362 PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

bec,) designing men acquired an influence over him, which led him to do a number of foolish things, and some unjust ones. The settlement of the country, and its general improvement during his administra- tion, were more rapid than for some years after.

He was succeeded, in 1813, by Charles Douglas Smith, Esq., a brother of Sir Sydney Smith. The period at which he entered on the administration was as propitious as he could wish, the country being in a condition to enable him to direct all its resources to the general benefit of the colony. Had he taken any interest in the welfare of the country committed to his care, he might have still governed it with credit to himself, and satisfaction to the people, instead of making his administration obnoxious to almost every individual in the colony. For three years previous to his removal, the colonial legislature was not suf- fered to assemble; and the proceedings instituted in 1823, (which will ever be recollected as a period of calamity in the history of the colony,) occasioned a simultaneous feeling in the public mind, which made the inhabitants persevere in the proper constitutional way to effect his dismissal from office. A requisition for convening county meetings was made to the High Sheriff? by the principal people on the island. These

* The High Sheriff of the colony is appointed, as in the counties of England, annually, and invested, by virtue of his commission and office, with precisely the same powers and duties. I had the honour to hold the appointment this year (1823) ; and on receiving a requi— sition, Signed by the principal persons in the colony, to convene county meetings, for the purpose of petitioning his Majesty for the