200 HISTORY or PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND.

tion benches, a strenuous advocate for the introduction of responsible government.

In 1848 Mr. Coles paid a visit to the United States. When there, he became convinced of the great importance of reciprocity to the people of the island. In Boston and other cities of the great republic he met many island men who were struggling with the difficulties incident to the want of education, and it is said that he then and there determined to free his countrymen from the disability of ignorance, by establishing a system of free schools on the island. He marked the working of the machinery of popular education in the States, and, as soon as he returned home, set about framing the island education law.

In these movements which were necessary to secure re- sponsible government, 311‘. Coles was the leading spirit. His opponents were men of position, of talent, and of educa- tion, who had been until then all-powerful in the colony. He had to contend with strong social prejudices, which were even more diflicult to overcome than his political adver— saries; and he was under the necessity of organizing a party out of materials by no means the most promising. \Vithout detracting from the merit of his eoadjutors, he, to a greater degree than any of them, possessed the rare com- bination of qualities necessary to reuse a submissive people to resistance, and to infuse spirit and confidence into men who had been discouraged by a long series of defeats. “Then in power he introduced the franchise law, the land purchase act, and other beneficial measures with which his name is destined to continue identified.

In 186 7, a melancholy change was observed in the veteran statesman. His vigorous mind, it was but too apparent, was giving way. In 1866 there had been a great fire in Charlottetown, and owners of property were kept in a state