PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

plete the fortifications, barracks, etc.; the number of men required, etc. ; and that, even if the plans were perfected, only the capital would be defended. His idea was that, to prevent attack, the Island should be made to appear insignificant, to have a well regulated militia, a few troops, some barracks, some batteries to defend the harbour of Charlotte- town, and a block house to prevent sur- prise. The increase of population had raised a formidable body of men able to bear arms, and the Legislature had passed a militia law. He then urged that roads should be made, and three hundred stand of arms sent here. If the roads were made, the militia armed and. embodied, and a block house built, he would ask no other assistance for the defense of the Island, than Callbeck’s Company.

The frigates which annually brought out the Quebec Convoys, generally spent part of the summer at Charlottetown, and they and other cruising ships, which were occasion- ally sent into the gulf, captured several of the enemy‘s ships, and brought them to Charlottetown. The crews were landed, and afterwards sent over to Nova Scotia, and marched through the woods to Halifax, un- der escort from the small garrison here. Governor Patterson, writing to Brigadier- General Campbell, on September 16, I781, informed him that he was authorized to augment Callbeck’s Company to one hun- dred men, and to erect a block house, after which Hierlihy’s five companies were to be withdrawn. But the council did not con- sider the withdrawal of any troops consist- ent with the safety of the Island.

The three hundred stand of arms asked for were sent out, with a proportion of am- munition, in February, 1781, as a present from His Majesty, and five companies, then

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present at Charlottetown, were ordered away.

In I794 when war was raging between England and France, two Provincial Com- panies, known as the Prince Edward Island F encibles, were organized for the protection of the Island. and to encourage the raising thereof, Lieutenant-Govemor Fanning pub- licly notified that he would “give to every non-commissioned officer and private, who should enlist before the Ist of November, in the same year, one hundred acres of his own land on the Island, free from all encum- brances whatsoever, His Majesty’s quit rents only excepted, for them to set down upon at the reduction of the corps.” This corps was reduced in August, 1802, and shortly before this the Governor put a plan of his Lot, No. 67, with the divisions of one hundred acres marked thereon, into the hands of Sergeant Daring, for the purpose of getting the names of the claimants, that the Governor might fulfill his engagement, but none would accept the grants. A notice was published in the Royal Herald, March 28, 1805, by P. MacGowan, then Attomey- General, calling upon such non-commis- sioned oflicers and privates as would choose to settle upon the lands offered them, to ap- ply to him before the then next 24th of June, at fartherest, in order that their title deeds might be made out and executed.

His Royal Highness, the Duke of Kent, who commanded for several years at Hali- fax, in Nova Scotia, was pleased to pay the most marked and liberal attention to the protection and security of this Island. By his command, the barracks were rebuilt on a more extensive scale, and new works con- structed for the defense of the town and harbour. Besides the two companies above mentioned, and a small detachment of Royal