Page:Statement of facts relating to the trespass on the printing press in the possession of Mr. William Lyon Mackenzie, in June, 1826.djvu/28

 which I myself had to defray, from no very abundant means, was such, that if Mr. Mackenzie had made as much clear profit by his Press, during the whole time he has employed it in the work of detraction, he would not have found it necessary to leave the concern and abandon it to his creditors. With this simple fact before the Public, I will ask, upon what calculation the Jury found their verdict? I have also to assure Mr. Mackenzie, rather than the Public, for many of the latter already know the fact, that among the contributors to the payment of the verdict, were many, both of men and women, whose names had never been made the topics of his slander, and who, living in different parts of the Province, and having no reason for personal resentment against him, yet felt that the cause was that of Society in general, and voluntarily offered to bear their share in the consequences of a pardonable imprudence, committed under the influence of the most unpardonable provocation—so general was the scandal excited by Mr. Mackenzie's paper!! As to the idea, that those who contributed to our relief, approved of the act, it is hardly deserving of a serious refutation.

In point of fact, both I and my companions had the mortification to find that no one approved of an act, the impolicy of which, on every account (to say nothing of its bad tendency as an example) was too evident not to be seen by every body, and by ourselves as well as others, as soon as we reflected upon it.

No persons certainly had more reason to regret or condemn it, and none, I am persuaded, did more justly or more heartily condemn it, than the very persons whom Mr. Mackenzie would insinuate (though he well knows better) to have given it their countenance.

It is true that some persons seemed to think it reprehenisible chiefly as a breach of the Laws—and others, as affording an evident triumph and advantage to a worthless person. All