a report embodying certain facts and documents which had not been before the Law Officers, to whom the case was now submitted a second time. The additional data placed a different face upon the question, and the Law Officers arrived at a conclusion contrary to that which they had formerly expressed. The grantees were accordingly permitted to retain their property undisturbed, but the name of Sir John Colborne continued to be execrated in Upper Canada for his share in the transaction for many a year.[209] FOOTNOTES: [191] _Ante_, pp. 231, 232. [192] See _Report of a Select Committee of the House of Assembly on the Political State of the Provinces of Upper and Lower Canada_, p. 25. Toronto, 1838. [193] See _Rough Notes on Head's Narrative_, by a Liberal, p. 17. London, 1840. [194] See his _Narrative_, Chapter III. [195] _Narrative_, Chapter II. [196] _Ib._ [197] See _Reminiscences of his Public Life_, by Sir Francis Hincks, K.C.M.G., C.B. p. 14. Montreal, 1884. [198] _Ib._, p. 15. [199] See _The Canadian Portrait Gallery_, vol iv., p. 172. [200] _Reminiscences_, etc., pp. 14, 15. [201] The Colonial Office could not even plead, in extenuation of such a fatal blunder as the appointment of Sir F. B. Head, that it was unaware of the importance of the crisis in colonial affairs. In the beginning of the instructions prepared for Sir Francis, dated "Downing Street, December 15th, 1835," the following words may be found: "I have the honour herewith to transmit to you a Commission, under His Majesty's sign-manual, appointing you Lieutenant-Governor of the Province of Upper Canada. You have been selected for this office at an era of more difficulty and importance than any which has hitherto occurred in the history of that part of His Majesty's dominions. The expression of confidence in your discretion and ability which the choice implies would only be weakened by any more formal assurance which I could convey to you." What a commentary upon such language was furnished by the mere fact of the appointment of such an one as Sir Francis Head! [202] See a brief account of Sir F. B. Head's life published in _The Courier of Upper Canada_ of June 11th, 1836, written by Alan Fairford (John Kent), and prefixed, with notes, to the collection of his Excellency's _Speeches, Messages and Replies_, published at Toronto during the same year. [203] _Canadian Portrait Gallery_, Vol. II., p. 169, where the sentences above quoted form part of a tolerably full sketch of the life of Sir F. B. Head. [204] He seems to have been provided with a duplicate copy by Joseph Hume. See that gentleman's letter to Mackenzie, dated 5th December, 1835, and included in the third chapter of Head's _Narrative_. [205] See _Report of a Select Committee of the Assembly_, etc., 1838. See also _The Rectory Question_, p. 2. Toronto, 1836. [206] _Ante_, p. 63.