History of Presbyterianism though not grand, can scarcely be excelled for pic- turesqueness and beauty. The soil is light and sandy, of a reddish color, and is very fertile. It is remarkably free from stone and is everywhere easily cultivated. It is peculiarly adapted for raising grain, roots of all kinds, fruits, etc., but for grazing purposes it is not equal to some of the other provinces. The French were the first settlers of the island, and not a few of their descendants are at the present day to be found in the settlements of Miscouche , Rustico and Tignish . In the year 1758, at the capitulation of Louisburg, the colony fell into the hands of the British, who were confirmed in their possession by the treaty of 1763. In the year 1770 Prince Edward Island ob¬ tained a government of its own, having until that date constituted a part of the government of Nova Scotia . The whole province is divided into sixty- seven lots or townships of about 20,000 acres each. The British government originally granted nearly all the soil of the island to non-residents, mostly officers of the army and navy who had served in the French war and, on account of service rendered, considered themselves entitled to the grant. These proprietors for many years refused to sell their land, preferring rather to lease it and collect taxes from the tenants. Recently, however, the local govern¬ ment purchased the land from the proprietors, sold it to the farmers on easy terms and furnished them with good freehold titles to their farms. The op- 8