Inglis, Charles (1789) Journal of Charles Inglis. Unpublished journal. Typescript copy in the Public Archives of Nova Scotia, MG1 479-82. [An extract is included in Warburton, AB. (1923) A History of Prince Edward

Island. Barnes 8| Co., Saint John, N. B. p. 257]

Charles Inglis (b. 7734, d. 7876) had been born in Ireland but had emigrated to the American colonies before his twenty—first birthday. After three years as a teacher in Pennsylvania, he went to England to be ordained as an Anglican clergyman and thereafter began a promising clerical career in Delaware and New York City. During the American Revolution he supported the British side, and when the war ended he was forced to return to England, where three years later in 1787, he secured the appointment of first bishop of Nova Scotia, which at that time carried responsibility for the whole of British North America. This brief comment on the trees of the island comes from the journal he kept during his one and only visit to St. John ’s Island in 1789 while on his way to Quebec. He arrived on the island on 7 7 May remaining until 26 May and spent most of his time in Charlottetown with trips to adjacent parts in the company of Lieutenant-Governor Fanning. His short general comment on the trees tells us nothing of great value.

REFERENCES: Fingard, J. (1983) Inglis, Charles. Dictionary of Canadian Biography, V: 445-48. Warburton, A. B. (1923) A History of Prince Edward Island. Barnes & Co., Saint John, N. B. p. 257.

Monday, May 18, 1789

_ The Island of St John is about 130 miles long by ........ [sic] broad. The soil is a red

The sor/s. loam mixed with sand and exceedingly fertile. There are no hills, but the ground rises gently in several places, and it abounds with excellent springs. At different depths

from 2 feet to 8 feet, there is a reddish freestone, which is the basis of the Island.

Tree spec/es, The timber is such as is found in northern climates, consisting of maple, beech, birch, pine, spruce etc. The soil is excellent for grass and every kind of grain.

[PANS, MG1, 479—821

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