e _Canadien_ would not allow any but the members of
the Assembly to be a judge of the expediency of expelling Judge
DeBonne! and it was even said that of all those who signed the address
to His Excellency, presented in the name of Quebec, not one was capable
of understanding the nature of the question. In a _dependence_, such as
Canada, was the government to be daily flouted, bearded, and treated
with the utmost disrespect and contumely? "He" expected nothing less
than that its patience would be exhausted, and _energetic measures_
resorted to, as the only efficient ones. From any part of a people
conquered from wretchedness into every _indulgence_, and the _height of
prosperity_, such treatment, as the government daily received was far
different from that which ought to have been expected. But there were
characters in the world on whom benefits have no other effect than to
produce _insolence_ and _insult_. The stroke was struck, the _Mercury_
would say no more. The greatest misfortune that can ever happen to the
press is for it to be in the possession of invisible and licentious
hands. It said no more, because "the war was with the dead!"

Sir James was not very sure that he had acted either wisely or well. He
thought it necessary to explain. Divers wicked and seditious writings
had been printed. Divers wicked and seditious writings had been
dispersed throughout the province. Divers writings were calculated to
mislead divers of His Majesty's subjects. Divers wicked and traitorous
persons had endeavoured to bring into contempt and had vilified the
administration, and divers persons had invented wicked falsehoods, with
the view of alienating the affections of His Majesty's subjects from
the respect which was due to His Majesty's person. It was impossible
for His Majesty's representative longer to disregard or suffer
practices so directly tending to subvert His Majesty's government, and
to destroy the happiness of His Majesty's subjects. He, therefore,
announced, that with the advice and concurrence of the Executive
Council, and due information having been given to three of His
Majesty's Executive Councillors, warrants, as by law authorised, had
been issued, under which, some of the authors, printers, and publishers
of the aforesaid traitorous and seditious writings had been apprehended
and secured. Deeply impressed with a desire to promote, in all
respects, the welfare and happiness of the most benevolent of
sovereigns, w