ANALYSIS. that "The king was most unwilling to admit, as open to debate, the question whether one of the vital principles of the provincial government shall undergo alteration.” 1. Excitement, and course the assembly. of the address the governor, 22. 'Intense excitement followed this development ;pursued by the assembly not only complained of disappointment, but charged the governor with perfidy; the customary supplies were withheld, and no provision was made for the 1836. public service. In the autumn of 1836, the majority of 2. Character, the assembly, in an address presented to the governor, depresented to clared their positive adherence to their former demands by the assem for an elective council,-maintained that they themselves, in opposition to the then existing legislative council, “the representatives of the tory party," were the only legitimate and authorized organ of the people,-and, finally, they expressed their resolution to grant no more supplies until the great work of justice and reform should be completed. bly, in 1836. 3. The crisis. liament on a. See verse 6 5. Violent 23. 'Matters had now arrived at a crisis in which the monarchical features of the provincial administration were to be abandoned by the British ministry, or violent measures adopted for carrying on the existing government. 1837. 'Early in 1837 the British parliament, by a vote of 318 to 4. Vote of Par 56, declared the inexpediency of making the legislative Canadian council elective by the people, and of rendering the execu affairs. tive council responsible to the assembly. "Intelligence of this vote occasioned violent commotions in the Canadas, and various meetings of the people were held, in which it was affirmed that the decision of parliament had extinguished all hopes of justice, and that no farther attempts 6. Convention should be made to obtain redress from that quarter. "A general convention was proposed to consider what farther measures were advisable, and a recommendation was made to discontinue the use of British manufactures, and of all articles paying taxes. commotions, public meet ings, &c. proposed, &.c. 7. Call for troops, and governor's proclamation. 24. In consequence of this state of things, and learning that the people were organizing for violent measures under the influence of Papineau, early in June Lord Gos ford called upon the governor of New Brunswick for a regiment of troops, and issued a proclamation warning the people against all attempts to seduce them from their allegiance. 8. Meetings Meetings of the loyalists were also held in Montreal and Quebec, condemning the violent proceedings of the assembly, and deprecating both the objects and the measures of the so-called patriot party. of the loyalists. 9. Meeting of the legisla ture in August, and 25. In August Lord Gosford called a meeting of the provincial legislature, and submitted measures for amendthe result. ing the legislative council, but the representatives adhered to their former purposes of withholding supplies until all noro adopted lar leaders. their grievances should be redressed, when the governor, 1837. expressing his regret at measures which he considered a virtual annihilation of the constitution, prorogued the assembly. A recourse to arms appears now to have been 1 Resolution resolved upon by the popular leaders, with the avowed ob- by the popu ject of effecting an entire separation from the parent state. A central committee was formed at Montreal; an association called "The Sons of Liberty," paraded the streets in a hostile manner, and a proclamation was emitted by them, denouncing the "wicked designs of the British government," and calling upon all friends of their country to rally around the standard of freedom. 2. Central Committee,"Sons of Liberty," &c. ceedings in the Hostile procounty of Two Moun tains. 4. In the Counties St. Lawrence. 26. 'In the county of Two Mountains, north of the Ottawa, and adjoining Montreal on the west, the people deposed their magistrates, and reorganized the militia under officers of their own selection, and British authority entirely ceased in that quarter. These proceedings were soon after imitated in six of the more populous counties south of the lying southward of the St. Lawrence, where all persons holding offices under the crown were compelled to resign their situations, or leave the country. 'Loyalist associa- 5. Opposition tions, however, were formed in opposition to these movements, and the Catholic clergy, headed by the bishop of Montreal, earnestly exhorted the people to take no part in the violent proceedings of the "Patriot party." to the move ments of the 'Patriot party.' ances in Montreal a. Nov. 6. Effects proreports of this duced by the affair. 27. 'In Montreal the "Sons of Liberty" were attacked 6. Disturbin the streets and dispersed by the loyalists, and, although none were killed, several were dangerously wounded. The office of the Vindicator newspaper was destroyed, and the house of Papineau, the great agitator, was set on fire by the victors, but rescued from the flames. 