Chapter 2

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[78] _Statement of Facts relating to the Trespass on the Printing Press in the Possession of Mr. William Lyon Mackenzie, in June, 1826. Addressed to the Public generally, and particularly to the Subscribers and Supporters of the Colonial Advocate._ York, 1828.

[79] See the _Freeman_ for Thursday, Feb. 21st, 1828.

[80] See note to p. 130 _ante_.

[81] Mr. Mackenzie, when taken before the Grand Jury to give evidence in support of a criminal prosecution of the type rioters, admitted that his actual, as distinguished from his incidental loss by the riot, did not exceed L12 10_s._ sterling.

[82] It was the policy of the official party to suppress, as far as was practicable, all reference in the public newspapers to the misdoings of themselves and their adherents. This was but natural. No one likes to see his transgressions preserved to future ages in all the pitiless coldness of type, which may rise up against his descendants long after he himself is forgotten. The following is a complete transcript of the contemporary report of the trial of these rioters, as published in _The U. E. Loyalist_, a sheet issued as a sort of supplement or rider to the official _Gazette_. It appears in the _Loyalist_ for October 21st, 1826:

"_Court of King's Bench._--In the suit of MacKenzie _vs_ Jarvis, McDougall, and others, for Trespass, the Jury, after a consultation of twenty-four hours, returned into Court--Verdict for the Plaintiff L625."

This is absolutely the only information obtainable from the contemporary number of the official organ on a subject which was _par excellence_ the topic of the time. It may be added that the organ contained no reference whatever to the type riot until many weeks after its occurrence.

[83] Apparently they were not then aware that the publication had actually ceased before the riot took place.

[84] _Life of Mackenzie_, Vol. I., p. 99.

[85] See Dr. Scadding's _Toronto of Old_, p. 38. Mr. Baby's idiom was due to his French origin and training.

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