B2 HISTORY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

seized in terms of a law passed near ten years since, and the proceedings conducted by the law ollieers,—I have no doubt properly.

“ There is some idea, I find, of rescinding the purchases, and that government will order it. Whoever has formed such an idea must have strange notions of government. Government may order me; and, if I have a mind to be laughed at, I may issue my orders to the purchasers; but can anyone believe they will be obeyed? Surely not; nor would I be an inhabitant of any country where such a power. existed. My money may with as much justice be ordered out of my pocket, or the bread out of my mouth. A gover- nor has just as much power to do the one as the other. I should like to know what opinion you would have of a country where the validity of public contracts depended on the will of the governor.

“ The purchases were made in the very worst period of the -war, when the property was very precarious indeed, and when no man in England would have given hardly a guinea for the whole island. It is now peace, and fortunately we still remain a part of the British Empire. The lands are consequently esteemed more 'aluable, and the proprietors have become clamorous for their loss. Had the reverse

taken place, had the island been ceded to F‘ance,——let me ask, what would have been the consequence? \Vhy, the purchasers would have lost their money, and the proprietors would have been quiet, hugging themselves on their own ‘better judgment. There an be no restoring of' the lots which were sold. There has not been a lot sold on which a. single shilling has been expended by way of settlement, nor upon which there has been a settler placed; so that those proprietors who have expended money in making settle— anents have no :ause of complaint."