Curtis not to mind him, mentioning that Lieutenant Stewart’s wife was unwell and “much alarmed.” This intelligence apparently operated on Curtis’ feelings so strongly that he gave up all thoughts of committing Stewart to prison.

On April 5, 1787, Governor Patterson was bluntly advised that “His Majesty has no further occasion for your services. . .” His successor, Ed- mund Fanning, unfortunately lacked the qualities of statesmanship which would have enabled him to steer an independent course free from the encumbrances of factional interest. Instead, he allied himself with the Stewarts and their friends, and, after dissolving the pro-Patterson As— sembly and calling an election, he secured a House subservient to his wishes. His friends were rewarded. Peter Stewart, who had been sus— pended from office by Patterson, was restored as Chief Justice. Peter’s second son, Charles, became Clerk of the Council as Privy Council, Clerk of the Council as Court of Appeal, Registrar of Chancery, Coroner, and Receiver of Island Duties. Clearly the Stewarts were in the saddle!

In the distribution of patronage, however, it is impossible to ac— commodate everyone. Accordingly, when in 1789, John Stewart applied for the office of Receiver of the Island Quit Rents, he found Robert Gray, Governor Fanning’s private secretary, soliciting the same appointment, armed with the Governor’s recommendation. It is reported that Stewart tried to buy Gray off, offering him £80 a year to withdraw his application. Upon being asked why an office paying only £50 a year was so eagerly sought after, Stewart allegedly declared that the Treasury never called the Receiver of American Quit Rents to account and that the Receiver could pocket what he collected! In the end, Stewart got the appointment through the interest of Lord Frederick Campbell who, presumably, had more influence in the halls of power than Edmund Fanning.

It is difficult to ascertain whether the office of Receiver was as remunerative as Stewart’s reported declaration would seem to indicate. We do know, however, that the London authorities expected the incum— bent to be on hand to give information when the need should arise and that this requirement gave Stewart cause for complaint. On Dec. 5, 1792, for instance, Lord Chief Baron Montgomery, writing on Stewart’s behalf, advised Henry Dundas at the Colonial Office that Stewart had journeyed to Scotland “to be on hand in case you found time to take the affairs of the Island under consideration when here. He returns to London and, at his request, I write this to let you know he awaits your call. . .” Again, writing to Lord Hobart in 1802, Stewart complained that he had held the office of Receiver General of Quit Rents for upwards of twelve years and on this business he had crossed the Atlantic four times and had lived in London above three years “at heavy expense attending the public offices to give information on the subject.”

In 1796, John Stewart was once more chosen speaker of the House of Assembly, a position he was to fill until 1801. During these years one of his chief opponents was his neighbour, Captain John MacDonald of Glenalladale, whose lands lay to the west of Mount Stewart in the region of Tracadie. MacDonald, indeed, seemed at this point to have been at war with the entire governmental establishment of Prince Edward Island. In a letter to the Duke of Portland, Fanning made reference to this, deploring “that unrestrained censure and torrent of obloquy With which Captain MacDonald has so illiberally aspersed and acrimoniously calumin-

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