'Exag- 7 gerated reports of this affair spread through the country, increasing the general ferment, and giving new strength to the cause of the disaffected. It being announced that 8 Warrants resistance was assuming a more organized form, the government issued warrants for the arrest of twenty-six of the most active patriot leaders, of whom seven were members of the assembly, including Papineau, the speaker of that body. for the arrest of the Patriot leaders. rescue of prisoners. 28. 'Several were apprehended, but Papineau could 9. Arrests and not be found. A body of militia, sent to make some arrests in the vicinity of St. Johns, on the Sorel, succeeded in their purpose, but on their return they were attacked by a party of the insurgents, and the prisoners were rescued. In the latter part of November, strong detachments 10. Armed deof government troops, commanded by Colonels Gore and sent against Wetherall, were sent to attack armed bodies of the insurgents, assembled under Papineau, Brown, and Neilson, tachments the insur gents. 538 a. Nov, 23. 2. Success of Colonel Wetherall. ANALYSIS at the villages of St. Dennis and St. Charles, on the Sorel. 1. Repulse of 'Colonel Gore proceeded against St. Dennis, which he Colonel Gore attacked with great spirit, but was repulsed with a loss of *Colonel ten killed, ten wounded, and six missing. Wetherall was more successful. Although St. Charles was defended by nearly a thousand men, the place was carried after a severe engagement, in which the insur gents lost nearly three hundred in killed and wounded. 3. The result This affair suppressed the insurrection in that quarter. The peasantry, panic struck, threw down their arms; Neilson was taken prisoner; and Brown and Papineau sought safety by escaping to the United States. b. Nov. of this expedition. 4. Expedition 29. 'In December thirteen hundred regular and volunteer in Decomber. troops were sent against the districts of Two Mountains and of St. Benoit, 'At Insurgents Terrebonne, which were still in a state of rebellion. defeated at St. Eustache St. Eustache an obstinate stand was made by the insurc. Dec. 14. gents, who were finally defeated with severe loss. Num. bers of the inhabitants were remorselessly massacred, and 6. Surrender their beautiful village burned. "The village of St. and tranquil Benoit, which had been the chief seat of insurrection, surrendered without resistance, but such was the rage of the loyalists, who had been plundered and driven out of the country, that they reduced a large portion of the village to ashes. Several of the patriot leaders were taken, and at the close of the year 1837 the whole province of Lower Canada was again in a state of tranquillity. lity restored. 7. State of affairs in Up 30. In the mean time Upper Canada had become the per Canada theatre of important events. A discontented party had arisen there, demanding reforms similar to those which had been the cause of dissensions in the lower province, and especially urging the necessity of rendering the legis 8. Events in lative council elective by the people. In 1836 the assembly had stopped the ordinary supplies, but in the following year, when a new election for members was held, the influence of the governor, Sir Francis Head, succeeded in causing the election of a majority of members friendly to the existing government. 1836 and 1837. 9. On the breaking out rection in the vince. plated attack 31. From this time tranquillity prevailed until the of the insur- breaking out of the insurrection in the lower province, lower pro- when the leaders of the popular party, who had long desired a separation from Great. Britain, seized the opportu 10 Contem nity for putting their plans in execution. "During the upon To night of the 5th of December, 1837, about five hundred d. Dec. 5. men, under the command of Mackenzie, assembled at Montgomergy's Tavern, four miles from Toronto, with the 11 Design view of taking the city by surprise. "Several persons proceeding to the city were taken prisoners, but one of them escaping, the alarm was given, and by morning three ronto. abandoned. Dec. 7. 1. Dispersion gents. 2. Arming of the Militia, hundred loyalists were mustered under arms, and the de- 1837. sign of attacking the place was abandoned. 'On the 7th the loyalists marched out to attack the insurgents, who were easily dispersed, and many of them taken prisoners. of the insur33. In a few days several thousands of the militia were mustered under arms for the defence of the government, and it being understood that Duncombe, another popular leader, had assembled a body of the insurgents in the London District, Colonel M'Nab was sent thither to disperse them. On his approach the patriot leaders disappeared, their followers laid down their arms, and tranquillity was restored throughout the province. and restora tion of tran quillity. 3. Events at Buffalo, and seizure of Navy Island by the insur gents. a. See Map, p. 451. 