ject, which had been placed before them,
in an intelligible manner. When Mr. Peel asked him if the English
members of the House were always with the government, Mr. Ryland said
that in every case of importance, with the exception of Mr. James
Stuart, formerly Solicitor-General, the English members always
supported the views of the government. And, indeed, the
Attorney-General of England, Sir Vicary Gibbs, reported against the
despotic intentions of Sir James Craig, and, at the suggestion of his
secretary, further expressed his official opinion that the paper
published in the _Canadien_, and upon which the proceedings of the
Executive Council of Canada had been founded, was not such as to fix
upon the publishers, the charge of treasonable practices, and that it
was only the apprehensions that had been in Canada entertained, of the
effects of the publication of the paper in the _Canadien_, that
might have made it excusable to resort to means, not strictly
justifiable in law, for suppressing anticipated mischief. The truth was
simply that a stupid old man, filled with the most violent prejudices,
against change of any sort, had been sent to govern a new and rapidly
rising country, and knew not how success was to be obtained. His mind
was full of conspiracies, rebellions, and revolutions, and nothing
else. When he retired to rest, and had drawn the curtains of his bed,
there sat upon him, night after night, three horrible spectres:--the
Rebellion in Ireland, the Reign of Terror in France, and the American
revolution. He slept only to dream of foul conspiracies, and he was
dreaming how they best could be avoided, when in broad daylight he was
most awake.

Upper Canada had not yet become sufficiently populous to require much
legislation. Indeed, the legislature of that province hardly transacted
any business more important than now devolves upon some insignificant
county municipality. There was as yet no party. There were as yet no
grievances. Parliament was annually assembled by Governor Gore, rather
because it was a rule to which he was bound to attend, than because it
was required. He met his parliament again, on the 1st of February,
1811, and business having been rapidly transacted, the royal assent was
given to nine Acts, relative to the erection and repair of roads and
bridges, to the licensing of petty chapmen, to the payment of
parliamentary contingencies, to the regulation of duties, to the
further regulation of the