174 HISTORY or PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

by a number of gentlemen, among whom were Lieutenant—t governor Dundas, Hon. John Longworth, Hon. T. H. IIHVl" land, and Frederick dc St. Croix Brecken, Esq.

From Charlottetown the delegates proceeded to Halifax, where they were similarly entertained. Fredericton was next visited, and in Saint John the festivities of Charlotte-- town and Halifax were repeated. On the tenth of October the conference at Quebec was opened. Prince Edward Island being represented by the Honorables Colonel Gray, Edward Palmer, \V. H. Pope, George Coles, T. H. Had-- land, Edward “Thelan, and A. A. l\Iacdonald, which ter- minated on the tncnty-seventli ofOctober. From Quebec the delegates proceeded to Montreal, where they were hospitably’ entertained. At a public ban‘quet given at BIontreal, the- Honorable Colonel Gray introduced the Honorable Edward 'Whelan, requesting him to respond in behalf of Prince- Edward Island, when he delivered a telling and eloquent speech. “re can only spare space for the concluding senten» ces: “It will be the duty,” said the speaker, “ of the public- men in each and every province, whose representatives are now in Canada, to educate the public mind up to their views. The task may be a tedious, diflicult, and protracted one, but V no great measure was ever accomplished, or worth much,, unless surrounded with difficulties. Deferring reverei‘itly to the public opinion of his own province, he would cheerfully go amongst his people, and explaining it as well as he could, he would ask them to support a measure which he believed would enhance their prosperty. Few, and comparatively poor, as the people of Prince Edward Island may be now, its fertile fields and valleys are capable of supporting a population at least three times greater than it is at present.. It was once designated the garden of the Saint Lawrence ;. and it was a valuable fishing station for Canada during the.

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