296 TRANSACTIONS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. A on. BT 
for his journey. Any man presuming to travel on it the same day is to be excommuni- 
cated forthwith. The very fishes have been ordered to retire to their holes at his 
august passover.” 
One of the first questions which Lord Durham had to deal with was 
the fate of the numerous political prisoners. A formal trial by jury was 
thought unsatisfactory, Frenchmen being likely to acquit and English- 
men to condemn, through sheer national sympathy or antipathy. Lord 
Durham adopted a policy which gave general satisfaction here, but 
aroused great hostility at home. Having induced some of the imprisoned 
ring-leaders to confess complicity in rebellion, the Governor-in-council 
pardoned minor offenders, but banished the principal ones to Bermuda 
under penalty of death should they return, the sime punishment being 
threatened Papineau and others in the event of their setting foot again 
in Canada. This decision was proclaimed on the 28th of June, the day 
fixed for the Queen’s coronation. 
In the British House of Lords, the actions of the Governor excited 
indignation among his political enemies. Lord Lyndhurst declared that 
no such act of despotism had ever been hazarded in any country that 
respected legal forms. Lord Brougham and the Duke of Wellington 
also denounced the Indemnity ordinance, and the Ministry yielding to 
the criticism allowed a vote of censure upon Lord Durham to be carried. 
The Eari at once sent in his resignation and returned to England with- 
out even waiting for his recall. 
These events aroused astonishment and indignation among British 
Canadians. \ Mr. Coffin writes from Quebec on September 23rd: 
“\Vhat think you of the last intelligence from Fngland? Can you conceive anything 
more ungenerous or discreditable to British legislation than the whole course of con- 
duct adopted towards the l-arl of Durham? and that such suicidal measures should 
emanate from the House of Lords! The long record of political blundering which 
constitutes the history of British North America presents no act more shameful to the 
parties principally concerned, more humiliating to England herself, or more ominous 
to these Colonies, than the nullification of these ordinances by a pusillanimous 
Ministry. Lord Durham goes home at once. He expressed that determination in his 
reply to the address of the !eputies from the Lower Provinces whom he has dismissed. 
The Malabar 74 is under orders to convey him and his family to England by the ¢th of 
next month. It is almost incredible, yet not the less true, that the Earl of Durham 
received letters from Her Majesty and from Lords Melbourne and Glenelg, expressive 
of their satisfaction of these obnoxious ordinances and of his general administration of 
the Government, dated the very day on which the debate took place in which they 
were so factiously assailed and he so disgracefully abandoned. 1 will not trouble you 
here with the state of feeling in Quebec. but refer you to an article which will appear 
_in the JWontreal Gazette of ‘Tuesday next, signed “‘an Englishman.” I need not 
reiterate here what will, at all events, be easier to read in print than in hieroglyphics.” 
Sir John Colborne again became Administrator of the Government. 
