36 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

A Court House was also erected about the same period, it was built on the western corner of King and Queen Streets, and was utilized not only as a chamber of justice, but likewise as a place of abode. It was doubtless the residence of John Duport, Esq, an eminent barrister, who arrived here in 1770, and was the first member of that profession, to receive the appointment of Chief Justice of the Island.

But to return to the thread of our narrative, we find that the year 1767 may be regarded as embracing the most import- ant period of the Island’s early history. Having been divided into counties,——as we have seen—these were subdivided in sixty—seven townships, which, with some exceptions, were distributed by lot among certain parties in England having claims against the Imperial Government. These parties being anxious that the Island should be independent of Nova Scotia, presented a petition to the King, praying that it should have a separate government, to this His Majesty was pleased to assent. Accordingly, Captain Walter Patterson, a proprietor, received the appointment as Lieutenant Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over the Island of St. John, and its dependencies, Chancellor Vice-Admiral, and Ordinary of

the same.

Governor Patterson, accompanied by some officials, landed at Fort Amherest on the 30th August, I770, and proceeded to form his government. Chief Justice Duport, whose arrival followed that of His Excellency by a few days, was chosen President of the Council ; but they were doomed to experience considerable difficulty, inasmuch as their salaries were to be paid from funds raised by a tax on the land, known as quit- rents, which was to be paid by the proprietors, but the greater number of whom having neglected to comply; the receipts from that scource therefore fell far short of the requirements of the newly established government, and all the officials in con-

sequence lost the greater part of their salaries.

It was also stipulated that the grantees should settle one person for every two hundred acres within ten years from the date of the grants ; but whatever difficulty was in the way, this task was not performed, consequently at this period there were only one hundred and fifty families settled on the Island, besides five proprietors. Some emigrants were sent out by