sfaction continue to
act on the minds of the reformers; and their hope of redress, under the
present order of things, has been seriously diminished. The exasperation
caused by the conflict itself, the suspicions and terrors of that trying
period, and the use made by the triumphant party of the power thrown
into their hands, have heightened the passions which existed before.
It certainly appeared too much as if the rebellion had been purposely
invited by the government, and the unfortunate men who took part in it,
deliberately drawn into a trap by those who subsequently inflicted so
severe a punishment on them for their error."

It seemed, too, as if the dominant party made use of the occasion
afforded by the real guilt of a few desperate and imprudent men,
in order to persecute or disable the whole body of their political
opponents. A great number of perfectly innocent individuals were thrown
into prison, and suffered in person, property, and character. The
whole body of reformers were subjected to suspicion, and to harassing
proceedings, instituted by magistrates whose political leanings were
notoriously adverse to them. Severe laws were passed, under colour of
which individuals very generally esteemed were punished without any form
of trial--I make no mention of the reasons which, in the opinion of the
local government, rendered those different steps advisable, because my
object is not to discuss the propriety of its conduct, but to point
out the effects which it necessarily had in augmenting irritation.
The revolt in Lower Canada has been noticed at the commencement of this
article. After this event Lord Gosford was recalled, and during the
interval between his departure, and the arrival of Lord Durham, the
functions of government in that province devolved on Sir John Col-borne.
The first care of Sir John, after the termination of the revolt,
concerned the disposal of the prisoners, of whom a great number remained
in custody. In the whole, about three hundred and twenty-six were
from time to time liberated, leaving about one hundred and sixty in
confinement, among whom seventy-two stood charged with being among the
principal promoters of the insurrection. It was not expected that any of
these would be convicted if tried by ordinary juries; but Lord Glenelg
being informed of this, declined to sanction a resort to any other
species of court, without previously submitting as a practical test
the anticipations as to the