84 HISTORY or PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

ants, and observing its capabilities and resources. He was received everywhere with that degree of respect to which his position entitled him ; and, in replying to the numerous addresses presented, expressed himself as highly gratified by the hospitality of the people, and the indications of pro- gress manifested.

On the seventh of September, 1837, a frost of unprece- dented severity for the season set in, by which the potato crop was greatly injured, and cereals were much damaged. Thus the prospect of a plentiful harvest was blighted in a night throughout the entire island. The loss thus sustained was referred to by the governor on opening the assembly in the spring following; and he called attention to the expediency of granting pecuniary aid for the purpose of supplying seed- grain and potatoes to such of the sufferers as required them.

In March, 1837, Colonel Sir J. Harvey, after being pro- moted to the rank of major general, was appointed Gov- ernor of New Brunswick, for which province he left towards the close of May. After the departure of the governor, the Honorable George Wright, as senior member of the council, took the oath of otlice, as administrator of the government until the arrival of Sir Charles Augustus FitzRoy, who was appointed to succeed Sir John Harvey. The new governor arrived in June.

On the twentieth of June, William the Fourth died. In- telligence of His Majesty’s death reached the island towards the close of July. On the twenty-first of July, Queen Victoria was proclaimed in London.

The first official visitor of schools was appointed this year, in the person of Mr. John McNeill, who, in his report for the year, gave the number of schools in the three counties as fifty-one, and the number of scholars as fifteen hundred and thirty-three. In his report, Mr. hIcNeill givcs us an