176 HISTORY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND. thousand pounds it spent for the government last year. ' Thus it had not come as a pauper, but was honestly prepared to do something—all in its power—to organize, here in America, a constitutional monarchy, which should be able ■ to spread those institutions in which there was the soul of .liberty." The delegates proceeded afterwards to Ottawa and To¬ ronto, where similar festive gatherings took place. But business was not neglected, as appears from the report sub- -sequently published, which embodied the conclusions at which the delegates had arrived as the basis of the proposed . confederation. The report sets out with the declaration that the best . interests and present and future prosperity of British would be promoted by a federal union, under the ■Crown of Great Britain, provided such union could be , effected on principles just to the several provinces. In the federation of the British North American provinces, the system of government best adapted under existing circum- : stances to protect the diversified interests of the several provinces, and secure efficiency, harmony, and permanency In the working of the union, would be a general government . charged with matters of common interest to the whole coun¬ try, and local governments for each of the Canadas, and for the provinces of Nova Scotia , New Brunswick , and Prince Edward Island , charged with the control of local matters in • their respective sections,—provision being made for the admission into the union, on equitable terms, of Newfound- ' land, the Territory, British Columbia , and Vancouver. In framing a constitution for the general gov¬ ernment, the conference, with a view to the perpetuation of . the connection with the mother couutry, and to the promo- x-tion of the best interests of the people of these provinces,