186 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



From the Courier. 



York, Saturday, May 5, 1832. 



THE GEEAT MEETING AT ST. THOMAS We have copied 

 from the London Sun a vivid and interesting sketch of the proceedings 

 of the great meeting of the inhabitants of the Talbot settlement which 

 was held on St. George's day at the village of St. Thomas. 



During the past winter the Eyersonian strolling priests, and a few 

 other emissaries of that faction liave used the most indefatigable exer- 

 tions to excite a feeling of disaffection among the inhabitpnts of that 

 settlement, and three or four meetings have been got up, and held by 

 them at the meeting or school house of Yarmouth, Malahide &c; the 

 proceedings of which have been blazoned forth in the columns of the 

 Guardian, and Advocate, as exhibiting the sentiments of the people of 

 that part of the country. As we happened to be in that neighborhood at 

 the time these meetings were held, we had an opportunity of observing 

 by whom they were called, and by whom attended; and we know there- 

 fore that the representations of the Guardian and advocate were totally 

 destitute of truth; as those meetings were attended by very few persons, 

 and those, chiefly, transient people, mostly from tlie United States; 

 scarcely a single respectable lesident yeoman of the country being present 

 at any of them. When we heard therefore that a general meeting of that 

 flourishing and highly favored settlement had been summoned by the 

 Hon. Col Talbot; who is called — justly and emphatically called the 

 '•' father of the settlement ;" for the purpose of taking the general senti- 

 ments of the people, relative to the government, and political afl'airs, of 

 the Province, we wei-e convinced that the result would be a triumphant 

 and overwhelming demonstration of public opinion in favor of existing 

 political institutions, and local government; and against the mischievous 

 and republican doctrines of the Methodist Episcopal faction. 



So, it will be seen, it has turned out. The Ryersonian strolling 

 demagogues, and tJieir secret and somewhat influential co-adjutors in the 

 village of St. Thomas, who indirectly encouraged and promoted the " hole 

 and corner meetings," had not, one of them, the courage to come forth 

 in the open light of day, and meet the " father of the settlement " and 

 the other advocates of the British principles, face to face, at the great 

 meeting : but when they witnessed the proud and triumphant display of 

 patriotism and true loyalty, which was exhibited at the meeting they 

 slirunk into their native nothingness — alike, as it would appear, ashamed 

 of their cause, and afraid to advocate it : and the friends of " Sir John 

 Colborne and the constitution," in consequence, carried every thing before 

 them, unopposed and uninterrupted. 



