158 HISTORY or PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

his grace, Sir Samuel and other proprietors replied, that they would readily acquiesce in any arrangement. that. might be practi cable for the purpose of' settlingthe various questions alluded to in the memorial of the house of assembly, but: that they did not think the appointment ot‘ commissioners, in the manner proposed, would be the most desirable mode of procedure, as the labors of such commissioners would only terminate in a report; which would not be binding on any of the parties interested, and they—the proprietors—— proposed that three connnissiouers or refertes should be appointed,—one to be named by Her Majesty, one by the house of assembly, and one by the proprietors,—and that they should have power to enter on all the inquiries that might be necessary, and to decide on the different. questions that might be brought before them, giving, of course, to the parties interested, an opportunity of being heard.

The house of' assembly, instead of throwing any obstacle in the way of' the proposed arrangement, at once agreed to the suggestions of the colonial secretary and the proprietors, and to abide by the decision of the commissioners, or the majority of them, and pledged themselves to concur in whatever in \asures might be required to give validity to the decision,—naming the Honorable Joseph Howe as com- missioner in behalf of the tenantry of the island.

The duke, as previously stated, expressed his satisfaction at the promptitude of the concurrence of' the assembly in the suggestions offered, and the home government and the proprietors having named the other two commissioners, a commission was drawn up, dated the twenty-fifth day of June, 1860. The commissioners executed the task com- mitted to them, and on the eighteenth of July, 1861, trans- mitted their report and award to the Duke of New sastle, who complimented the commissioners on their ability and