28 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND 
     
    
   
   
    
     flashed the tidings so fatal to the French occupation of the 
     
     Island. The Garrison, however, of some 60 or 70 soldiers 
     
     were placed on board British ships and taken to Louisburg, 
     
     thence to England, to endure a further state of bondage till the 
     
     close of the war in 1763. Thus the object of securing the 
     
     Island to British rule was effected without difficulty. The 
     
     lilied banner of France being thus removed was never more 
     
     destined to wave over the land, whilst the Union Jack has for 
     
     ever since swayed as the national flag‘of British North America. 
     
    
   
   
    
     No sooner had British rule been established and peacefully 
     
     submitted to, than Lord Rollo began to turn his eyes towards the 
     
     condition of the French settlers. Of them his Lordship writes, 
     
     “most of the inhabitants had brought in their arms, that by 
     
     the best account I can get, the Island of St. John has been the 
     
     only supply for Quebec of corn and beef since the war, except 
     
     what has been brought from Europe, and at the present they 
     
     have 10,000 head of cattle. Many of the inhabitants declare 
     
     that they grow, each of them, 1200 bushels of corn annually.” 
     
     ~Murdar/z’s 2724 Vol. fi'sz‘ory IV. S. 
     
    
   
   
    
     The population at that time was supposed to be about five 
     
     thousand, though Mr. McGregor, in his account of the Island, 
     
     says the population was far greater; however, these early 
     
     settlers were a thrifty people, distinguished for their industry 
     
     and good morals; being happy under the blessings of their own 
     
     country’s banner, and remarkable for their uniform piety. But 
     
     notwithstanding their hereditary long established loyalty to their 
     
     Mother Country, and the change of dynasty so suddenly forced 
     
     upon them, they nevertheless ere long became reconciled to 
     
     the rule of the existing government, and as tillers of the land, 
     
     though encountering hardships, difficulties and privations, they 
     
     in due time acquired comfortable yet humble homes for them- 
     
     selves and families. To-day, their offspring are engaged in 
     
     various callings, but principally that of agriculture, and are toler- 
     
     ably well settled throughout the country—and such as they were 
     
     at the dawn of this history such are they still. Now as the days 
     
     of party strife have passed away, and the events of by-gone 
     
     times have been transferred to history, all will probably concur 
     
     in thinking that changes in dynasties are often attended with 
     
     blessings, equally enjoyed by all classes. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Leaving a strong garrison in charge of Fort la-Joie, Lord Rollo 
     
     rejoined the main army at Louisburg, the Island then became