THE BURSTING OF THE STORM

“The Paris mobs, in the midst of revolution and anarchy, respected public buildings, the libraries, and works of art ; and it remained for the Vandalism of Montreal rioters to inflict a public injury on themselves, of a character adopted by the Saracens and Huns, and other barbarians of the middle ages, to punish their enemies.”—MACMULLEN’S History of Canada, p. 509.

PON the opening of the Assembly at three o’clock in the afternoon of Wednesday, the 25th of April, the amended Customs Bill came up for its third reading. By this Bill various important amendments to the tariff were introduced, and it was very desirable that it should be passed without delay. Navigation had opened earlier

than usual, and some of the early spring vessels had already entered

the St. Lawrence. If they were permitted to enter the port of

Quebec before the new Act became law, their cargoes would only be

liable to the duties imposed under the old tariff; and this would be

an injustice to the owners of cargoes arriving subsequently, when the new Act should have come into operation. The Inspector-General,

Mr. Hincks, pressed these matters upon the attention of the Assembly,

adding that if the measure were at once passed by the two Houses

his Excellency would come down and assent to it in the course of the afternoon. The Bill was accordingly read a third time and passed without opposition, whereupon it was sent up to the Legislative Council. That body at once suspended the rules, and hurried the

Bill through its various stages. The Governor’s assent was now all

that was necessary to give effect to it. The Upper House adjourned

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“during pleasure,” and awaited the arrival of his Excellency, who a few minutes later entered the Council Chamber attended by his staff, The members of the Assembly were summoned, and immediately upon their arrival the Governor gave his assent, not only to the Customs Act, but to forty-one others, including that relating to the rebellion losses. A rumour had got abroad to the effect that the Governor’s assent would be given to the last-named measure in the course of the day, and the galleries were packed by persons bitterly opposed to the ministerial policy.

No sooner had the obnoxious Bill received the royal assent than a tumult arose in the galleries in consequence of the sudden rising and departure of a number of well-dressed and apparently respectable persons, who made a good deal of unnecessary noise by shouting and stamping on the stairs. Little attention was paid to this exhibition of ill-temper, and his Excellency, having completed the business in hand, left the Chamber, and proceeded to his carriage. No sooner had he emerged from the front entrance to the building than he encountered a storm of hisses, groans, and offensive epithets. A crowd of persons had collected, conspicuous among whom were those who had just vacated the galleries of the Council Chamber. A few cheers were raised by friendly voices in the crowd, but there was a large preponderance of hostile demonstrations. The Governor’s situation was not an enviable one, but he retained an outward appearance of equanimity, and moved on, distributing bows and smiles in response to the few amicable salutations which greeted his ears. A few moments more, and he had reached his carriage in safety. Then hostilities began to assume a more active and offensive form. The groans became deeper and more ominous; the hisses louder and more prolonged. As the vehicle rolled away it was pelted with addled eggs and other offensive missiles which had evidently been brought for the purpose. It was soon beyond range, and its occupants were found to have sustained no bodily injury, though his

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Excellency keenly felt the gross insults to which he and his staff had been subjected. He repaired at once to Monklands.

Meanwhile the Assembly continued in session, though the city had begun to exhibit symptoms of excitement in various quarters. À printed notice calling a meeting in the Champ de Mars for eight o'clock in the evening was cireulated, and at the hour appointed a large crowd assembled at that place. Lights were displayed, and several persons of good social standing proceeded to deliver inflammatory speeches. The mob were just in the humour for any act of desperation, and the speakers who thus goaded them on incurred a very serious moral responsibility. As the mass of humanity surged to and fro, ever and anon a cry was heard: “To the Parliament House! To Monklands! Down with Lord Elgin!” The crisis arrived when one of the orators of the evening concluded his remarks by an injunction to the mob to “Give three cheers for the Queen, and then go and take a walk!” The request did not need repetition. A loud shout was raised: “To the House of Assembly !” and the crewd hurried off in that direction. On the way they passed the office of the Pilot, which was the ministerial organ in Montreal. Voices were heard enjoining the crowd to fire the building, but instantly afterwards other voices called out, “ No, no; the buildings on each side belong to Tories!” The latter cry doubtless saved the Pilot office from being burned to the ground there and then. Having wreaked their vengeance by smashing every pane of glass in the front windows, the crowd swept on, and soon reached their destination. The Assembly were sitting in Coinmittee discussing the Judicature Bill cr Lower Canada, unconseious of what was in store for them. Their deliberations were suddenly interrupted by a succession of roars that seemed to split the air, accompanied by a shower of stones, brickbats, sticks, and other more offensive missiles. The destructive hail crashed through the windows on both sides, for the Chamber overlooked two streets. The members hastily took

