PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. 4 i Fourthly, twenty-six townships were settled agreeably to the terms of 'the grants. Fifthly, seven townships and parts of townships were not settled according to the terms and conditions of the grants, but the proprietors had made efforts for settlement, and spent considerable sums of money thereon. The sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth resolutions, being a clear expression of the views of the assembly, are given in full, and are as follows: Sixth, Resolved , That it appears to this House that the failure of so many of the proprietors, in performing the terms and conditions of their grants, has been highly injurious t<> the growth and prosperity of this Island ruinous to its inhabitants, and destructive of the just expectations and views of government, in its colonization and settlement. Seventh, Resolved , That it is the opin¬ ion of this House that the various indul¬ gences and long f< abearance < if gi tvernment towards the proprietors who have failed in performing the terms and conditions of their grants, have had no other effect than enabling them to retain their lands, without exertion or expense, speculating on the in¬ dustry of the colony and the disbursements of a few active proprietors in forwarding the settlement thereof. Eighth, Resolved , That it appears to this House, and seems universally admitted, that this Island, was it fully settled, is ade¬ quate to the maintenance of upwards of half a million of inhabitants; and in which case it would be of great importance to the mother country, not only in the consump¬ tion of its manufactures but as a nursery for seamen from a very extensive fishery, which might be carried on around its coasts, independent of the commerce which from its other productions would naturally arise. Ninth, Resolved , That it appears to this House, that the progress which has been made in the neighboring colonies, and their flourishing state and rapid increase in population since the close of the American war, is chiefly to be attributed to the gen¬ eral escheat and forfeiture which has taken place of all the unsettled grants and the re- granting of such lands in small tracts to actual settlers. "Tenth, Resolved , That it appears to this House, that the greatest part of the population and improvements in the neigh¬ boring provinces are situated upon lands escheated, as above mentioned, and wjiich had been originally granted nearly at the same time, and on similar terms and condi¬ tions, with the land of this Island." The prayer of the Assembly 's petition to the British government, setting out these resolutions, asked, "that such measures might be taken as were necessary to compel all the proprietors to fulfill the terms and conditions on which their lands were granted, or that the same should be es¬ cheated, and re-granted in small tracts, to actual settlers." This representation was addressed to the Duke of Portland, the secretary of state having charge of colonial affairs, and was well received, but for some years nothing was done about it. In 1801 the Assembly caused repre¬ sentations to be made to the home govern¬ ment, regarding the subject of this petition, and. in 1802, it was referred to a committee of the Council for Trade and Plantations for decision. At this time the arrears of quit rents amounted to £59,162, 17s. od., or nearly $300,000, an enormous sum, a frac-