ALLEGED EEWAEDING OF REBELS. 321 



Influence, or in the sweets of office. The few British 

 who gained access to the Assembly, therefore, were 

 naturally driven Into opposition, and, after the union of 

 the provinces, made common cause with the French 

 opposition to the Tory Government. By degrees, how- 

 ever, the British-born in Upper Canada increased in 

 strength, till at length the members of Assembly returned 

 by them exceeded those nominated and returned by the 

 Family Compact. They were then able, by the aid of 

 the opposition members of French blood, to drive their 

 enemies from office, and bring In that Government which 

 now holds the reins of power. It was no way surprising, 

 then, that a majority of British-born should be found 

 fighting side by side, when in office, against the same 

 parties whom they had joined to oppose before the reins 

 of Government were intrusted to their hands ; or that 

 our ousted opponents should be bitter, and say all man- 

 ner of evil against us. 



" And then, as to this disputed measure, we never 

 believed or intended that any one who had aided or pro- 

 moted the rebellion should be compensated for the losses 

 he had sustained ; though some of our supporters spoke 

 foolishly, which we could not help, and our leaders were 

 not perfect by any means in their behaviour on some 

 occasions. How, then, could we abandon our old friends? 

 We felt. Indeed, that we had no cause ; and If we had 

 found a cause, we could not, amid the clamour that was 

 raised, have honourably taken advantage of it." 



This defence places the question in a llgi||it I was too 

 ignorant of the circumstances to have been able to see 

 it in before. I could not reply to it ; and as I was only 

 asking for Information myself, I place it before my 

 readers, who may possibly be In the same state of happy 

 ignorance with myself, without committing myself either 

 for or against the statement of my Canadian friend. 



VOL. I. X 



