144 HISTORY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. grants. When, therefore, the British government permitted. the violation of the contract, they broke faith with the immi¬ grants, and became morally and constitutionally responsi¬ ble for the consequences of such violation. The remedy was in the hands of the Crown. The original proprietors, having failed to keep their engagements, the clear and honest duty of the Crown was to declare the land of such proprie¬ tors escheated, and, as compensation to the emigrants, to. make moderate free grants to them of a portion of it. Instead of adopting this manly and honest course, the. Crown ignored the injury inflicted on the tenants, and allowed the proprietors to retain their land in a wilderness state, thus causing long-continued misery and bitterness in the island, and almost permanently obscuring the lustre of' one of the brightest gems in the British colonial diadem.. The charge of indifference to the just complaints of the people cannot be brought against the successive local legis¬ latures and governments of the island. Law after law was enacted, and petition after petition was laid at the foot of' the throne. The people met in masses and prayed for relief. Verily, there was no lack of importunity; but the official ear—always open to the complaints and repre¬ sentations of many landholders and (heir satellites, who were ever sensitive to the imaginary rights, but totally oblivious of the real duties of property—was conveniently deaf to the groans of an oppressed people. Year after year passed without any effectual remedy being applied, and the- original proprietors either died or transferred their property to others ; and for a long period, before the appointment of' the commission, the answer to, all applications to the colo¬ nial office for escheat was the melancholy chant of too late! too late! Father Time and his progeny proscription now presented barriers which were deemed insuperable. Every