LORD DURHAM S DESPATCH . 91 The reference in the closing paragraph of the despatch is evidently to a memorandum of terms proposed by the pro¬ prietors for the sale and settlement of land in the island, and forwarded to Lord Genelg hy Mr. G. R. Young , their talented solicitor and counsel, in January, 1838. The very decided opinion expressed by Lord Durham led to the confirmation by Her Majesty of the act passed in 1837 for levying an assessment on all lands in the island, which confirmation was effected at a meeting of the privy council, held on the twelfth of December, 1838 ; but his lordship's despatch was not communicated to the assembly by the governor. Its publication would have gratified the inhabitants of the island, and mightily strengthened the agitation which had been prosecuted for so many years with so comparatively little success. Lord Durham , in his report, has repeated many of the arguments contained in the despatch which we have given, and the valuable evidence given by John " W. Le Lacheur, Robert Hodgson ,—now Sir Robert ,— Sir Charles FitzRoy , George Wright , Thomas Haviland , John Lawson , and G. R. Goodman is published as a portion of the appendix to His Lordship's report,—evidence which presents a clear and most reliable account of the land question, and exhibits within a moderate compass, with startling effect, the evils which had their origin in the reckless disposal of the island to non-resident proprietors, who disregarded the conditions on which it had been granted. The coronation of Her Majesty the Queen took place on the twenty-eighth of June, and the event was celebrated in Charlottetown in a manner becoming the loyalty of the inhabitants. The prison doors were thrown open and the debtors set free. A plentiful repast was provided for the poorer classes, of which they joyfully availed themselves.