Reminiscences of a Canadian Pioneer for the last Fifty Years: An Autobiography. Samuel Thompson
CHAPTER XLVI.
CANADIAN POLITICS FROM 1853 to 1860.
BUSINESS EXPERIENCES IN QUEBEC.
JOHN A. MACDONALD AND GEORGE BROWN.
THE HON. JOHN HILLYARD CAMERON.
VESTIGES OF THE MOSAIC DELUGE.
THE TORONTO MECHANICS' INSTITUTE.
PREFACE.
It was in consequence of a suggestion by the late S. J. Watson, Librarian of the Ontario Legislature—who urged that one who had gone through so many experiences of early Canadian history as myself, ought to put the same on record—that I first thought of writing these "Reminiscences," a portion of which appeared in the Canadian Monthly Magazine. For the assistance which has enabled me to complete and issue this volume, I am obliged to the kind support of those friends who have subscribed for its publication; for which they will please accept my grateful thanks.
In the space at my disposal, I have necessarily been compelled to give little more than a gossiping narrative of events coming under my own observation. But I have been careful to verify every statement of which I was not personally cognizant; and to avoid everything of a controversial character; as well as to touch gently on those faults of public men which I felt obliged to notice.
It has been a labour of love to me, to place on record many honourable deeds of Nature's gentlemen, whose lights ought not to be hidden altogether "under a bushel," and whose names should be enrolled by Canada amongst her earliest worthies. I have had the advantage, in several cases, of the use of family records, which have assisted me materially in rendering more complete several of the earlier chapters, particularly the account of Mackenzie's movements while in the neighbourhood of Gallows Hill; also the sketches of the "Tories of Rebellion Times;" as well as the history of the Mechanics' Institute, in which though a very old member, I never occupied any official position.
Since the first part