Britain granted Canada Responsible Government after the rebellion of '37 and '38 in the "Perambulating" Parliament. In 1849, this Parliament sat in Montreal. At that time St. Ann's market was two stories high, and the upper story was used as Parliament Houses, and there the members of Parliament debated, while outside, the market went on as it does to this day, and then, as now, pork chops and sausages were sold at its stalls. The Rebellion Losses Bill passed the House. The loyalists became furious, and the people now anxiously awaited to see what the Governor-General would do. It was now early Spring and the first ship had arrived at Quebec, on the 24th of April. A new Customs Bill had been passed during the session, and it was necessary for the Governor-General to come down to the House to sign it, in order to place the ship's cargo under its provisions. On the following day, April the 25th, Lord Elgin left the official residence at Monklands, three miles from Montreal, and four-in-hand drove down to the Legislature. The weather was fair. Lord Elgin stopped in front of the St. Ann's market, went into the Legislature, and signed the Customs Bill and the Rebellion Losses Bill too! The news spread with ominous rapidity, and the already anxious and sullen loyalists crowded into the streets; mobs gathered at the corners and naturally drifted towards the Legislature. The people had not long to wait for a new excitement. Lord Elgin's carriage stood before the door, liveried servants were waiting to bow him to his seat while the horses were nervously prancing, because of the angry shouts which were coming from the excited and demonstrative mob. And then the door was thrown open and Lord Elgin appeared. a volley of groans came from the people and a dropping fire of eggs, good and bad, were flung at the servants, the aide-de-camp and Lord Elgin, all of whom were spattered with the dripping and saffron colored contents. Pale and anxious looking, Lord Elgin got into the carriage, the door of which was quickly closed by the footman who mounted the box, when the driver applied the whip and, under a shower of eggs, which daubed the carriage with slimy yokes, Lord Elgin was rapidly driven away at a gallop. Bang, bang, the eggs continued to fly as Lord Elgin was driven furiously up McGill street, along St. Antoine and Mountain streets and away to Monklands. This headlong flight only added fuel to the flames. All along the route taken by Lord Elgin the people saw with astonishment the furious rate at which his horses were being hurried, and the crowds along St. James street and McGill street soon surged into masses as they moved along the way. The streets were nearly choked by the people who thronged them, but, as yet, there appeared to be no definite plan of action, no decision, no head. But at six o'clock a vent was found for the egress of the multitude. a cab was driven down St. James street and a furious Tory, holding on to the top and flourishing a bell taken from Dolly's Chop House, was shouting "To the Champ de Mars." After struggling through the crowds the cab was rapidly driven along all the adjacent streets and at 8 o'clock thousands of excited Tories had assembled on the Champ de Mars where the Hon. George Moffatt, Col. Gugy, and others spoke and denounced the Governor-General for having signed the Rebellion Losses Bill and urged the people to petition Her Majesty to recall him. But "petitioning" did not suit the temper of the people and there was something more sympathetic in the wild cry of "Fire, fire", as the bells were heard sounding the alarm. But there was no fire. The alarm was given as an "Assembly" and the red jackets of the Union men, followed by the Hose Company and the Queen's, each man holding a burning torch in his hand, were soon seen rushing towards the Champ de Mars where the meeting was still in progress. At that time I was Captain of the Hook and Ladder and Hose, and I mounted the platform. The crowd called on me for a speech and I stepped to the front and, taking the cap off my head I extinguished the torch by which the "petition to Her Majesty" was to be read. I said that "the time for petitions had passed, but that if the men present were in earnest let them follow me to the Parliament House." A wild cheer was the reply and the great meeting surged up St. Gabriel street, down Notre Dame, through St. Francois Xavier and St. Peter streets, cheering, shouting and wildly denouncing Lord Elgin on the way. The House was soon reached and the main entrance surrounded by the yelling mass of some five or six thousand men. The door was closed. Howard, Courtney, myself and others tried to force an entrance, but to no effect.