Patterson. Walter (1770, 1773, 1774) Letter to the Earl of Hillsborough, 24 October 1770. [CO-226/1, fols. 11-12v]. Letter to the Secretary of State, 11 August 1773. [CO-227/2, fols. 129v—40]. Letter to the Secretary of State, 1 May 1774. [CO-227l2, fols. 42—50v].

Walter Patterson lb. c. 7735, d. 1798}, the first governor of the island of St. John, had been only eight weeks in the infant colony when he wrote his first despatch containing ”a very imperfect description of [the island ” to Lord Hil/sborough, the minister responsible for the colonies in London. He included a brief account of the island ’3 natural forests, which, because he had been ”so much employed in finishing one of the Houses... in such a manner as lhope will keep out a little of the approaching cold”, must have been based largely on what he was able to observe in the area of the new capital. / have found two other dispatches from Patterson that contain references to the forests, one of these explaining the passage of an act that permitted setting fires in the island ’3 forests, the other a response to a standard questionnaire issued by the Secretary of State to the governors of all of the colonies. Patterson must have had extensive experience of the North American forest, having served as an officer in the British army from 7758 to 7762 in upper New York during the Seven Years War. The most interesting piece of information in his first letter is his comment on the poor state of the forests ”on this part of the Island” — presumably the lands near Charlottetown and its rivers. Forty years of occupation of the area by the French (expel/ed just twelve years before) seem to have had a significant impact on the quality of the trees in that area.

REFERENCES:

Baglole, H. (1979) Patterson, Walter. Dictionary of Canadian Biography, IV: 606—1 1.

Bumsted, J. M. (1987) Land, Settlement, and Politics in Eighteenth—Century Prince Edward Island. McGiII—Queen’s University Press.

Letter to the Earl of Hillsborough, 24 October 1770

So far as I have been able, under the above circumstances, to see of the Island: the

The 50’7' soil appears to be very good, and easily cultivated. It is of a redish colour, mixed with Sand; and in most places free from stones. I never saw finer Grass in my Life, than grows on every place where it is clear of Woods. [fo|. 11] Woods ,-,, The Woods on this part of the Island are of very little use except for firing; and a great [he area of part of them not even good for that, they are principally Beech, Maple, black and Charlottetown. white Birch, Spruce, and several other sorts of small Firrs. In other parts of the island,

there are some Oaks, and large Pine Trees in plenty.

Forest birds

The woods are pretty well stocked with Partridges, and at some times of the Year and mammals.

with Pidgeons The Beasts are principally Bears, Foxes, Otters, wild Cats of a very large size, Hares, Martins, Squirrells and Mice. The Bears in some parts destroy the Sheep; and the Mice this year are so plenty that they have in most places destroyed the little Grain which was attempted to be raised. The Inhabitants say their appearing in such numbers is periodical once in every seven years. [fo|. 11v]

The vole plagues.

The/f cat/86‘. My opinion is it depends entirely upon the sort of Winter we have. As I am informed the last was an uncommon one. The snow falling before the Frost came on, by which means the ground was kept soft; and the Mice in place of being partly destroyed, by the Frost, as is commonly the case; bred under the Snow, they are in size something between our Mice and Rats in England.

Winter: working The Winters I am told are so mild in the Woods that the Inhabitants during that in the woods. season make all the Frames for their Houses, saw Boards and do almost all their wood work. [fo|. 12] Bears. The French Inhabitants kill as many Bears, Seals and wild Fowls, as serve them for Meat; [fo|.12vl

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