ischief. You need not be surprised that the Grenville _Gazette_
speaks so contemptuously of you and the cause in which you have
been, and are still, engaged. There are reasons why you need not
marvel at the great torrent of scurrilous invectives with which his
useless columns have of late abounded.

_Nov. 23rd._--Although not so intended by Dr. Ryerson, yet the
publication of his "impressions," had the effect of developing the plans
of Mr. W. L. Mackenzie, and those who acted with him, much more rapidly
and fully than they could have anticipated. In the second supplement to
his _Colonial Advocate_, published November 23rd, Mr. Mackenzie used
this unmistakeable language:--

The local authorities have no means to protect themselves against
an injured people, if they persist in their unconstitutional
career.... There are not military enough to uphold a bad government
for an hour, if the Rubicon has been passed; and well does Sir John
Colborne know that although he may hire regiments of priests here,
he may expect no more red-coats from Europe in those days of
economy.... He also knows that if we are to take examples from the
Mother Country, the arbitrary proceedings of the officers of his
government _are such_ as would warrant the people to an open and
_armed resistance_.

_Dec. 6th._--Dr. Ryerson having received a protest from five of his
ministerial brethren in the Niagara District,[43] against his
"impressions" he wrote a remonstrance to each of them, but this did not
appease them. Rev. David Wright said:--

As an individual I am not at all satisfied either with the course
you have taken or the explanation given. Could you witness the
confused state of our Church on Stamford Circuit; the insults we
receive, both from many of our members and others of good standing,
you would at once see the propriety of the steps we have taken for
our defence. Hardly a tea-party or meeting of any kind, but the
_Guardian_ is the topic of conversation, and the conversion of its
editor and all the preachers to Toryism. The Ranters and the
Ryanites are very busy, and are doing us much harm. I am more and
more convinced of the imprudence of the course you have taken,
especially at this trying time in our Church. In Queenston,
Drummondville, Chippewa, Erie, St. Davids, the Lane, and Lyons'
Creek the preach