ld not receive "new light" at command was set
upon by spies. The object was the contemptible one of robbing him of
his half-pay. A spy declared that he had once heard him call for
"Yankee Doodle," at a play in the metropolis. It was a grievous
offence, certainly, even had it been true. But it was enough to deprive
a man who had served his country in battle of his half-pay. Indeed, he
only could get it back again on condition of repairing to England. He
went there to seek redress and died. There were yet other sufferers.
Mr. Justice Willis had been elevated from the English bar to the Bench
of Upper Canada. There were but three Judges of the King's Bench, in
the country, the Chief Justice Campbell and two Puisne Judges. The
Chief Justice went to England in search of a knighthood. Mr. Willis was
not in favor at Court. He had studiously abstained from mixing himself
up with politics. He had indeed refused to be an obsequious Jefferies,
and was looked upon, therefore, as opposed to the administration. When
term time came, the Chief Justice being in England, Mr. Willis refused
to go on with the business of the Court, because there was no one to
decide in case of a difference of opinion between him and his brother
Justice. It was enough. Sir Peregrine Maitland dismissed him, and
appointed Mr. Hagerman, _pro tempore_, in his stead. The newly
appointed Judge must have been surprised at his elevation. He was at
the very moment of his appointment discharging the onerous and
important duties of an officer of the Customs at Kingston. Mr. Willis
appealed to the English government and was sustained in the position
which he had assumed, but instead of being reinstated in Canada,
another office was provided for him in Demerara. The Chief Justice
shortly afterwards returned from England as Sir William Campbell, and
resigned to make way for the election of Mr. Attorney General Robinson.
Hagerman was succeeded by Mr. M'Aulay, a barrister of six years
standing, and very cheerfully accepted the humbler office of Solicitor
General. Again the House of Assembly interfered with Sir Peregrine
Maitland. They represented that Willis had been grossly ill-used, and
explained the cause. It was without effect. The beauties of colonial
irresponsible government were as discernible in Upper Canada, where
there were no seditious, English-hating, Frenchmen, as in Lower Canada.
A private gentleman, two editors of newspapers, a member of parliament,
a captain