gathered to watch the events. Then, sons of Erin joined sons of the Heather as members of the Benevolent Irish Society marched alongside Caledonian Club members in an opening parade from Masonic Hall to Government House grounds.

The day’s events were lively, entertaining, and well-contested. At approximately six o’clock, the Chieftain and President, accompanied by their wives, presented the prizes. The President, Colonel John Hamilton Gray, then addressed the audience and toasted the Chieftain, Queen Victoria, and Mrs. Gray. The crowd marched ensemble back to Masonic Hall and dispersed to their homes. ' 3

The annual St. Andrew’s Day dinner held that year on 30 November at Masonic Hall was not as lively as the club’s first major undertaking but it was, possibly, as successful. Here, before an ap- parently responsive audience satiated with traditional St. Andrew’s Day fare, speakers delivered the first public address in Charlottetown on Canadian Confederation — a manifestation of the Caledonian Club’s integrated role in the Island community. Surrounded by flags, the Standard of the St. Andrew’s Society, and a new club banner, guests and club members responded to the toasts with declarations of their support for a union of the British North American colonies. The major replies were made by George Coles, the Island’s first Premier; Patrick Walker, the Benevolent Irish Society representative; Thomas Heath Haviland, a guest; Malcolm McLeod, a member of the club’s Executive Committee; and Colonel John Hamilton Gray, the current Premier. All but Malcolm McLeod, a lawyer, were members of the Legislature. Each applauded the notion of union and dismissed the objections.

Of all the speakers, McLeod was the most demonstrative. He appealed to his audience as Scotsmen; he urged them to compare the Island’s situation to Scotland’s at the time of that country’s union with England. “There was a period,” he said, “in the history of Scotland which presents many points of resemblance to the present position of this Island.”

Scotland stood, in many respects, in the same relation to England that we do to the neighbouring colonies. She was the smaller Power, and the less populated country. The arguments against the Union were wonderfully alike those

which are used with us every day. “We are poor and cannot sustain such heavy taxes as England —— the voice of our small

number of Representatives will be drowned in the House of Commons....The English Parliament will tax us beyond our

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