Page:Statement of facts relating to the trespass on the printing press in the possession of Mr. William Lyon Mackenzie, in June, 1826.djvu/23

 The facts have all been detailed on Oath, in a Court of Justice; they have since been trumpeted forth with more or less exaggeration, in the Newspapers of the Province.—There never was less room for misrepresentation or doubt—whatever was done, was done openly—there was neither an attempt or wish to conceal a single particular of the transaction.—It can all be told in a few words.

In company with eight or nine persons, most of them, perhaps all of them, younger than myself, I Went to the office of the Advocate, at about half past six o'clock in the afternoon, with the determination to abate an intolerable public Nuisance—with a perfect readiness to abide the consequences—but, I will freely grant without having reflected sufficiently upon them.—The Press was overturned; the types were scattered about, and some portion of them, unquestionably, lost, thrown away, and destroyed. No personal violence was offered to any body, nor was any intended; though I do not deny, that, if resistance had been made, under the influence of the feelings which actuated myself and my companions, our intention would probably have been nevertheless persevered in.

As it was, the extent of the injury, was, what I have described, and nothing more. I do not pretend to be able to estimate the loss correctly—(not the loss of Mr. Mackenzie's Press; for, it turns out that the Press was really no longer his)—but I have heard others state—and I fully believe it—that fifty pounds, and perhaps less, would have paid the whole loss he had sustained. The Press was soon afterwards in operation again, and I imagine without any very great expense in materials or repairs.

An expression of indignation, rather than deliberate destruction, was the purpose of our attack. In either point of view, I admit its impropriety, so far as Society is concerned; and still