Mr. Justice Taylor followed, dealing fully with the arguments brought forward by the prisoner’s counsel.  On the question of the delegation of the power to legislate given to the Dominion Parliament, he held that the Dominion Parliament has plenary powers on all subjects committed to it.  He reviewed fully all the facts relating to the admission of Rupert’s Land to the Dominion, and to the statutes passed for the government of Rupert’s Land and Manitoba when formed as a province.  After a critical examination of the evidence in the case, he was unable to come to any other conclusion than that to which the jury had come.  The evidence entirely fails to relieve the prisoner from responsibility for his acts.  A new trial must be refused and the conviction must be confirmed.

Mr. Justice Killam next followed at some length, concurring in the views of his brother judges.

With these proceedings the trial of the rebel chief was concluded, though counsel for Riel has notified the Executive that they will appeal the case to the Privy Council in England.  Riel will, meantime, be respited.

RIEL’S EXECUTION.

The execution of Louis David Riel took place at Regina, on the 16th November, 1885.  He met his fate bravely, and displayed more fortitude than had been thought possible.  He abstained from speech-making, and confined himself entirely, on the advice of Father Andre, who has been his constant companion throughout, to spiritual matters.  Riel never slept after receiving intelligence that the execution would take place that morning, and throughout the night was constant in his devotions.  At seven o’clock he had a light supper, and at five in the morning mass was celebrated, followed two hours later by the administration of the last sacrament.  Riel, towards the last, almost entirely dropped his new religious idiosyncrasies and decided to die a devout catholic.

The hour fixed for the execution was eight o’clock, but it was fifteen minutes past that hour before those who had passes from the sheriff were admitted to the guard-room.  Here was found the prisoner, kneeling on the floor of an upper room, from which he was to step to the gallows, It was a sad scene.  Around him were gathered numbers of mounted police, Sheriff Chapleau, Deputy-Sheriff Gibson, and a few others.  The room was illuminated by a small window, covered with a rime of frost through which the sun, now risen but a few hours, shot a few weak rays.  Riel now knelt beside the open window, through which the gallows could be seen, and prayed incessantly for fully half an hour.  Fathers McWilliams and Andre conducted the service for the doomed man in French, Riel repeating the responses in a clear voice, which could be heard distinctly above the murmurs of the priests’ whispering tones.  Riel wore a loose woollen surtout, grey trousers, and woollen shirt.  On his feet were moccasins, the only feature of his dress that