24 HISTORY or PRINCE EDVVAKD ISLAND.

In the following year the Diligent, an armed brig, X'as detached by the admiral, commanding in America, to pro- tect the island, which vessel was replaced by the Hunter, sloop of war, towards the end of the year, and which remained till November, 1777. The arrival of the latter vessel was extremely opportune, as a hostile expedition to the island was being organized by rebels from Machias, in BIassaehusetts, who had arrived at Fort Cumberland, in Nova Scotia. These men paid a visit -to Pictou, where they seized on an armed merchant ship, then loading for Scotland. Fearing resistance, which they were not in a condition to overcome successfully, these rebels entered, with their prize, into the Bay of Verte, for the purpose of receiving reinforcements. But not being successful in this effort, on account of a defeat at Fort Cumberland, the vessel was given up to one of the oflicers, the rebels escaping on shore. The vessel then came to Charlottetown, where she remained during the winter.

In 1777 the administrator received instructions from the secretary of state for the colonies to raise an independent force for the defence of the island; but from the small number of the male population, which had been previously. considerably reduced by recruiting officers, this force was never. completed. In the following year, however, ‘four. provincial companies were sent from New York, under the

'.(}01nll_lilll(l of Blajor Hierliky, for whom barracks were erected, under the direction of an engineer from Nova Scotia, and the island was thus placed in a defensive posi- tion, which greatly reduced the chances of a successful attack during the Ameri air war. \Vith the exception of a few sheep, oc casionally taken by the men of 1‘)rivateers, and some valuable property seized at the harbor of Saint George (now Georgetown), the inhabitants of the island experienced