North American. [volume] (Swanton, Vt.) 1839-1841, 1839-07-24
Du. CALVET'S MEMOIR.
| Translated for the North American. I
(coNTINuEp.l

! tdHduldHe.
About this time ] was called TO Quebec
for legal recoeni2ance in which | was to
plead before the Court of appeal. The
bail could have been enteredinto by power
OF Attorney, but tyranny was seeking Tor
my person TO complete the triumph OF its
njaStices. My business being transacted
aud on the eve Of leaving for Montreal I
went aud paid my respect to the Govern.
Tor.
Mr.. HaIdmand as an hypocrite and
| false man, received me with extreme no.
likeness, whilst under all these fair appear
ances Of kindness, he was issuing an order
! by which was 10 be arrested OF about
midway Of my journey. II was between
the town Of Three Rivers and Pon,e du
Lac that was 10 be apprehended.
| shall not recall to your minds the
different scenes through which they urged
me during the first part Of my mprison-
ment; have given them elsewhere, against
their expectation my constitution resisted
all their efforts united together to destroy
ii gradually. My fortune was then their
next object. II is with these views that
during the long days Of my captivity, my
property was abandoned to pillage, with
out allowing that an administrator should
he named. 1t was not enough to accele-
rate my ruin, but they put a stop to all
lawsuits wherein | was the Plaintiff, and
all my enemies were solicited to prosecute
me, well understanding that was not al
lowed to defend myself.
The audacity Of such an injustice was
never more glazing than in lawsuit with
my former agent. 1t was on Sunday,
(Which day in all christian empires, nvali-
dates all civil acts,) that was summoned
in my cell to appear the next day in court,
although sentry on duty was placed at
my door to prevent my appearance at the
court; it was not till the next day in the
morning that could employ a lawyer in
my stead. This gentleman pleaded his
ignorance Of the case that was put into
his hands only few hours before, and on
this plea, which was well known to the
public, he concluded by requesting eight
days delay.
The furious Mr.. Madame, one of the
Judges objected most vehemen.ly against
this request, saying in his wrath that
few hours were sufficient for LAWYER 10
become acquainted with a commercial
transaction, however intricate il might be,
and that moreover the court owed no Judi.
cIal concession to state prisoner, already
under the military laws Of the state, On
this new construction Of the law he con-
cluded by condemning me Immediately
without even the right OF appeal and with
out delay for the execution. General
HaIdImand who before had never taken
his seat in this court, did not blush to be
the echo Of such an a;rocious sentence.
which in IFS execution took away from
me about $4,000
At the time was taken prisoner, having
been summoned to give my portfolio,
handed it TO Capt. Laws; put into il
all my papers which had the precaution
to seal. requested the military gentle
man who was arres,ing me TO ask in nv
name OF General HaIdimand that the Off
cIal examination Of these papers should be
made in my presence. The Governor
bound himself by his word to acquiesce to
my request and TO respect my seal during
my absence; bat he did not keep his word:
The portfolio was broken during night
time, the papers were examined and the
greater part torn; and il was in this state
that the whole was returned TO me in nv
cell.
Ashamed and vexed at having failed in
ms hFst attempt with their usual thirst
ol vengeance they fattered themselves
with the chmerical idea Of better success
at Montreal. Officers of rank suck "a
Brgadier General MacLean and Maio,
Dunbar, brother-in-law of Judge Frazer