100 msrom’ or PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.
which the riot took place; national prejudice and political ‘ancor are lost in kindly fellowship.
Messrs. Charles Hensley, Daniel Hodgson, and George Birnie having been appointed by the governor commissioners to examine into all matters connected with the state of the currency of' the island, presented their report in February, 1847,~——a report which was creditable both to their industry and judgment. It appears from a letter addressed by Mr. Robert Hodgson, then attorney general, to the commission- ers, that. the legal currency of the island was the coinage of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and the Spanish milled dollar, which was Valued at five shillings sterling,—the debtor having the option of paying in either of these descriptions of money. The commissioners drew attention to the fact, that the currency of the island was greatly depreciated, and that the process of depre— ciation was going on, which was proved by the cir- cumstance that the Halifax bank note of a pound, which twelve months previously, would purchase no more than twenty-three shillings ot' the island currency, was now re- ceived and disbursed at the treasury for twenty—four shil- lings. This depreciation the commissioners attributed to an extensive issue of unconvertible paper, both notes and warrants, combined with a growing distrust of the econom- ical :ulnlinistration of the finances of the colony, arising from the continued excess of the expenditure over the re- ceipts of revenue for some years past. They therefore recommended the reversal of the order of procedure, by diminution of outlay, the increase of revenue, the gradual abolition of notes, and the restraining ot' the issue of' warrants to the amount required yearly for the public service. They also alluded to the advantages that would result from the establishment of a substantial bank, issuing notes payable