358 PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

acquired territories in America, the island was divided into sixty-seventownships,of about 20,000 acreseach, whichwere granted, by recommendation of the Board of Trade and Plantations, to certain persons who Were considered to have claims on the government.

By the terms of the first grant, a quit-rent was reserved to his Majesty of siX shillings per hundred acres on some, of four shillings on others, and of two shillings per hundred acres on the remaining town- ships, payable on the Feast of St Michael. A reser- vation was made at the same time of all such parts to his Majesty as had then been set apart, or should thereafter be set apart, for erecting fortifications, building wharfs, enclosing naval yards, or laying out highways for the convenience of communication from one part of the island to another; and of all mines of gold, silver, and coals. Also a reservation on each township for church and school lands, and for a fishing on the sea-coast, within the distance of 500 feet from high-water mark. p

The grantees of each township were to settle the same within ten years from the date of their grants, in the proportion of one person to every 200 acres, one- third of which, in this proportion, was to be settled in four years, with Protestants from the continent of Europe, or who had resided for two years in Ame- rica, antecedent to the date of the respective grant of

each tOWnship.* *‘ At that period, an idea was seriously entertained, that these

kingdoms would be depopulated by emigration to America; and the conditions stipulated in the large grants of land made to va-