Humours of '37, Grave, Gay and Grim: Rebellion Times in the Canadas. Robina Lizars

The winter at their ease.

      But to Sir Mac. we now return,

       From whom we’ve strayed too long;

       This verse, I think, will just conclude

       The middle of my song.

      Mackenzie and his rebel gang

       In Doel’s brewery met,

       “A bung-hole pack,” Jim Dalton calls

       This mischief-brewing set.

      And there they laid down all their plans

       Of this great revolution,

       And destined Rolph to be the head

       Of their new Constitution.

      At length unto this crew the Knight

       A flaming speech addressed,

       And told the plan which after all

       Did unto him seem best.

      Said he: “My true and trusty friends,

       Though we have promised been

       Reform these many years, yet we

       Reform have never seen.

      “So now, my lads, no longer we

       In anxious doubt must wait,

       The time has come for pulling down

       The Church, the Queen, and State.

      “For vote by ballot we must have,

       And stars and garters too,

       And we must hang Sir Francis Head,

       With all his Tory crew.

      “I’ve written round to all my friends

       That they should ready be,

       And as of them we are now sure

       We’ll gain the victory.

      “The Tories all securely sleep,

       And dream they’ve naught to fear,

       Nor little think that to their end

       They now are drawing near.

      “John Strachan now is quite at rest,

       And Robinson likewise;

       But soon at Freedom’s shrine of them

       We’ll make a sacrifice.

      “The red-coats, too, are far away,

       Removed from every station,

       And now it is our time to burst

       From ‘hateful domination.’

      “The Yankees also are prepared

       To lend a helping hand

       To breed confusion and dismay

       Throughout this happy land.

      “And now, my friends, in right good truth,

       We’ve little time to spare,

       Go quick, collect your several bands

       And arm them with great care.”

      When he had done, all gave a shout

       To show their courage high,

       And then obedient to his words

       In various paths they fly.

      The blacksmith Lount, he active was

       Both spears and swords to make,

       And General Duncombe hoped that soon

       Fort Malden he might take.

      Mackenzie to mail-robbing took—

       A most delightful trade

       For one who every blackguard art

       Erstwhile had well essayed.

      And when he got three hundred men,

       All brave ones as himself,

       He then marched to Toronto town

       To see and gain some pelf.

      Their gallant deeds and gallant acts

       I’m sure I need not tell,

       How full four hundred armed men

       Ran from the College bell.

      Nor how full thirty men at least

       Did one old man attack,

       Nor dared to fight him face to face,

       But shot him in the back.

      How good Sir Frank a flag of truce

       With Rolph and Baldwin sent

       Unto the rebel camp, to ask

       Them what was their intent;

      And how they (prompted by the twain)

       Declared ’twas their intention

       To settle all the State affairs

       By General Convention.

      And then Toronto in a blaze

       They threatened for to set,

       But nearer than Montgomery’s

       They ne’er to it could get.

      ’Twas on the seventh of that month

       Which we do call December,

       Sir Francis Head led out his men—

       That day we’ll long remember.

      And then ’twas glorious fun to see

       What rabble rout could do—

       They every man took to his heels,

       The word was, Sauve qui peut.

      Some hundred taken prisoners were

       On that eventful day;

       Sir Francis with too kind a heart

       He let them all away.

      But “Which way did the leaders run?”

       I think I hear you ask;

       To tell which way they took, I ween,

       Would be an arduous task.

      Soon as the news of this outbreak

       Had gone the country through,

       It was a glorious sight to see

       How quick to arms they flew;

      And ’mongst the foremost in the ranks

       To quell the rebel band,

       Old Erin’s dauntless shamrock stood

       A guardian of the land.

      And then was seen old England’s rose

       In all its pride and glory;

       And Scotland’s thistle, which is known

       In many a deathless story.

      And with them joined thy valiant sons,

       My own adopted land,

       To form around the Queen and laws

       A glorious valiant band.

      MacNab his gallant volunteers

       Led anxious to the fight,

       And all the west poured in her troops

       To stand in freedom’s right.

      Newcastle, too, her quota sent

       Of men both good and true;

       In truth it was a cheering sight

       Their bearing high to view.

      Of Cobourg, too, I needs must sing,

       Which on that trying