I have the honor to be, etc., DUGALD CAMPBELL McNAB. [COPY.] { Government House, { Toronto, 11th Jun 1840. SIR,--I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter enclosing the petition of the settlers in the Township of McNab, complaining of the conduct of the McNab, and in reply beg to state that I have laid it before His Excellency, the Governor-General. I am commanded by His Excellency to state that free access to His Excellency is permitted by any of Her Majesty's subjects at all times upon public matters; and that no private individual has the right to interfere with, or prevent the exercise of this privilege. I am further directed to state that the memorial and complaint of the McNab settlers will receive His Excellency's immediate consideration, and that in the meantime it has been referred to the Lieut.-Governor and Executive Council of Upper Canada. I am, Sir, etc., (Signed), T. A. MURDOCH. D. Campbell McNab, Esq., Township of McNab, Bathurst District. CHAPTER XV. (1840.) MISSION TO PERTH--THE LAIRD PRESENTED AS A PUBLIC NUISANCE--MR. FRANCIS ALLAN SENT TO INVESTIGATE GRIEVANCES. The week after the great meeting described in the foregoing chapter, Mr. James Morris and the writer proceeded to Perth, to attend the Quarter Sessions, with the people's petition respecting the Statute Labor. The Court opened in due form.--There sat the Hon. William Morris, as Chairman, the apparent impersonification of stern integrity. On his right was seated Capt. Joshua Adams and Mr. John McIntyre, of Dalhousie; and on his left was supported by the half-pay military magnates of Perth.--The petition was presented through the Clerk of the Peace, Mr. Berford, to the Chairman. Its prayer was strongly advocated by the writer and by Mr. T. M. Radenhurst. It was useless. The Hon. Chairman and the magisterial wiseacres who surrounded him scouted the idea of yielding to the settlers' wishes. "We have appointed two of our number to apportion the statute-labor, and that appropriation must be final." Only one gentleman advocated the prayer of the petition, and worked long and strenuously for its adoption, and that gentleman was Mr. McIntyre, of Dalhousie. It was futile. It was out-voted, and the petition was thrown under the table. Not satisfied with the decision of the Bench, the writer and Mr. Morris went before the Grand Jury, and laid the case before them. That popular body, feeling for the settlers, at once perceiving the justice of their claims, brought in the following Presentment:-- [COPY.]