amous name, but it is a much grander
thing to live a pure and noble life; and in estimating the character of
Robert Baldwin it should be remembered that he was not merely a
statesman and a lawyer, but was, over and above all else, a man and a
Christian."[63]

The foregoing account, be it understood, applies to a later period. At
the date of the general election in 1824 Robert Baldwin was still a
young man, whose reputation, professional and political, was yet to be
made. He had not even been called to the bar, and was still a student in
his father's office. Notwithstanding his youth, however--he was only in
his twenty-first year--he had given some thought to the political
questions of the time, and had even begun to look forward to the
possibility of an ultimate political career. His father, from whom he
had learned many political lessons, had recently become very wealthy
through the death of Miss Russell, as already mentioned. Much of his
wealth consisted of landed property. Robert was the first-born child of
his parents, and, as the law of primogeniture was then in force in Upper
Canada,[64] it was to be anticipated that he would succeed to large
possessions, and would be independent of any income arising from his own
exertions. He bore an honoured name, and it was tolerably certain that,
under such a combination of circumstances, he would sooner or later find
his way to Parliament. He had already imbibed what were in those days
considered as advanced Liberal views, and was in full accord with his
father, who had to a large extent moulded his opinions. He was present
at the meetings of the Reform members held during the first session
following the elections of 1824, for the purpose of organization. It was
then that a distinct Reform Party, with common objects and a specific
policy, may be said to have been formed in this Province. There had been
Upper Canadian Reformers from the very foundation of the Province, but
no Reform Party can strictly be said to have had an existence prior to
the latter part of the year 1824.

No man was more conspicuous in contributing to the founding of the
Reform Party than was William Lyon Mackenzie, whose personality yet
remains to be considered. Owing in some measure to the force of
circumstances, but chiefly to his own energy, impulsiveness and love of
notoriety, Mr. Mackenzie's name and achievements have become more widely
known than have those of many abler and wiser men. He was the