The newspaper became involved in controversy when William Lyon Mackenzie claimed that a letter published in his own newspaper, which criticized Chief Justice William Dummer Powell, had been praised in Fothergill's paper; Fothergill denied that he had been referring to the same letter. In 1824, he ran against George Strange Boulton for the seat in Durham in the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada; Boulton was elected after the returning officer cancelled 3 of Fothergill's votes.
The newspaper became involved in a controversy when William Lyon Mackenzie claimed that a letter criticizing Chief Justice William Dummer Powell had been praised in Fothergill's publication, which Fothergill denied. In 1824, he ran against George Strange Boulton for the seat in Durham within the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada; Boulton was elected after the returning officer disqualified three of Fothergill's votes.