The Narrative of Gordon Sellar Who Emigrated to Canada in 1825 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 176 pages of information about The Narrative of Gordon Sellar Who Emigrated to Canada in 1825.

The Narrative of Gordon Sellar Who Emigrated to Canada in 1825 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 176 pages of information about The Narrative of Gordon Sellar Who Emigrated to Canada in 1825.
marched to Toronto and seized the guns stored in the city hall.  There was no man to take the lead.  Mackenzie vapored and complained of others, formed plans one hour to change the next, and demonstrated the weakness of his shallow nature.  Seeing this, farmers sincerely desirous of a change in the rule of the province, left for their homes, and the handful left were routed without trouble.  Hugh was among those made prisoners and placed in Toronto jail.  His father was in great distress and implored me to help to get him released.  My stay in Toronto had given a knowledge of its officials and I told him if he was willing to pay it might be done.  We went to the home of the prosecutor for the crown.  The father told his tale and, in piteous terms, begged the return of his son to his distracted mother.  Perceiving what he said had no effect, I took the gentleman aside and told him the father might give cash bail.  ‘How much is he ready to deposit?’ was asked.  I thought he had $25 in his pocket.  ‘Not enough,’ he replied.  ’The lad can be indicted for treason which means hanging.’  ’You cannot get evidence against him on that charge.  Say what you want?’ Turning to Brodie he said if he would deposit ten pounds, and enter into the proper recognizances he would give him an order to the jailor for his son’s release.  Without a word of demur the father counted out $40 of his painfully gathered savings and the chancellor scribbled the order.  On reaching the prison the jailor raised objections.  It was now dark and after hours and the lad had been boarded four days and the fees of the constables who had arrested him had to be paid.  I cut him short by asking ‘How much?’ The fellow eyed the father as if calculating the extent of his ability to pay.  ‘Two pound ten,’ he said.  ‘Nonsense,’ I replied, ’farmers have not that much money to give away; say one pound ten and I will advance it for him.’  He nodded and I passed the money.  Going upstairs he threw open a door, and we saw in the hall, or rather corridor, a crowd of men.  They were silent with the exception of one who was denouncing his being held as an outrage, for he was as loyal as the governor himself.  The rest of them were enduring their condition in sullen silence.  Among them were industrious farmers who had warrants issued against them because they had been known to threaten officials in the land-office for not getting patents for the lots they had paid for, farmers arrested on informations lodged by men who owed them, others by officials who expected to share in their property when confiscated, and barroom politicians who had expressed their opinions too freely about those in power.  A few, however, were thoughtless young fellows who had been drawn to visit Montgomery’s tavern from mere curiosity and love of excitement.  The room was lighted dimly by two lamps hung on the walls; the heat was stifling, the odor sickening.  We looked among the throng for Hugh.  His father pulled my sleeve and pointed to a far corner, where
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The Narrative of Gordon Sellar Who Emigrated to Canada in 1825 from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.