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refuge in the lobbies, and behind the Speaker’s chair. When the windows had been well riddled the mob changed the base of their operations, and forced their way into the building. They soon reached th: Assembly Chamber, and proceeded to wreak their vengeance on the furniture. Chandeliers, globes and lamps were smashed to atoms. The table was overturned, and the legs were wrenched from their places. Benches were torn asunder and thrown in a heap. One ruffian seated himself in the Speaker’s chair, and in sonorous mock-heroics, proclaimed the dissolution of Parliament, He was disturbed by his fellow-rioters, who tore him from his seat, which was then kicked over and smashed. The mace, which had cost three hundred pounds, was wrenched from the hands of Mr. Chisholm, the Serjeant-at-arms, who made a gallant but unsuccessful attempt to retain the insignia of authority. It was carried down to the street, whence, after having been freely passed from hand to hand among the crowd, it was conveyed to the Donegani hotel, and deposited in the room occupied by Sir Allan MacNab,

While the work of destruction was thus going on, a cry of “ Fire!” was raised, and it was found that the balcony at the western end of the building was in flames. About the same time a blaze was discovered in the Legislative Council Chamber. There can be no doubt that both these fires had been deliserately kindled by the rioters, who, after the manner of all rioters, had become drunk with excitement, and possessed by a mania for destruction. The flames in the Council Chamber were easily extinguished, but those in the balcony rapidly spread to the adjoining rooms, and swept everything before them, It was soon evident that the entire building was doomed. Then, for the first time, law-abiding citizens began to comprehend the gravity of the situation, and directed their attention to the saving of part of the valuable library of the Assembly. But it was too late to save anything of importance, The flames spread with such terrible rapidity that in a very few minutes the entire building

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was one burning mass. About a hundred volumes were preserved out of nearly twenty thousand. The smaller library of the Upper House was totally consumed. A magnificent full-length portrait of Her Majesty, for which $2,000 had been paid, was conveyed in safety down the stairway, but had no sooner reached the street than a ruffian ran a stick through the canvas. In this mutilated condition it was conveyed to the Donegani hotel.* But the most serious calamity arose from the destruction of all the public records of both Upper and Lower Canadian Parliaments, as well as of those of the Provincial Parliament since the Union. Such a loss as this was of course irreparable, and inflicted great and permanent injury upon the Province at large. The most valuable materials for our history were forever destroyed. The pecuniary loss was at least as great as the amount which had been appropriated for the payment of rebellion losses. Among the few important documents preserved were the Bills which had been sanctioned by the Governor a few hours before, including the measure which had been made the pretext for the riot.t

The troops had veen summoned as soon as the mob had started from the Champ de Mars, but for some unexplained reason they did not arrive on the spot until it was too late for their presence to be of

* This unfortunate portrait was destined to encounter further vicissitudes, It remained at the Donegani hotel for several months, when the building was burned down. The framework being heavy and cumbrous, and the progress of the fire being very rapid, the canvas was hurriedly cut from the frame, and the painting once more saved from destruction, It was subsequently repaired, and accompanied the seat of Government in its perambulations until the latter frund a final resting-place at Ottawa. It now hangs in the Senate Chamber, facing the Throne,

+ “The buildings destroyed were originally designed for a market-house, but were leased to the Government for £2,500 per annum when the seat of Government was changed from Kingston. The original cost was £30,000, The fittings and the furniture belonged to the Province, and were very valuable, The library was insured for £12,000 by the Government, and the buildings by the Corporation for £18,000 ; but neither of these amounts will be paid, the fire having been intentional.”-—See Toronto Globe correspondence, written by Mr, J, Gordon Brown.

