FANNING APPOINTED GOVERNOR. 41

the appointment was conveyed to Fanning by Lord Sydney, —a document which Mr. Stewart evidently had not seen, and which proves that Patterson was not destitute of a very plausible if not solid reason for holding his post till the. weather admitted of his leaving the island. Lord Sydney, addressing Fanning, in a despatch dated the thirtieth of" June, 1786, says: “ The King having thought- it necessary to recall Lieutenant-Governor Patterson, of the Island of Saint John, in consequence of some complaints which have been exhibited against him, that an inquiry should be made into his conduct, His Majesty, from the opinion which he is pleased to entertain of your ability and discretion, and with a view to give you an early proof of his royal appro- bation of your services, has been pleased to appoint you to carry on the public service of the island during Lieutenant- Govcmor Patterson’s absence, or until some determination shall have taken place respecting his proceedings.

“ As it is His Majesty’s desire that Lieutenant-Governor Patterson should be relieved in time to enable him to return to England in the course of the autumn, His Majesty trusts that you will lose no time in repairing to Saint John, and in settling such arrangements with the said lieutenant-gov- ernor, previous to his departure, as may be necessary for your carrying on the business of the island.” Thus Pat- terson’s retention of office till the spring does not seem in the circumstances unreasonable; but Mr. Stewart, in his account of the island, informs us that his continuance in it was contrary to the desire of the inhabitants generally, who, during the winter, did not fail to present addresses to Fanning, calling upon him to assume the government to which, accord~ ing to his commission, he had been appointed. On the arrival of' Fanning, Patterson addressed the following letter to Lord Sydney, the Colonial Secretary :—