ot
having been heard in Canada. After diligent search, I have been unable
to find any report of this decision, either in the official reports of
the Privy Council or in any of the newspapers or periodicals of the
time.

CHAPTER IX.

THE CASE OF FRANCIS COLLINS.

In the foregoing pages mention has several times been made of Francis
Collins, editor, proprietor and publisher of _The Canadian Freeman_, a
Radical weekly newspaper issued at York. Mr. Collins was an enthusiastic
young Irish Roman Catholic, who had immigrated to Canada a short time
before the excitement arising out of the Gourlay persecution reached its
height, and when he himself was barely twenty years of age. He was a
printer by trade, and for some time after his arrival worked as a
compositor in the office of _The Upper Canada Gazette_, published at
York by the King's Printer, Dr. Robert Charles Horne. Finding that he
possessed much intelligence and a fair education, his employer deputed
him to report the debates in the Assembly during the sessions of
Parliament. In 1821 he reported certain proceedings which the Government
were annoyed at seeing in print, more especially as the version given
was not strictly accurate. For this offence Dr. Horne was summoned to
the bar of the House, where he sought to evade responsibility by
pleading that the debates had not been reported by himself, but by
Francis Collins. The Doctor further offered a humble apology, and was
glad to escape with a sharp reprimand, accompanied by a caution from the
Speaker that he would thereafter be held responsible for the reports in
the _Gazette_.[118]

Within a short time after receiving this admonition Dr. Horne ceased to
be King's Printer, whereby the post became vacant. As Collins was
familiar with the nature of the work, and was naturally desirous of
bettering his condition, he applied for the appointment. The office was
at the disposal of the Lieutenant-Governor, and was held entirely at his
pleasure. Collins was curtly checked for his presumption by a leading
official, who informed him that the office would be conferred upon "no
one but a gentleman." It would be interesting to know whence the
official who was guilty of this wanton insult had derived his ideas of
courtesy and good breeding. If his statement were to be credited, any
application on his part for the post of King's Printer would most
assuredly have been made in vain. The appointment was given to Mr.
Charles