530 CANADIAN LOCAL HISTORY. 



many piingeiit and Immorous things in prose and verse iu tlie columns of tlic Advocate itself. 

 In 1834 the Almanac assumed the following title: "A new Almanac for the Canadian True 

 Blues ; with which is incorporated The Constitutional Reformer's Text Book, for the Millenial 

 and Prophetic Year of the Grand General Election for Upper Canada, and total and everlasting 

 Downfall of Toryism in the British Empire, 1S34." It was still supposed to he edited by 

 Patrick Swift, Esq., who is now duhhed M.P.P., and Professor of Astrology, York. 



In the extract given ahove from what was styled Gourlay's " Last Sketch" of Upper Canada, 

 the query and rejoinder, " Schools and Colleges, what are they? Few yet painted, though 

 lectures on Natural Philosophy are now abundant" are now unintelligible, without remark. 

 The allusion was to an advertisement in the Upper Canada Gazette, of Feb. 5, 1818, which 

 Gourlay at the time of its appearance thought proper to animadvert upon and to satirize in the 

 Niagara Spectator. It ran as follows : "Natural Philosophy.— The subscriber intends to 

 deliver a course of Popular Lectures on Natural Philosophy, to commence on Tuesday thelVth 

 inst, at 7 o'clock p. m., should a number of auditors come forward to form a class. Tickets of 

 admission for the Course (price Two Guineas) may be had of William Allan, Esq., Dr. Borne, 

 or at the School House. The surplus, if any, after defraying the current expenses, to re laid 

 out in painting the District School. John Strachan, York, 3rd Feb., 1818." I 



As was to be expected, Dr. Strachan was a standing subject of inveoti-ve in all the publications 

 of Gourlay, as well as subsequently in all those of McKenzie. Collins, Editor of the Frleman, 

 became, as we have seen, reticent in relation to him ; but, more or less, a fusilade was! main- 

 tained upon him, in McKenzie's periodicals, as long as they issued. In McKenzie's oppjisition 

 to Dr. Strachan there was possibly a certain degree of national anhnus springing frcjm the 

 contemplation of a Scottish compatriot who, after rising to position in the young coloii', was 

 disposed, from temperament, to bear himself cavalierly towards all who did not agree wih him 

 in opmion. In addition, we have been told that at an early period in an interview betwen the 

 two parties. Dr. Strachan once chanced to express himself with considerable heat to McEenzie, 

 and proceeded to the length of shewing him the door. The latter had called, as our information 

 runs, to deprecate prejudice in regard to a brother-in-law of his, Mr. Baxter, who was a Candi- 

 date for some post under the Educational Board, of which Dr. S. was chairman ; whenigreat 

 olTence was taken at the idea being for a moment entertained that a personal motive woud in 

 the slightest degree bias him when in the execution of public duty. At a late period il the 

 history of both the now memorable Scoto-Canadians, we happened ourselves to be preseniat a 

 scene in the course of which the two were brought curiously face to face with each other, Ince 

 more, for a few moments. It will be remembered that after the subsidence of the poliical 

 troubles and the union of Upper and Lower Canada, McKenzie came back and was retuAed 

 member of Parliament for Haldimand. While he was in the occupancy of this post, it cam* to 

 pass that Dr. Strachan, now Bishop of Toronto, had occasion to present a petition to the united 

 House on the subject of the Clergy Reserves. To give greater weight and solemnity to the ict 

 he decided to attend in person at the bar of the House, at the head of his clergy, all in canofi- 

 eals. McKenzie seeing the procession approaching, hurried into the House and took his seai^; 

 and contrived at the moment the Bishop and his retinue reached the" bar to have possession 

 the floor. Affecting to put a question to the Speaker before the Order of the Day was proceedei 

 with, he launched out with great volubility and in excited strain on the interruptions to whicll 

 the House was exposed in its deliberations : he then quickly came round to an attack in 

 particular on prelates and clergy for their meddling and turbulence, frequenting, as he averred,\ 

 the lobbies of the Legislature when they should be employed on higher matters, fiUingwith\ 

 tumultuous mobs the halls and passages of the House, thi-ongiug (with an indignant glance in 

 that direction) the very space below the bar set apart for the accommodation of peaceably 

 disposed spectators. The House had only just assembled, and had not had time to settle down 

 into perfect quiet : members were still dropping in, and it was a mystery to many, for a time, 

 what could, at such an early stage of the day's proceedings, have excited the ire of the member 

 for Haldimand. The courteous speaker, Mr. Sicotte, was plainly taken aback at the sudden 

 outburst of patriotic fervour ; and, not being as familiar with the old Upper Canadian past as 

 many old Upper Canadians present were, he could not enter into the pleasantry of the thing ; 

 for, after all, it was humorously and not maliciously intended : the orator in possession of the 

 floor had his old antagonist at a momentary disadvantage, and he chose to compel him while 



