f course not to be supposed that this incursion was attributable,
either directly or indirectly, to the Government as a body, or that it
had formed a subject of deliberation at the Council Board. The charge
that it was attributable to the entire oligarchy has already been
disposed of.[76] But it is at least fairly to be inferred that, after
the thing had been done, the Government considered themselves as being
under obligations to the misguided persons concerned in it. Several of
the latter received appointments to positions of public trust and
emolument, such as are usually conferred by Governments upon deserving
supporters. Jarvis was successively appointed to various posts, the most
important of which was that of Indian Commissioner, in which capacity he
became a defaulter to the Government, and was involved in serious
pecuniary and other difficulties. The avenging ghost of John Ridout
pursued him, and his subsequent career was not one to be contemplated
with admiration. Richardson, again, was appointed Clerk of the Peace for
the Niagara District. Sir Peregrine Maitland could not pretend to
overlook the dereliction of his confidential clerk, Captain Lyons, who
was accordingly dismissed from that position. But this was not the end
of the story. Many readers are doubtless familiar with Halifax's remark
when Lawrence Hyde, Earl of Rochester, was removed from the post of
First Lord of the Treasury and installed in that of Lord President. "I
have seen people kicked downstairs," remarked the great Trimmer, "but my
Lord Rochester is the first person that I ever saw kicked
up-stairs."[77] In like manner the Lieutenant-Governor's clerk was soon
afterwards kicked up-stairs, by being appointed Registrar of the Niagara
District.

It really seemed as though this wanton and most reprehensible invasion
of private rights was regarded by those in authority as a high and
meritorious action. It was certainly so regarded by "the best society"
of York at the time. The young men, who ought to have been made to
suffer social ostracism, were petted and caressed as heroes who had done
some grand service to the State; and, as will presently be seen, they
were not even permitted to suffer any considerable pecuniary loss by
reason of their breach of the law. Finding that their conduct led to
their being made the subjects of a sort of hero-worship, it is not
surprising that they soon came to pique themselves upon what they had
done, and, so far