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time before, but they had been taken possession of by the mob, until the fire had made too much headway to be got under. The building was à total ruin, and several other structures in the neighbourhood barely escaped a similar fate. The conflagration lighted up the entire city, and there was little sleep for the inhabitants of Montreal on that wild night. A Cabinet Council was held while the glare of the flames yet illumined the sky, and arrangements were made for the meeting of the Assembly on the following morning in the Bonsecours market. Prompt measures were taken for the punishment of the ringleaders, several of whom were forthwith arrested and lodged in gaol.

The Assembly met, as agreed upon, at ten o’clock in the morning of the 26th, in the hall of the Bonsecours market, an immense room with bare walls. A few benches were obtained for the members, and the spectators stood around to listen to the proceedings. The Speaker having taken the chair, Mr. Baldwin moved the appointment of a special committee to replace current Bills and such other papers as might be necessary to enable the House to proceed with the legislation of the session. Sir Allan MacNab and other ultra Tories, referring to the riots, blamed the Government rather than the populace, and one of them even went so far as to declare that the Rebellion Losses Bill was a sufficient justification, even for the destruction of the Parliament House. Persons of more moderate opinions, however, united in speaking of the disasters of the preceding night in fitting terms. Mr. John Wilson, member for London, a Conservative, expressed great disgust at the language of members who could attempt to palliate such acts as had occurred, Mr. Badgley spoke to the same purport, and declared his determination to stand by the Government in such an emergency. Mr. Blake availed himself of the opportunity to comment once more upon the quality of that “loyalty ” of which the House had heard so much— that loyalty which one day incited a mob to pelt the Governor-

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General and to destroy the Halls of Parliament and the public records, and on the next day sought to find excuses for anarchy, and to throw further difficulties in the way of the authorities, Mr. Baldwin’s motion was carried, and the committee at once proceeded with the work assigned to them.

The city continued in a disturbed state throughout the day. A crowd collected about the market where the Assembly was sitting, and ever and anon gave utterance to hoots and howls. Supporters of the Government were grossly insulted in the streets, and in some instances subjected to bodily maltreatment. Mr. Holmes, one of the members for Montreal, upon emerging from the Assembly-room for a breath of fresh air, was knocked down and hustled back into the building. Mr. Lafontaine himself was furiously attacked, and had to be guarded to a cab by the military. After nightfall the evil passions of the mob burst forth with redoubled fury. Assaults were first made on the private residences of Mr. Hincks and Mr. Holmes, The windows were battered in, and the feasibility of setting the buildings on fire was discussed. The close proximity of houses belonging to Tories was again urged as à reason for abstaining from incendiarism, and again the plea was successful. Then the mob betook themselves to a house on St. Antoine Street, where Mr, Baldwin and Mr. Price lodged. Having smashed the windows, and shrieked out all sorts of obscene and offensive epithets against the occupants, they next proceeded to a fine new house which had just been purchased by Mr. Lafontaine in the same street. The family were not then in residence, and were thus spared the pain of witnessing the destruction that ensued. The fruit trees were cut down; the stables were set on fire; and as soon as the blaze had got well under way the mob burst into the house, where they wreaked their vengeance upon the fine and costly furniture, Everything destructible was smashed to fragments. Mr, Lafontaine had a fine library of several thousand volumes which he

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had spent years in collecting. Many volumes were bibliographical rarities which could not be replaced. The collection was completely wrecked by the Vandals. Having dismantled the establishment, they were just proceeding to fire the building when the military arrived and drove them off. ‘The base of operations was then changed to Dr. Nelson’s house, where the same rôle would doubtless have been repeated, but the military were by this time on the alert, and dispersed the incendiaries before they had time to do more than riddle the windows with stones. This closed the chapter of calamities for the night, so far as the main body of rioters was concerned, though smaller bodies had meanwhile been occupying themselves in smashing the windows of various other prominent supporters of the Government.

On the morning of the following day, which was Friday, the 27th, a handbill was posted about the city calling a meeting of “the friends of peace ” on the Champ de Mars, for two o’clock in the afternoon. At that time a great crowd assembled, but, as might have been anticipated, “the friends of peace” formed a very small proportion of the assemblage. The Hon. George Moffatt, Colonel Gugy, and other Tories delivered speeches in which the people were called upon to preserve order; but an address to Her Majesty praying for the recall of Lord Elgin and the disallowance of the obnoxious Bill was passed. At the close of the proceedings the crowd dispersed without resorting to any further excesses. Objections having been made to the further discharge of police duties by the military, about a thousand French and Irish constables were sworn in to preserve order, They were armed with pistols and cutlasses, and stationed in front of the temporary House of Assembly, where they were drilled by Colonel Taché. By way of furthur precaution, more troops were summoned from the nearest military stations, In the course of the evening the mob again collected in great numbers in the Champ de Mars, but they were overawed by

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the proximity of the troops and special constables, and did not venture upon any further excesses.

