on the other
hand, I could not fight for the Rectories and Church domination. I
think them both to be great evils, and I have resolved to choose
neither. I believe that in Haldimand and Cramahe townships there
are twenty rebels to one sincere loyalist. Brother Wilson, (son of
old Father Wilson), says that his life has been threatened for
circulating the petition which you sent down, and others are in a
similar condition. What will be the effect of all this I cannot
say, but I have thought from the beginning that either the
Rectories must be abolished, and a suitable disposition made of the
Reserves, or a change of Government will ensue. And if the Church
party have it all in their own hands to make peace, by allowing
other Churches to enjoy equal privileges with themselves, and do
not do so, they must bear the responsibility of all the bloodshed
and carnage that may ensue. I fear that they are so perfectly
infatuated that they will suffer utter destruction, and choose it
rather than equal and impartial justice.

On the 5th December, 1837, Dr. Ryerson reached Cobourg on his way to
Toronto. When he arrived there, Elders Case and Green, and other
friends, thought that as his life had been threatened it would be unsafe
for him to proceed to Toronto.[54] He, therefore, waited there for
further news, and, in the meantime, wrote to a friend in Kingston, on
the 6th, as follows:--

You will recollect my mentioning that I pressed upon Sir Francis the
propriety and importance of making some prudent provision for the
defence of the city, in case any party should be urged on in the madness
of rebellion so far as to attack it. He is much blamed here on account
of his overweening confidence, and foolish and culpable negligence in
this respect. There was great excitement in this town and neighbourhood
last night. To-day all is anxiety and hurry. The militia is called out
to put down the rebellion of the very man whose seditious paper many of
them have supported, and whom they have countenanced.

The precepts of the Bible and the example of the early Christians, leave
me no occasion for second thoughts as to my duty, namely, to pray for
and support the "powers that be," whether I admire them or not, and to
implore the defeat of "fiery conspiracy and rebellion." And I doubt not
that the sequel will in this, as in other cases, show that the path of
duty is