RECORDS OF NIAGARA 1805-1811 The sudden death of Lieut.-Governor Hunter at Quebec on 21st August, 1805, left the Government of Upper Canada without a Chief as he had steadily refused to nominate an administration during his absence in the Lower Province. News of his death was received at York about ten days later. When Simcoe applied for leave of absence on the 1st of December, 1795, he had recommended Hon. Peter Russell as the "Senior Executive Counsellor. (not a Roman Catholic)" for appointment as Administrator and his recommendation had been approved. He called the Members of the Council residing at York together at once, expecting to be recognized as President but to his great surprise and disappointment found that Chief Justice Allcock announced his opinion that Alexander Grant, whose name preceded that of Russell in the list of Executive Councillors named in the Royal Instructions was the Senior, although Russell had taken the oath before him. The other Members of the Council concurred and Russell reluctantly assented but did not conceal his discontent at being required to act in a subordinate position to that which he had formerly held. As Grant was then Senior Naval Officer on Lake Erie and lived at Amherstburg, a message was sent to him to come to York and administer the affairs of the Province. When Hunter's death became known in England, little time was lost in appointing Francis Gore, then Governor of Bermuda, to succeed him as Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada. His commission was dated on the 22nd of January, but he did not assume the administration until the 25th of August, following. Grant's term of office consequently lasted a little less than a year. He seems to have carefully consulted the Council in all matters of the least importance and Russell generally took the chair as presiding Councillor. The Chief Justice was soon after transferred to Lower Canada and Justice Thorpe, who had recently been transferred to Upper Canada from Prince Edward Island, began to intrigue and make complaints to the Colonial Office, stating there was no Governor, no General, no Bishop, and no Chief Justice in the Province, and woing to a "cabal" the Council had selected a man to act as Administrator who did not appear to be the oldest member and was inefficient. Both he and Justice William Drummer Powell, who was his Senior, applied for the vacant office of Chief Justice. There was a noticeable lack of good feeling among the Chief Officials. The following Petition shos that the act regularing the sale of spirituous liquor caused some local discontent. THE PETITION OF LANY SHANNAN AND OTHERS To the Honorable Provincial Parliament of Upper Canada: We, the subscribers, Inhabitants of the said Province, and faithful subjects to His Majesty, and at all times ready and willing to support the operative law in his Dominions; and being possessed of that inalienable right of free men to make known to our law makers and rulers, such grievances as we may think we labour under, do beg leave under mature consideration and confidence to the truth and propriety thereof, to most humbly suggest to Your Honors that the law of said Province prohibiting distillers selling any of their distilled liquors under three gallons is no so happily calculated as in our opinion may be for the general good of His Majesty's Subjects, for many are under a necessity at times for some of this liquor, but either for want of abilities or from principles of .