But the reign of King Mob was not yet over. Next day, the 28th, an address to the Governor was moved in the Assembly, in which the justice and impartiality which had characterized his Excellency's Government, under the late Administration as well as under the existing one, were fully recognized. Deep sorrow and indignation were expressed at the recent disgraceful proceedings, and assurances were conveyed of cordial support for any measure which his Excellency might deem necessary for the preservation of peace. Several amendments were moved by the Opposition, and there was a strong endeavour on their part to modify the terms of the motion. The address finally passed by a majority of thirty-six to sixteen, and arrangements were made for his Excellency to receive it on Monday, the 30th, at “Government House,” à building on Notre Dame Street, where the Government offices were kept. In compliance with these arrangements, Lord Elgin, who had not left Monklands since his return thither from Montreal on the 25th, drove into the city on the 30th. He was accompanied by several members of his suite, and escorted by a troop of volunteer dragoons. He had no sooner entered the city than he saw reason to apprehend further disturbances. Insults fell upon his ears, and several harmless but offensive missiles were hurled at the escort. As he approached the chief commercial thoroughfares the clamour increased, and for some minutes before reaching Government House he found himself surrounded by a hostile and violent mob. He was at first assailed by oaths and execrations, and soon after by stones and rotten eggs. A stone of two pounds weight descended upon the carriage, and was preserved by the Governor as a memento of the occasion. The members of the Assembly who repaired to the place appointed to present the address were assailed in like manner, stones being thrown at them over the heads of the troops

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who accompanied them for their protection. A magistrate proceeded to read the Riot Act, but had scarcely begun ere the order was given to the troops to charge. The order was promptly obeyed, but the crowd fell back as promptly, and no damage was done. The rioters cheered the soldiers heartiiy, as though to prove that their hostility was directed against Lord Elgin and the Government, and not against the troops. who were only obeying orders. Lord Elgin meanwhile remained perfectly calm and collected, and gave no sign of his consciousness of the riot beyond putting up his hands to protect his face from being battered by the missiles which flew around him. Having reached his destination he got down from his carriage and entered the building, where he received and replied to the address. Shouts continued to make themselves heard, and the crowd again closed in near the troops. It was deemed advisable that his Excellency should leave the city by a different route, Accordingly, instead of passing along Notre Dame Street, he directed his course towards Sherbrooke Street, and thus doubled upon the mob, The latter soon discovered the ruse, and set off after the Vice-regal carriage in hot haste. Shouts of “Down with the Governor-General !” rent the air, and law and order once more seemed to be at an end. The Governor's carriage was driven along with great rapidity, but the mob pressed “cabs, caleches, and everything that would run ”* into their service, and overtook his Lordship at Molson’s corner. A furious attack with stones was made on the flying vehicle, the back of which was driven in. Erelong the Vice-regal party were clear of the mob, and were able to estimate damages. The Governor himself had escaped unhurt, but his brother, Colonel Bruce, had received a wound on the back of his head from a stone thrown at the carriage. Colonel Ermatinger, Chief of Police, and Captain Jones, who had charge of the escort, had also received slight bodily injuries. “In this sad

* See Montreal Herald extra, Monday, April 30th, 1849,

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manner,” says a contemporary account, “ did his Lordship depart from the capital of Her British Majesty’s possessions in North America” * He repaired to Monklands, and did not again enter the city for many months.

Next morning active preparations were made for further tumult. Information had reached the city that a deputation consisting of eight gentlemen had embarked on the steamer at Quebec for Montreal on the previous night, with the intention of waiting on Lord Elgin with an address of condolence. This was regarded by the Montreal mob as a step on the part of Quebec to induce the removal of the seat of Government to that place. An immense crowd congregated at the wharf to await the steamer’s arrival. The authorities also made preparations. The troops were called out and paraded near the wharf to preserve order. The fury of the mob was roused, and there would doubtless have been warm work if the deputation had been on board ; but upon the arrival of the steamer it became known that the eight Quebec gentlemen had taken the precaution to disembark at St. Mary's Current, two miles below. The crowd accordingly gave three cheers for the troops, and then quietly dispersed.

