[COYNE] THE TALBOT PAPERS 128 



sedition and lies, which stated that my object was overawe and browbeat 

 my settlers into an expression of my own choice — that I deny for 

 r-uch a measure would have frustrated the main object I had in view in 

 calling this meeting for I am too well acquainted with the nature of 

 mankind to suppose for a moment that any sound or honest man would 

 allow himself to be overawed or browbeaten as regarded the question 

 upon which we meet as they would naturally be governed by the dictates 

 of their own consciences — I have chosen this day as being St. George's 

 day — the Champion of the greatest nation on earth, and all who claim 

 to be her sons either by birth or adoption should feel proud accordingly 

 and with hands and hearts under the sacred banner that is now waving 

 over our heads, determined Avith our lives to defend our King our rights 

 and our glorious Constitution ngainst all Conspirators and rebels of 

 every nation and denomination whatsoever — When I undertook the 

 formation of this Settlement between 20 and 30 years ago it was in the 

 hope that I should have none other but sound British subjects for my 

 settlers so as to ensure peace and good fellowship amongst us, and I took 

 every pains to select characters of that description but in spite of all my 

 vigilance I am sorry to iind I have not been successful, for some black 

 sheep have slipped into my flock and very black they are — and what is 

 worse they have got the rot — a distemper not known in the Talbot Settle- 

 ment to have shown itself openly until within the last six or eight 

 months — when these (which I shall call for shortness Rebels) com- 

 menced their work of darkness under the cover of organizing Damned 

 Cold water drinking Societies, where they met at night to communicate 

 their poisonous and seditious schemes to each other and to devise the 

 best mode of circulating the infection, so as to impose upon and delude 

 the simple and unwary — After practising this game they fancied they 

 had acquired strength and assumed a more daring aspect, and appeared 

 openly under the mask of the Grievence Petition which I have never 

 seen or heard the particular contents of and was it placed before me T 

 should not take the trouble of reading it being aware that it was a thing 

 of trasli and sedition founded on falsehood fabricated for the purpose 

 of creating discontent, and in the end rebellion in this Province — 'The 

 only part that T paid any attention to is that which prays His Majesty 

 to remove Sir John C. — from the Government of the Province for my 

 part, I cannot account how that gallant and distinguished officer incurred 

 the displeasure of this faction other wise than by showing himself openly 

 to the world, a straight forward, honest, faithful and loyal servant to 

 His King and Country — Such qualifications were indeed sufficient to 

 render him odious in the sight of Rebels — I have not the honor of being ' 

 very intimately acquainted with His Excellency as a private gentleman. 



