prince fidward I6 
     
     @9311?) 
     
    
   
   
    
     ever, still remained under French control, and French settle- 
     
     ments sprang up. About 1715 the permanent peopling 
     
     commenced ; but colonization was slow, for in 1728 the 
     
     population was only 300, and in 1745 it did not exceed 1000 
     
     souls. During the struggles between England and France, 
     
     the Island received considerable additions to its population 
     
     in the shape of French settlers from Cape Breton, as well as 
     
     from Bretagne, Picardy and Normandy; and after the expul- 
     
     sion of the Acadians from Nova Scotia, in 1755, many of the 
     
     refugees came to Isle St. Jean. The produce of these colo- 
     
     nists—grain and beef—was in great demand for the fortresses 
     
     of Louisburg and Quebec. Many plans were now suggested 
     
     .for the settlement of the country. In 1763, the Earl of 
     
     Egmont, First Lord of the Admiralty, endeavoured to obtain 
     
     .a grant of the Island, and to hold the same in fee simple of 
     
     .the Crown. He proposed that it should be divided into twelve 
     
     districts, ruled over by as many barons, and that he himself 
     
     should be Lord in Chief of the whole Island~he was to 
     
     .introduce all the paraphernalia of the feudal system. His 
     
     plans were set forth in a memorial to the King, and were 
     
     .backed up by communications addressed to the Lords of 
     
     Trades and Plantations and supported by distinguished mili- 
     
     .tary and other influential persons. The King referred the 
     
     .matter to the Board of Trade, but the Board in 1764 reported 
     
     against the adoption of Egmont‘s scheme and his proposal 
     
     'was rejected. In May, 1768, Lieutenant-Governor Francklin, 
     
     «of Nova Scotia, received instructions from the King for the 
     
     granting ofland and laying out of towns in the Island of Saint 
     
     John, and accordingly on the ZISt day of that month there 
     
     sailed from Halifax for the Island, Messrs. Morris and Des- 
     
     champs, surveyors, civil officers, magistrates, artificers and 
     
     material for temporary lodgments. Morris and Deschamps 
     
     then laid out the ground on which Charlottetown was to be 
     
     built; and the former afterwards proceeded to lay out George— 
     
     town and Princetown, receiving 105. a day while on this 
     
     service. Isaac Deschamps was appointed Judge of the Island,