3303.

yet arrived. On December I 3, I776,H. M. S. Hunter arrived, with arms and ammunition, and Captain Bayer, her commander, agreed to remain at Charlottetown until recalled.

Callbeck had now about completed rais- ing his company, with McDonald and Stew- art as lieutenants. He had by July I, 1777, raised, armed and clothed between sixty and seventy able men. He had by this time also completed a seven, a three and a two-gun battery, and begun to erect the barracks for the reception of troops. On July 16th, Colo- nel Hierlihy arrived, with some independent company sent from New York by Sir Wil- liam Howe.

While these preparations for defense were being made at the capital, two rebel privateers landed at St. Peter’s, and “began their accustomed wanton depredations of shooting, with grape shot, oxen and sheep, and taking very few of them away for use. Mr. Callbeck’s Company and Colonel Heir- lihy, with his men, immediately on receipt of the news, marched to St. Peter’s, but be- fore they arrived the rebels drew off, taking with them two schooners belonging to the people of the Island.

The barracks and works of defense hav- ing been completed, Callbeck drew on the treasury for the cost of the same. The bills were accepted, but in future any such ex- pense ordered by the Commander-in-Chief was to be paid by him.

On October 10, I 779, Mr. Desbrisay ar- rived from England and assumed the ad- ministration, and reported the arrival of the “Canada," under the command of Captain (afterwards Sir John) Collins, and a trans port with five officers and two hundred Hes- sians of Knyphausen’s Corps, who were on their way to New York, but landed on ac-

PAST AND PRESENT OF

count of the bad condition of the transport. There were no barracks for their accommo- dation, but, being accustomed to active serv- ice, they soon erected huts and made them- selves comfortable. They remained until the month of June following. Next year was passed an Act for Establishing and Regu- lating a Militia (20 Geo. III. Cap, 1780). with this preamble:

(Sec. 1.) WHEREAS, the security and preservation of this Island, at all times, and especially during the continuance of the present war and unhappy rebellion, greatly depends upon a militia being established and embodied as soon as possible, under such regulations as may make the same most use- ful for the support and defense thereof, and that the inhabitants should be well armed, and properly trained up in the Art Military, as well for the honor and service of His Most Sacred Majesty and, the security of this Island, against any hostile attack or in- vasion whatsoever, as for the preservation of their own lives and fortunes.

By Sec. 2 all persons were exempted from civil arrest, going to or returning from muster, or while attending the same.

By Sec. 21 it was provided that any alarm, which should be given or made at Patterson’s Battery, in Charlottetown, should be by setting on fire or lighting a beacon at the summit of the hill of Queen street, and by firing two guns distinctly at said battery, and also by firing two guns at Tartar’s Wharf, to be fired five minutes af- ter the guns at the battery.

Governor Patterson, having returned from England, did not approve of the plan adopted for the defense of the Island, and writes to General McLean an account of the expense of the garrison, and the cost to com-