new British Province of Quebec. Conyngham was a rival of Governor James Murray, and Murray's ally Attorney General George Suckling described the 14 jurors as "malcontents". Johnston and his jury favoured the wants of the merchants and they vigorously opposed Murray and Suckling's initiatives and policies, with Johnston signing his name to a letter demanding that the governor be recalled. When Lord Dorchester was appointed Governor of Quebec in 1768, he recognised that Johnston had been "entering into Party against Mr Murray with too much warmth" but nonetheless recommended him to Lord Shelburne for a vacant seat on the Council of the Province of Quebec, remarking that Johnston was "a man of very excellent understanding, and likewise very fit". However, despite reiterating the recommendation again in 1769, it was not acted upon. At various times, Johnston made open his support of Governor Henry Hamilton, Sir James Monk and Chief Justice William Smith, notably in bringing about the change to Quebec's legal system that brought it into line with that of England, and favouring the merchants. In 1787, out of respect for Johnston, Lord Dorchester appointed him one of the commissioners to draw up plans, grant the land contracts and sales etc., for the construction of public buildings in Quebec City, but unfortunately for him they never came to the fore as the British authorities never approved Dorchester's ordinance. Business at Quebec Johnston and Purss pursued a number of business opportunities, trading between Quebec, the British West Indies (where their firm was represented by the brother-in-law of Johnston's wife) and Scotland. For a time they owned a share of the Saint-Maurice ironworks and shares in the Dorchester Bridge, but they mainly traded in furs, seal oil and wheat. They also engaged in the trade of "essence of spruce for making beer", the discovery of which was attributed to Quebec distiller (and another of Johnston's brothers-in-law) Henry Taylor. Through Johnston's connections with the previously mentioned Geddes and Isbister families, Johnston & Purss did considerable business with the Hudson's Bay Company, and in that capacity he brought his nephew, David Geddes (1751−1811), to Quebec in 1768. On the outbreak of the American Revolution Geddes was given the rank of colonel and Paymaster of the Forces to General John Burgoyne, and with that army was taken prisoner after the Battle of Saratoga. The two partners of Johnston & Purss had good personal relationships with