The Government did not escape censure, even from their own supporters, for not having made preparation for this miniature rebellion; and still greater fault was found with them for not having promptly and effectually suppressed it with the strong hand. The Ministry, however, were taken completely by surprise, and the best defence that can be made for them is that the outbreak was not one that could have been foreseen. True, the feeling evoked by the discussion on the subject of rebellion losses was very warm, and while the measure was under consideration in the Assembly the Opposition press indulged in much violent and menacing language ; language which, read in the light of subsequent events, would seem

* See Montreal Herald extra, Monday, April 30th, 1849.

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to have been of a kind to put the Government on their guard. But violent and menacing language had long been characteristic of the party press of Canada. It was not confined to the press of any party, or of any particular locality. Its most rabid utterances, however, were, for the most part, “ full of sound and fury, signifying nothing” and were generally taken for what they were worth. Moreover, according to the best opinion that can now be formed, the riots were wholly fortuitous—the mere outgrowth of the disturbed state of public feeling in Montreal at the moment, acted upon and intensified by the harangues and example of unwise or unscrupulous partisans. Had the mob not been encouraged and directed in their ruffianism by persons who ought to have known better, there is good reason for believing that there would have been no incendiarism, and no serious rioting. À heavy responsibility rests on those who recklessly wrought upon the evil passions of an excited and ignorant mob. Their conduct was all the more reprehensible inasmuch as they belonged to a class which never wearied of proclaiming their loyalty and devotion to the Crown. The most stinging sentences of Mr. Blake’s speech about “ spurious Canadian loyalty ” received sudden and unexpected confirmation. Loyalty seemed much less alluring in the eyes of these ultra-loyalists when it implied the exclusion from office of their party, and the political ascendency of their opponents.

The other ground upon which the Ministry were taken to task— that they had not checked the riot at its outset by putting down the mob with the strong hand—is one easily dealt with. It is certain that the riot might have been checked with very little delay if the Government had been disposed to exercise their full authority, without regard to consequences. At their bidding the French Canadian populace would have arisen as one man, and would speedily have given such an account of the rioters as would have effectually prevented any further clamour. Then, to say

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nothing of the ministerial supporters among the British population, the troops were at the command of the Ministry, and by shooting down a score or two of the populace the streets might soon have been cleared. The Government might have done this. Such a course was urged upon them by many persons whose opinions might have been supposed to have weight with them.* But wiser counsels prevailed. It is excellent to have a giant’s strength, says the virtuous Isabella, but it is tyrannous to useit like a giant. To have fired upon the mob would have been to intensify the war of races which had already done so much to retard the progress and prosperity of the country. All the benefit in the way of amalgamation which a united Parliament had been able to effect in eight years would have been invalidated. The Governor-General and his Ministers were agreed as to the proper course to be pursued. Unless as a last and inevitable resort, there should be no shedding of blood by authority. “TI am prepared to bear any amount of obloquy that may be cast upon me,” said the Governor to his secretary, Major Campbell, “but, if I can possibly prevent it, no stain of blood shall rest upon my name.” By some whose souls were too small to enable them to properly appraise such a line of action, the Governor’s policy was attributed to pusillanimity and cowardice. The American papers expressed astonishment at his Excellency’s forbearance. But the exercise of forbearance was the truest evidence of sagacity, and time has long since done justice to the man who dared to face obloquy and misrepresentation rather than violate his sense of what

*The feeling of many prominent ministerialists is fairly depicted in the following extract from an unpublished letter written by the Hon. John Ross to a friend in Toronto, under date of 9th May, 1849 :—‘T cannot help thinking, with you, that the Government have shown too much forbearance towards the ruffianly disturbers of the peace in Montreal, and this opinion they have received from me more than once. . , . The daily round of insolence and triumph stamped on the countenances of the rascals here galls me to the quick. If the Ministry would but force on an issue, and shoot down 50 or 60 of them, we should not be as we are.”

