96 HISTORY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

orable George “fright. He had been five times administra- tor of the government, a duty which devolved upon him as senior member of the council, to which he had been appoint— ed in 1813. He also, for many years, filled the office of surveyor-general. He appears to have discharged his duties conscientiously, and his death was regretted by a large circle of friends.

In February, 1842, Mr. John McNeil], visitor of schools, presented his report, which furnished interesting facts re- spectng the progress of education in the island. In 1833 the number of schools was seventy-four,—in 1841 they had increased to one hundred and twent r-one. \Vhile the num- ber of schools had increased in this ratio, the number of children attending them had in the same period been more than doubled.

, , t Y . _ 2 v , ‘ , Avera eAttehtl-mce 'lotnl Population. ‘30. ot Schools.‘i\o. of SbllOldlS. m each school.

In 1833—32293 \ 74 I 21713 ‘ 29.4

III 1841—74034 121 4356 36

In November, 1842, Mr. John Ings started a weekly newspaper, designated The Islander, which fully realized in its conduct the promises made in the prospectus. For thirty—two years it continued an important public organ, when, for reasons into which it is not our business to in- quire, it was discontinued.

In March, 1843, a serious disturbance tool; place in town- ship f'orty-five, King’s County, when a large assemblage of people forcibly reinstated a person named Haney into the possession of a farm from which he had been legally ejected. The dwelling-house of a person employed by the proprietor to protect timber was also consumed by fire, resulting from the torch of an incendiary. Energetic measures were adopted to enforce the majesty of the law.