'However much the grand jury may deplore the fatal consequences which flowed from the introduction of an armed force on that occasion, they feel persuaded that it was fully justified by the conjuncture; and its timely interposition, in their belief, averted the calamities which must have ensued if the rioters had been suffered to pursue their impetuous and destructive course.
'With this view of the case, the grand jury cannot withhold the public declaration of their opinion, that the conduct observed, as well by the magistrates as by the military authorities, during those events, is worthy of commendation at the hands of those who love peace and respect the laws; while the inhabitants of the city of Montreal, in particular, are deeply indebted to the firm discharge by those gentlemen of their respective duties, for restoration to a state of security and for the protection of their lives and property.'
GENERAL ORDER.
'Head Quarters,
'Quebec, 2nd September, 1832.
'On the 21st of May last, a detachment of the Fifteenth regiment, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Macintosh, having under his orders Captain Temple of the same regiment, was called out by the magistrates of Montreal, for the purpose of aiding the civil power in the suppression of a riot in that city, by which the lives and property of the inhabitants were endangered; and the magistrates having failed in their efforts to restore order by other means, the troops were required to make use of their arms, on which occasion three individuals were unfortunately killed, and others wounded.
'The loss of life caused by the fire of the troops is an event deeply to be deplored, and the Commander of the Forces is persuaded that throughout the colony there are not to be found any individuals who more sincerely and more sensibly lament that event than Lieut.-Colonel Macintosh, Captain Temple, and those very soldiers whose painful duty it was to make use of their arms on the 21st of May. It is, however, consoling to reflect that the riot was suppressed without a further sacrifice of human life, which there was every reason to apprehend; and perhaps very many of the peaceable inhabitants of the city of Montreal are at this moment indebted for the preservation of their lives and property, to the timely interference of the troops acting under the direction of the magistrates.
'Although the Commander of the Forces was disposed to place the greatest reliance on the discretion and judgment of Lieut.-Colonel Macintosh, and upon the steadiness and discipline of the regiment under his command, his Lordship, nevertheless, considered it to be incumbent upon him to suspend the judgment in regard to the events of the 21st of May, until the whole of the circumstances connected with those events should have undergone the fullest investigation before the proper tribunals of the country, whose duty it is to take cognizance of criminal offences.
'This duty has now been performed, and Lieut.-Colonel Macintosh, Captain Temple, and the troops under their command, in suppressing the riot at Montreal on the 21st of May last, having been absolved from all blame, the Commander of the Forces hastens to embrace the opportunity thus afforded him, to convey to Lieut.-Colonel Macintosh, Captain Temple, and the non-commissioned officers and soldiers of the Fifteenth regiment, employed in the suppression of a riot at Montreal on the 21st of May last, his approbation of the judgment, steadiness, and discipline, displayed by them in their respective stations on that occasion.'
An address was likewise presented to Lieut.-Colonel Macintosh and Captain Temple, by the citizens of Montreal, from which the following extracts are made:—
'Gentlemen—We, the subscribers, citizens of Montreal, feel it a duty that we owe to you, to express our thanks for your conduct and that of the troops under your command, on the occasion of your being called upon to restore and preserve the public peace, so unhappily broken, at the close of the poll for the election of a member for the west ward of this city on the 21st of May last.