+ Walrond, p. 85,

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was right. “Yes, I see it all now,” said a gentleman to him many months afterward; “you were right—a thousand times right— though I thougt? otherwise then. I own that I would have reduced Montreal to ashes before I would have endured half what you did; and I should have been justified, too” “Yes,” replied Lord Elgin, “you would have been justified, because your course would have been perfectly defensible ; but it would not have been the best course, Mine was a better one”* Owing to the determination to avoid bloodshed, not a life was lost during the riots immediately consequent upon the Rebellion Losses Bill. Nearly four months later, as will be seen, a single life was sacrificed, but not at the instigation of the Government or any individual member of it. Independently of the breaking of a few windows, the only private property destroyed belonged to the Ministers themselves,

The riotous proceedings in Montreal were feebly reëchoed in several towns in Upper Canada, but with these few exceptions the good sense of the people prevailed, notwithstanding the rabid utterances of the most violent portion of the press. Lord Elgin was not long permitted to remain in doubt as to the popular estimate of his conduct in maintaining the principles of Responsible Government, Addresses from all parts of the Province poured in upon him, and their prevailing tone was most gratifying to his feelings. He however deemed it incumbent upon him to tender his resignation to the Colonial Secretary. This was done in the official periphrasis which seems to be a sine qua non in communications between high dignitaries in the public service. His Excellency suggested to Lord Grey that if he, the Governor, should be unable to recover that position of “ dignified neutrality between contending parties” which he had endeavoured to maintain, it might be a question whether it would not be for the interest of Her Majesty’s service that he should be removed, to make way for some one who should have “the

*Walrond, p. 97.

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advantage of being personally unobnoxious to any section of Her Majesty’s subjects within the Province.” * But the Colonial Secretary's reply was very reassuring. It signified approval of Lord Elgin’s conduct in the strougest terms, and expressed Her Majesty's anxious wish that he should remain at his post. Having thus received unmistakable evidence that his policy had commended itself to the Home Government, as well as to the great bulk of the Canadian people, his Excellency abandoned all notion of retiring, and gave his best consideration to the important questions which loomed before him.

He was importuned from many quarters to remove the seat of Government from Montreal. The Assembly passed an Address praying him to call Parliament alternately at Toronto and Quebec every four years. He was at the same time doing his utmost to negotiate a reciprocity treaty with the United States. While these and many other subjects were engrossing his mind, the business of the session was quietly proceeded with. After sitting a few days in the hall of the Bonsecours Market, the Assembly found more suitable accommodation in Dalhousie Square, in a large building which had been constructed for a theatre. The Legislative Council took up their quarters in Trinity Church for a few days, after which accommodation was provided for them in the same building, where both Chambers remained until the close of the session.

Among the many addresses of which his Excellency was the recipient during this turbulent epoch was one of special note from the people of Toronto. It was signed by no fewer than 2,324 male adults, being nearly half the male adult population of the city. Several gentlemen were specially sené down to Monklands as a deputation to present it to the Governor. They reached their destination on Wednesday, the 10th of May, and acquitted themselves of the object of their mission. The same evening, while they were

* Walrond, p. 86.

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attending a ministerial dinner party at Tetu’s hotel, in Montreal, another lawless demonstration took place. A mob collected in the street in front of the hotel, and after having given vent to numerous groans and hisses, sent a volley of stones crashing through the windows. Shots were fired from within uponth assailants, several of whom were wounded. The military arrived in time to disperse the mob before any more serious collision could take place; but it was apparent that influences were at work which did not tend to make Montreal a desirable place of residence for the representative of royalty.

Lord Elgin did not attend in person at the prorogation, which took place on the 30th of May. Public feeling in Montreal had not yet quieted down, and there was reason to apprehend further rioting if any excuse therefor were afforded to the mob. His Excellency had already been attacked and grossly insulted twice in his own capital. To submit to a third attack, without punishing the assaïlants, would have seemed like a degradation of his high office. It would also have been popularly taken as an indication of weakness; à contingency which it was manifestly desirable to avoid. He accordingly, by advice of his Ministers, issued a Commission to Major-General Rowan, Commander of the Forces, who sttended at the Legislative Council Chamber at the date indicated, and prorogued Parliament in a short and conciliatory speech. Only a few days previously—on the 16th of the month—a son and heir had been born to the Governor, at Monklands. The little fellow, to whom Her Majesty became godmother, was christened Victor Alexander, and is the present representative of the family honours.

D DA ERA OS TR AS ME Dette