84 HISTORY OF 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 office, 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. McNeill gives us an