288 TRANSACTIONS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. [ Vou. INE 
Earl Gosford, on the 16th November, issued warrants for the arrest, 
on a charge of high treason, of Messrs. André Ouimet, J. Dubuc, Fran- 
cois Tavernier) George de’ Boucherville, Dr. Simard, }) Weblanc ade 
Papineau, Dr. O’Callaghan, T. S. Brown, Rodolphe Des Rivieres, and 
Ovide Perrault. Of these the last five managed to escape. 
On the same day (16th Nov.) the Montreal Volunteer Cavalry, under 
command of Lieutenant Ermatinger, were despatched to St. John’s to 
arrest two men named Davignon and Demaray. They had secured 
their prisoners and were returning to Montreal when about a mile from 
Longueuil they were met by some 200 men, armed with rifles and 
muskets, who opened fire on the troops, wounded the commander and 
five men, and finally rescued the prisoners. 
In a letter dated November 17th, Montreal, Mr. Coffin speaks of this 
event :— 
‘These are queer times for quiet people. Things bear a very unpleasant appear- 
ance in this part of the world. 1 would not say dangerous, but certainly disagreeable. 
Warrants have been issued for the arrest of several individuals in this City and 
District on charges of High Treason. In town we have been successful enough in bag- 
ging a few ;—to counterbalance this success, the Montreal Volunteer Cavalry, which 
was employed as a constabulary force, having been despatched to execute similar war- 
rants in the vicinity of St. Johns, and having accomplished the object of their expedi- 
tion, were attacked on their return by about 200 armed /adztants, and after having 
had four of their number wounded were compelled to relinquish their prisoners and 
retreat, which they did in good style, and, considering that there were twenty-two 
only in number opposed to such enormous odds, in a manner which reflects much to 
their credit. This reverse will doubtlessly be magnified into an utter defeat of all the 
British troops in the Lower Provinces by the force of the “nation Canadienne.” To 
reassure you on this head I give you the facts. The state of public feeling is very un- 
easy in this district ; the Canadians appear cowed in town, but they have shown pluck 
and preparation in the country. I have since I wrote the last word seen a very bright 
and handsome pewter ball which has just been extracted from the leg of one of the 
volunteers—an awkward customer I promise you. ‘The British are, as you may sup- 
pose, very much exasperated. Should any disturbance take place, blood will be spilt, 
and such an occurrence may be hourly expected. The non-appearance of the troops 
which had been ordered from Halifax and the West Indies has placed Government, I 
should imagine, in a dilemma. If things proceed much longer in the same train the 
Kingstonians may before long find themselves called upon to perform what they have 
so recently promised. 
‘““T must condole with Mr. Grant that the first act of rebellion should have been 
committed on his property. At the same time you may congratulate yourselves that 
you are safe at Kingston, and moreover that you have something to the fore there let 
the worst happen.” 
The next letter, written three days later than the preceding, acquaints 
us with some more of the stirring events of this exciting month :— 
