MILITARY AND CIVIL. 103 
     
    
   
   
    
     The laying of the cable was successful, and this great achieve- 
     
     ment was celebrated throughout the Republic and British 
     
     Provinces. A message of congratulation from the Queen of 
     
     Great Britain to the President of the United States, was the 
     
     first dispatch over the wire. When the Royal message was 
     
     announced, Charlottetown became full of life, and bunting 
     
     waved from every flag-staff, while the city was beautifully 
     
     decorated; the citizens in holiday attire assembled on the 
     
     Barrack Square during the afternoon of that day to witness the 
     
     City Guards’ review, and at night the whole city was illuminated, 
     
     fireworks were set off and bonfires kept alight in honor of the 
     
     event. A second cable was manufactured in one length and 
     
     successfully laid in 1866 by the Great Easlem, and has been 
     
     in operation from that time to the present. 
     
    
   
   
    
     The last service rendered by the City Guards was at the 
     
     opening of the Legislature in 1859, forming the guard of honor 
     
     in front of the Colonial Building upon that occasion. In April 
     
     the commanding officer, Captain Rankin, assembling the men 
     
     together informed them that he wished to disband and requested 
     
     the delivery of all arms and accoutrements. Soon a more 
     
     extended military organization became general throughout the 
     
     British Provinces. 
     
    
   
   
    
     On the 19th of May Lieutenant Governor Daly closed the 
     
     Assembly, leaving the Island a few days later, when the Hon. 
     
     Charles Young was sworn in as Administrator of the colony. 
     
    
   
   
    
     After the close of the Crimean war and subjection of the 
     
     Indian mutiny, peace and prosperity reigned throughout the 
     
     Empire of Great Britain. An accident occurred, however, 
     
     during the lull of peace, and of such vast importance to which 
     
     no British subject could remain indifferent. During the war 
     
     between France and Austria, in 1859, in which the French 
     
     troops under the military genius of Napoleon the Third were 
     
     victorious, the Emperor was occupying his chair at the table 
     
     of his tent, surrounded by a phalanx of valiant officers, who 
     
     were considerably flushed with the glories of such a brilliant 
     
     campaign and the pleasures of the evening. Having a natural 
     
     desire for war, they rose simultaneously from their seats and 
     
     in a dashing enthusiastic manner addressed the Emperor, 
     
     beseeching His Majesty in the name of the army to lead them 
     
     on to battle against the ancient foe of France in order to be