BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICE OF JOHN KIRKPATRICK. 175 



and Chemistry, and managed to enter a college or some 

 high educational institution at Glasgow. 



At the same time, 1837, he espoused the cause of the 

 Chartists, entering into this organized opposition to the 

 Government with all the zeal of an earnest nature. There 

 was a public meeting held in which the Secretary, who 

 was in the interest of the Government, declined to pre- 

 sent a paper which the Chartists had prepared. Of course 

 most of the boys in John's shop were furious Chartists. 

 Having suspicions that their petition would not receive 

 fair dealing, they came to the meeting in force, and took 

 possession of the back seats. When it was about to adjourn 

 Kirkpatrick rose and enquired of the Secretary whether all 

 the papers had been presented. He replied that they had. 

 He was plainly told that he lied. Heading the boys, Mr. 

 Kirkpatrick made a rush for the stand and seized the papers. 

 A new organization was immediately elfected, the petition 

 discussed and adopted with a rush. Some of his young 

 Chartist friends were secured and condemned, and some 

 left the country, but he, eluding the officers, found means 

 to destroy his correspondence and was not arrested. 



In 1841 the invalid father died. Relieved from assisting 

 him, Mr, Kirkpatrick married Margaret Crawford, of Glas- 

 gow, and in 1842 they set their faces towards Canada. There 

 they commenced farming in one of those new Scotch settle- 

 ments on the North shore of Lake Erie, near Port Stanley, 

 but this rude wilderness country does not appear to have 

 met their expectations. 



In 1843 the late Capt. Barrows, who for so many years run 

 a schooner and finally a steamer between Port Stanley and 

 Cleveland, induced the young couple to come here on his 

 vessel. 



John sprang ashore as soon as she touched the dock, 

 to look for work. In half an hour he reappeared on the 

 dock, full of hope and satisfaction, calling to his wife: 

 "Margaret, I've got a job," 



