lief in his own doctrines
makes him terribly in earnest, may count on a life embittered by
the anger of those on whom he has forced the disagreeable task of
reconsidering their own assumptions.--Canon Farrar.

All through his public career, Dr. Ryerson had many bitter enemies and
many warm and devoted friends. This was not to be wondered at. No man
with such strongly marked individuality of will and purpose, and with
such an instinctive dislike to injustice and oppression, could fail to
come in contact with those whose views and proceedings were opposed to
his sense of right. The enmity which he excited in discussing public
questions was rarely disarmed (except in the case of men of generous
impulses or noble natures) by the fact that he and those who acted with
him were battling for great principles--those of truth, and justice, and
freedom.

When these principles could not be successfully assailed, the usual plan
was to attack the character, and wound the tender sensibilities of their
chief defender. This was a mistake; but it was the common error with
most of Dr. Ryerson's assailants. And yet those who did so in his
presence, and in the arena of debate, rarely repeated the mistake. With
all his kindness of heart and warmth of friendship, there was, when
aroused, much of the lion in his nature. Few who assailed him in
Conference, or made a personal attack upon him in other places of public
discussion, could stand before the glitter of his eye when that
lion-nature was aroused; and fewer still would care to endure the effect
of its fire a second time.

Most of the personal attacks made upon Dr. Ryerson were in writing, and
often anonymously. He had, therefore, to defend himself chiefly with his
pen. This he rarely failed to do, and with good effect.[72] On such
occasions he used strong and vigorous language, of which he was an
acknowledged master. Very many of these attacks were ephemeral, and not
worthy of note. Others were more serious and affected character, and
these were more or less bitter and violent. They, of course, called
forth a good deal of feeling at the time, but are only referred to now
as part of the story of a life, then singularly active and stormy.

* * * * *

The Editor of the Toronto _Patriot_ having published extracts from a
pamphlet issued in the Newcastle District (County of Northumberland), in
1832, in which attacks were made upon Dr. Ryerson's character, he
replied