Anon. (1768) Petition of the Proprietors of the Island of St. John in the Gulph of St. Lawrence to the King. 31 May 1768. [McKinnon, F. (1951) The Government of Prince Edward ls/and. University of Toronto Press. pp. 6-7; or Bolger (1973) Canada ’8 Smallest Province — A History of Prince Edward Island. P.E.I. Centennial Commission. p. 42, citing C.O. Vol. 27, pp. 168-69.]

Within a year of being allotted their 20,000 acre grants of land on the Island of St. John, some thirtyon of the more than one hundred proprietors organized a petition to the king, seeking to have the government of the island separated from that of Nova Scotia — an objective at which they were so singular/y successful that it has remained so to the present day. The petition contains only an indirect reference to the forests of the island — in the form of the forest products (masts and other naval stores) that the island is believed capable of producing. The statement is not likely to be indicative of any first-hand knowledge of the timber productions of the island.

REFERENCES:

Bolger, F. W. P. (1973) Canada's Smallest Province — A History of Prince Edward Island. P.E.|. Centennial Commission. p. 42.

McKinnon, F. (1951) The Government of Prince Edward Island. University of Toronto Press. pp. 6-7.

That this Island must, if properly encouraged, become a place of great Trade, and of very considerable Advantage both to Great Britain and to the Colonies, as well from

A source its convenient situation with regard to the Fisheries, and the fertility of the Soil, so

of masts. well adapted to the production of Corn, of Hemp, Masts and other Naval Stores, as from the Excellence of its Bays and Harbours. That notwithstanding these great natural Advantages [’materia/Advantages’ in Bolger] the Settlement of this Island will be very much retarded by its Dependence on the government of Nova Scotia, as no legal Decisions can be obtained nor any matters of Property determined without a Tedious and expensive Voyage to Halifax (where the Superior Courts of Judicature and all the Publick Offices of Government are held) which during the Winter Months is impracticable on account of the Ice; this must unavoidably be attended with great Detriment both to the Trader and Planter.

[McKinnon (1951) pp. 6—7]