appointed Clerk
of the Peace, and discharged its duties for many years, when he
sickened and died. During the two years' sickness which preceded
his death, the duties of office were discharged satisfactorily by
his son, who was then about twenty or twenty-one years of age. On
the death of her husband, the Widow Powell proceeded to Kingston to
plead in person before Sir Charles Metcalfe for the appointment of
her son to the office vacated by the death of her husband, and as
the only means of supporting herself and family. One can easily
conceive the effect of such an appeal upon Sir Charles Metcalfe's
benevolent feelings. He declined the advice of his Councillors for
a party appointment, and determined to appoint the widow's son to
the office rendered vacant by the death of her husband, and one
which he had successfully discharged for nearly two years. The
Council, instead of resigning on the fact of the appointment,
sought to obtain from Sir Charles Metcalfe a promise that he would
henceforth act upon their advice. He said he would always receive
and consider their advice, but would give no promise on the part of
the Crown as to how far he would pledge the prerogative in advance
and act upon that advice. On this the Councillors resigned,
charging Sir Charles Metcalfe with violating the principles of
responsible government. This he positively denied. The
circumstances of the case were so mystified by the statements made,
that general prejudice was excited against Sir Charles Metcalfe,
and the Councillors seemed for the time to have the country at
their backs.[121]

I was at that time President of Victoria College; and the late Hon. Wm.
Hamilton Merritt, returning from Kingston at the sudden close of the
Session of Parliament held there, stopped the stage in front of the
College, called to see me, and asked me what I thought of the
occurrences between the Governor-General and his Councillors. I told him
that, from what I had heard, my sympathies were with the Councillors. He
answered that I was mistaken; that the Councillors were clearly in the
wrong; that they had made a great mistake, and were endangering
principles of government for which he had so long contended. He then
stated the particulars of what had transpired, and referred me, in
confirmation of his statement, to the documents and corresp