egard to the Honorable Mr. Panet, in particular, His
Excellency could place no confidence in the services of a person whom
he had good reason for considering as one of the proprietors of a
seditious and libellous publication, disseminated through the province,
with great industry, to vilify His Majesty's government, to create a
spirit of dissatisfaction and discontent among his subjects, and to
breed disunion and animosity between two races. Had it been the purpose
of the _Canadien_ and of its proprietors to breed discord between the
two races of settled inhabitants, the censure of Sir James Craig would
have been deserved. But that was not its purpose. It aimed only at
equality of privileges, and complained of the sway of officials having
no abiding interest in the country. It was a war between the imported
official class and the native-born or naturalized classes which the
_Canadien_ waged. Doubtless, it went, occasionally, too far. Doubtless,
it forgot to make such distinctions between the officials and the
traders or agriculturists of British origin. Doubtless, it did remember
that the French Canadians had been captives at the conquest, and their
souls revolted at the idea of being lorded over still, though no longer
captives, but British subjects, anxious for the honour of their King,
and ready to defend him from his enemies.

The new Parliament met on the 9th of April, 1809. The Assembly were
directed to choose a Speaker. Out of doors and indoors, in the
Governor's Castle, at the official desk, in the merchant's counting
room, in the baker's shop, in the Council, and in the Assembly itself,
the choice of a Speaker by the Assembly, was a matter of interest. It
was whispered that Mr. Panet had incurred the Governor's displeasure,
and that all the toadies would vote against him. It was blandly hinted
that Mr. Panet having been dismissed from the Militia, the House,
having, regard to its own dignity, could not call him to the Chair. It
was said in conversation that Mr. Panet was an excellent and most
impartial Speaker, and it was a pity that he had suffered himself to
have been connected with the seditious and libellous _Canadien_. Only
for Mr. Panet's unfortunate position, no more suitable person, for the
highly honorable office of Speaker, could have been thought of. But he
must not be Speaker under present circumstances. The Assembly thought
otherwise and, acting independently and fearlessly, elected Mr. Panet
as th