64 PAST AND PRESENT OF

same. This seems to have been the begin- ning of the Island internal mail service, with its present numerous mail routes and offices.

The sole right of the House of Assem- bly to initiate money bills and control sup- ply again came up. A lengthy correspond- ence between the House of Assembly and the Council took place, the former steadily insisting upon its rights, and the latter claiming that, under the instructions to Gov- ernor Patterson, under which the House of Assembly was constituted, that House did not, exclusively of the Council, possess the right claimed.

Perhaps the most important act of this session was one for taking the census, be- ing the first of its kind in this province. All previous statements of population were mere estimates, and not to be relied on. On tak- ing the census under this act, the population of the whole Island was found to be 23,- 226, considerably more than was supposed, while Charlottetown could boast of 1,649 inhabitants out of the total. The expense of taking this first census, as shown by the public accounts submitted to the House the next session, amounted to £163, a' very moderate sum for such a work. At the same time, the costs of the inland mails, which were established by His Excellency, by virtue of the resolution of the House al- ready referred to, amounted to £75. 125. 9V2d.

In the session of 1828, His Excellency called attention to the agricultural improve- ment, which exceeded that of any former period, both as regards the proper cultiva- tion of the soil, and the improvement of our horses, cattle, and farming stock of every description. The public accounts submitted during this session show, to the great pleas- ure of the House, an expenditure of £277.

85. 9d., toward the support of schools in the Island, and the committee expressed their trust that every encouragement might be afforded to so desirable an object.

The close of this session was marked by a dead-lock between the House of As- sembly and the Council. The latter de- manded that an obnoxious message be ex- punged from the Assembly’s journals, and informed the House that, until that was done, the Council would transact no busi— ness with the Assembly. The Assembly re- plying, expressed their surprise at the un— called-for and unparliamentary conduct of the Council, and flatly refused to submit to the demand, and informed the Council that they would not expunge it, and never would do so, and that they would not sub- mit to threats from that body. Consequently, the Council refused to assent to the appro- priation bill, and the Legislature was pro— rogued, without the bill being passed.

The Assembly met again in March, 1829, when His Excellency again had the satisfaction of referring to the great prog- ress that had been made in every respect. He pointed out the unsatisfactory situation caused by the rejection of the appropria— tion bill the previous session, and expressed the sincere hope that the first moments of sitting would be occupied in an earnest en- deavor to bring the unfortunate misunder- standing of the last session to an amicable adjustment, and, to bring about this desir- able end, he suggested a system of mutual compromise. He called attention to the need of classical schools, a question which the House of Assembly took up in earnest. The result was a resolution, recommending the establishment of a school, to be called the Central Academy. Up to that time there had only been a grammar school in Char-