17 In May, I876, the Wesleyan Methodists entered into negotiations with the Presbyterians concerning union, and finally a Board of Trustees of the Prince Edward Island Protestant Academy was formed, consisting of six Presbyterians and six Wesleyan Methodists. Let us pause a moment to see what the Legislature had been doing about education up to this time. Not until 1825 did the Legislature actually undertake the problem of education. Practically every year after that Education Acts were passed or amendments to existing Acts made. Among these several stand out :- 1852 - Free Education Act - under which the district school was built and maintained by assessment upon oil the lands of the district* and all the cnnciren resident between 5 f'--nd 16 yesrs of age were instructed without charge to themselves by a teacher whose salary was provided by the State. (Not until more than half a century later did the Imperial Parliament establish a similiar system for the home country!) i 860 - Act passed "to establish a college in Prince Edward Island under the name and style of the Prince of Wales College in which a first class mathematical, classical and philosophical education may be obtained, as it is not desirable that the natives of ishis Colony should have to seek in other lands the attainment of a collegiate education." Therefore, the , opened January 19, I836, was incorporated with the style and privilege of a. college, and placed under a Board of Governors of thirteen persons appointed by the Lieutcnant-Govcrnor-in-Council. The Normal School had been opened in 1856.