Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER III. My arrival at Toronto—Strange impression concerning me—The conduct of the Loyalists —and of the Republicans—Copy ofletter from Mr. Joseph Hume to Mr. M'Kenzie, found among Mons. Papineau's baggage—My communication to his Majesty's Government. There would be no end to this chapter were I to describe the simplicity of mind, ill-naturedly called ignorance, with which I approached the city of Toronto. With Mr. M'Kenzie's heavy book of lamentations in my portmanteau, and with my remedial instructions in my writing-case, I considered myself as a political physician, who, whether regularly educated or not, was about to effect a surprising cure: for, as I never doubted for a moment either the existence of the 553 pages of grievances, nor that I would mercilessly destroy them root and branch, I felt perfectly confident that I should very soon be able proudly to report that the grievances of Upper Canada were defunct—in fact, that I had veni-ed, vidi-ed, and vici-ed them. As, however, I was no more connected with human politics than the horses that were drawing me—as I had never joined any political party, had never attended a political discussion, and had nevereven voted at an election, or taken any part in one— it was with no little surprise that, as I drove into Toronto, I observed the walls placarded iii large letters which designated me as " Sir Francis Head, A Tried Reformer." I could soon see that the loyalists looked upon me in this light, and, acccordingly, on the very first appointment, that of Surveyor-General, which they themselves forced me to make, they almost one and all joined in a very improper petition to the King, which I am sure they have all since deeply regretted. Exposed as I knew I must be to the political storm, it was to me a matter of t...