92 HISTORY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

The city was illuminated in the evening, and large bonfires kindled. At a county meeting, held in the court-house, a congratulatory address to the Queen was adopted, and for-~ warded to London by the governor.

Towards the close of the year 1838, a Mechanics’ Insti—- tute was established in Charlottetown, mainly through the instrumentality ot' Dir. Charles Young,——now the Honor-7 able Judge Young, LL. D. The introductory lecture, which was subsequently published in the Gazette, was delivered by that gentleman. The Lieutenant-governor, Lady Mary Fitzm Roy, the chief justice, and a large number of the leading people of the town were present. A course of lectures was thus inaugurated which for many years furnished entertain- ment and instruction to those who availed themselves of the privilege of attendance. In Charlottetown, as well as in other towns, there is a good deal of latent talent which might be beneficially elicited in the delivery of lectures during the winter evenings. It not unfrequently happens- that lecture-committees apply for lecturers in quarters Where more able ones than can be found with themselves do not exist..

“ ’Tis distance lends encliantment to the view.”

In the year 1838, the chief of the Micmac tribe presented a petition to the governor, praying for a grant of land to his tribe, which he represented as consisting of five hundred souls. This number seems to have been exaggerated; for

' the governor, in writing to Lord Glenelg, in reply to an application for information, states that the number of Indians 0n the island did not exceed two hundred. The governor recommended a grant of Lennox Island—the property of Dir. David Stewart—to the tribe.

Two sessions of the assembly were held in 1839. Whilst; the first was proceeding with the public business, a despatch arrived ordering the governor to form an executive, separate