<7») 
     
    
   
   
    
          
     
         
     
        
     
        
     
         
     
       
     
       
     
        
     
          
     
       
     
       
     
       
     
        
     
         
     
       
     
         
     
       
     
        
     
         
     
          
     
       
     
         
     
       
     
         
     
        
     
    
   
   
    
     {fort be quoted as a proprietary success? Well, 
     
     dd together the expenses, the losses by back rent, 
     
     he payment of quit rent, the roads, surveys and 
     
     gency charges, and then put this very estate at the 
     
     Irice at which it has just been sold, a fraction over 
     
     1$V0 STERLING SHILLINGS PER ACRE, on the other side 
     
     fthe account, and then think ’what idiots the pro- 
     
     prietors must have been not to have Selkirked all the 
     
     island, and retired,after a lifetime of misrepresenta- 
     
     ion, and abuse, and loss oftemper, and confidence, 
     
     and cash, laden with a FLORIN per acre. 
     
    
   
   
    
     That the whole Island should have been granted 
     
     way in Townships, on impossible conditions, was a 
     
     isfortune that time will repair; and out oftliis seem- 
     
     'ng evil, more lasting benefit will arise on the settle- 
     
     nent question, than from any other cause. Prince 
     
     ‘dward Island has been thereby “ refined in the 
     
     . re." The semblance ofsettlement slackens its hold 
     
     ‘ pen the soil, and the broad townships are returning, 
     
     ot by Escheat to the Home Government, to be again 
     
     ' s foolishly frittered away, but by honest purchase, 
     
     .nto the hands of the Island’s own managers and 
     
     riends, to be distributed to whomsoever will, on cer- 
     
     Iain fixed and enforceable conditions. It is time agita- 
     
     ion ceased upon this subject: it is time that land he 
     
     onked upon as belonging to its owner, and not to 
     
     2: ny other—and ifthe owner of a township choses to 
     
     'aste property, he has a right to do it, ifit is.his 
     
     cwn; but if in the neglect of what common sense 
     
     ictates to every sane man, that of taking care of 
     
     is own, certain losses,wishes, and discomforts arise, 
     
     e must take the consequences. Lands, like any 
     
     ther unowned article of value, may be taken up‘by a 
     
     tranger, and made useful, subject only to the supe- 
     
     ior power of adjustment found in law, and supported 
     
     y recognised authority. There is no intention in 
     
     hese remarks of defending the course pursued by 
     
     he large proprietary of the Island, nor ofwithholding 
     
     rom the early tenantry, the sympathy their situation 
     
     * ust have awakened in every feeling breast; but it 
     
     G3