PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. 99

Sheriff William R. Watson, Esq., read

from the balcony of the Provincial building the union proclamation wherein it was set

forth that Prince Edward Island that day was received as another branch of the Do- minion of Canada.

THE TRADE AND COMMERCE OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

BY Cm. JOSEPH READ.

Like her imperial prototype, Great Brit- ain, this Island has been and is remarkable for its trade and commerce as viewed in pro— pOrtion to its size and population. Nowhere has such a small community more reason to be proud of its achievements in this line. “The Island,” by which name it is known almost everywhere where the King’s English is spoken, indicates its importance. It is re- lated of an Irish Argentine, not too well up in commercial geography, that hearing some seamen say he belonged to “The Island," re- marked, “What island?” 'The answer came quickly, “Prince Edward Island. There is no other ‘The Island.’ ” From a purely com- mercial and trade point of view, the province perhaps reached the zenith of its greatness about 1873, when it became merged into the British North American provinces in the union known as the Dominion of Canada, though the time will yet surely come when it will surpass even its palmiest days in im- portance.

Of the trade in the eighteenth century little need be said. Its history in this period is more or less political; the French and Eng- lish being alternatively in possession of the country, little could be expected. It was not until about 1763 that it formally became a British, possession and not until ten years. later did it have a separate government.

Under the French its trade was largely with Canso (Canseau) and Louisburg; al- ready its importance as a grain-producing country was recognized and it was planned

by this people to make it the source of supply for the armies of New France.

Under the English it grew to sufiicient importance before the end of the Revolution- ary war, between the mother country and the thirteen colonies, to induce a force of Amer- icans to attack Port-la-jou (Charlottetown), which was pillaged, but the magnanimous Washington repudiated the acts of his over- zealous adherents and ordered them to make restitution. From that time to the end of the century the people were mainly employed in hewing out homes for themselves and lay- ing the foundations of the enterprises of the future. Some shipbuilding was done, con- siderable timber was shipped and food prod? ucts were exported in a small way to the older settlements in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Newfoundland. By the year 1799 the growing importance of the Is- land was such that a change of name became imperative. Up to ‘this time the province was known as St. John and being nearly midway between St. John’s, Newfoundland, and St. John, New Brunswick, much con- fusion was the result—hence the name was changed to Prince Edward, in honor of Prince Edward. the then Duke of Kent, who was commander of the British forces at Hali- fax, Nova Scotia. This prince was father of the late Queen Victoria, hence grandfa- ther to the present King.

From 1800 to 1827 the country was fair- ly prosperous. Emigrants were coming in considerable numbers, the Loyalists were