33. Mackenzie, however, having fled to Buffalo, succeeded in kindling there a great enthusiasm for the cause of the "Canadian Patriots." A small corps was quickly assembled; Van Rensselaer, Sutherland, and others, presented themselves as military leaders; possession was taken of Navy Island, situated in the Niagara channel; and fortifications were there commenced which were defended by thirteen pieces of cannon. Recruits flocked to this post until their numbers amounted to about a thousand. Colonel M'Nab soon arrived with a large body of 5. Govern government troops, but without the materials for crossing the channel, or successfully cannonading the position of the insurgents. 4. Their numbers. ment troops. from the States in aid of the Patriots. 7. Course pursued by the American government. 34. Much excitement prevailed along the American 6. Volunteers frontier, and volunteers from the states began to flock in in considerable numbers to aid the cause of the 'patriots.' 'But the American president, Mr. Van Buren, issued two successive proclamations, warning the people of the penalties to which they would expose themselves by engaging in hostilities with a friendly power, and also appointed General Scott to take command of the disturbed frontier, and enforce a strict neutrality. of the steamer Caroline. 35. In the mean time a small steamer, named the 8.Destruction Caroline, had been employed by the insurgents in conveying troops and stores from Fort Schlosser, on the American shore, to Navy Island. Captain Drew, having been instructed by Colonel M'Nab to intercept her return, but not being able to meet the boat in the channel, attacked b. Dec. 29-30. her at night, while moored at the American shore. At least one of the crew was killed, and the vessel after being towed to the middle of the stream, was set on fire and abandoned, when the burning mass was borne downward by the current, and precipitated over the Falls. occasioned by this act. 36. This act, occurring within the waters of the 9 Excitemen United States, occasioned much excitement throughout the Union, and led to an angry correspondence between Island by the Jan. 14. 2 Jan Rens Mackenzie. 3 The party under Sutherland. ANALYSIS. the British and the American minister. After the arri val of General Scott on the frontier, effective measures 1838. were taken to prevent farther supplies and recruits from 1. Evacuation of Navy reaching Navy Island, when, the force of the assailants insurgents continually increasing, and a severe cannonade having been commenced by them, the insurgents evacuated their position on the 14th of January. Van Rensselaer and selaer and Mackenzie, escaping to the United States, were arrested by the American authorities, but admitted to bail. A number of the fugitives fled to the west, and under their leader, Sutherland, formed an establishment on an island in the Detroit channel. After meeting with some re, this party also voluntarily disbanded. 4. The Earl of 37. Tranquillity was now restored to both Canadasernor general parliament made some changes in the constitution of the of British lower province-and in May, 1838, the Earl of Durham arrived at Quebec, as governor-general of all British 5 Causes of America. 'Having taken the responsibility of banishing to Bermuda, under penalty of death in case of return, a number of prisoners taken in the late insurrection, and charged with the crime of high treason, his conduct met with some censure in the British parliament, which induced him to resign his commission, and on the 1st of November he sailed from Quebec, on his return to England. a Feb and March. Durham gov America his resigna tion. Nov. 1. 6. Sir Francis Head's resig tion. ter. the Ameri cans. verses,a 38. Sir Francis Head had previously resigned the office of governor of Upper Canada, on account of some disapprobation which the British ministry had expressed 7. His charac in relation to his conduct. 'He was a stern monarchist, and condemned all measures of conciliation towards the 8. Incursions Canadian republicans. In June, soon after his departure, by bands of several bands of the Americans, invited by the 'patriots,' crossed the Niagara channel, but were driven back by the militia. A party also crossed near Detroit, but after losing a few of their number, were compelled to return. 39. On the 3d of November, only two days after the 9. Rebellion departure of the Earl of Durham, a fresh rebellion, which treal District. had been organizing during the summer along the whole line of the American frontier, broke out in the southern 10. Events at counties of Montreal District. "At Napierville, west of Naperville the Sorel, Dr. Neilson and other leaders had collected Νον. 3. in the and Odell town. about 4000 men, several hundred of whom were detached to open a communication with their friends on the American side of the line. These were attacked and repulsed by a party of loyalists, who afterwards posted themselves in Odelltown chapel, where they were in turn attacked by a large body of the insurgents, headed by Neilson himself, but after a severe engagement the latter were obliged to retreat with considerable loss. |