PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND 3 i to be capable to labor, the voyage to be in¬ cluded in the six months' provisions. 4. Each proprietor is to contract for not less than fifty families, and not to lease to each family less than one hundred acres. 5. The proprietor to give security at the rate of five pounds for each family. Mr. Lutterlot was to get the fifth year's rent at one shilling an acre. Rents to be one penny an acre for the first four years, and one shilling the fifth year, and thenceforth two shillings an acre. On second best lands, one penny an acre for the first four years, and one shilling for the fifth year, and sixpence thereafter. On third best lands, one penny an acre for the first four years, one shilling for the fifth year and forever thereafter. Mr. DesBrisay , in a postscript, says: " Mr. Lutterlot is a gentleman of the strictest /probity and honour. He is a major in the German service, and resident agent at Lon¬ don to Prince Ferdinand and other German princes, and is empowered by them to make the above proposals." A time had now arrived when the Gov ¬ ernor concluded that it would be practicable to establish a House of Assembly . In a des ¬ patch of 17th February, 1773, to Lord Dart ¬ mouth, he said that the increase of inhabi¬ tants during the previous summer enabled him to call a House of Representatives, as in the manner resolved upon by Council, name¬ ly, "by taking the voices of the whole people collectively, as belonging to one country, and waiving all kinds of qualification, ex¬ cept their being Protestants and residents; it is impossible to have any other terms, ow¬ ing to the unequal distribution of the inhabi¬ tants over the Island, and the small number of freeholders there are among them." . Wishing to have the representatives as respectable as possible, their number, for the present, was limited to eighteen, as he knew there were about that many who would make a tolerable appearance. They were to meet in July. The Council, whose opinion the Governor asked as to calling a House of Assemblymen or Delegates, met on 17th February, and consisted of Mr. President (Wright), Mr. Attorney General ( Call- beck), Mr. Allenby , and Mr. Spence . It re¬ solved unanimously. "That it is the opinion of this board that it would be conducive to the interests of this Island for an Assembly of Representatives to be called, and that, in their opinion, the Island is in a situation to admit of the calling thereof." In the afternoon meeting, the Gov ¬ ernor and Chief Justice (Duport) being present, it was resolved "That a House of Representatives or General Assembly of the inhabitants of this Island be forthwith called." This first House of Assembly held only one session. Robert Stewart was speaker. It passed thirteen acts, the most important pi which was "An Act for the effectual recov¬ ery of certain of His Majesty's quit rents in the Island of St. John." This act will be re¬ ferred to when the land question is being dis¬ cussed. On 12th July Patterson consulted his Council, whether to continue or dissolve the House of Representatives. Their opinion agreed with his, that it was better to dissolve, as there was advice of many respectable peo¬ ple coming to the Island this summer, which, on a new election, would give a greater choice of men, and the number might be increased. In 1774 the House passed a number of acts, of which one, "An act entitled an Act for Laying an Imposition on Retailers of Rum and Other Distilled Spirituous Liq- '