congress. His
talents, however, coupled with his independence of spirit and love of
truth made him enemies. A hostility so vindictive was raised against
him by his political enemies, that he removed to Upper Canada, in
disgust, there only to meet with similar treatment, the result of
similar causes. No sooner did the people