40 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

animals to be guarded against,—of which the forest abounded.

The settlement of the Island, as might be expected, was slow indeed; yet, notwithstanding the small population, they resolved to grant them a complete constitution. There- fore in June 1773, an Assembly of eighteen members was convened; Charlottetown henceforth became the seat of Gov- ernment. The first business of the Assembly was a confirmation of the proceedings of the Governor and Council, antecedent to the establishment of a parliament.

The dates and places of holding the.Supreme Court of Judicature were then established and an authority issued for recording and publishing all the laws. The power of making public roads and bringing criminal offenders to trial was con— ferred upon the Governor. The first road opened was through to -vaeliead.'.

The Revd. Theophilus DesBrisay, Minister of the Church of England, having been appointed to the Parish of Charlotte, arrived here in October 1774; he was the first.Protestant clergyman stationed on the Island.

In I775 Governor Patterson left the Island on a tour to England, when the Hon. Mr. Callbeck, who in virtue of being senior member of the Executive Council, was sworn in Administrator. One object of the Governor’s mission was to get the civil establishment of the Island placed on the same footing as those of other colonies. In this he succeeded, and afterwards the salaries of the Governor and principal officers were paid out of the English treasury.

This year was also remarkable for the outbreak of the civil war in New England and other colonies, now known as the United States, but Canada and the Maritime Provinces—— notwithstanding inducements to the contrary—remained true to the Mother Land. At the close of the summer a large ship from London with emigrants and supplies for Charlottetown was unfortunately wrecked on the north side of the Island. The crew and emigrants, however, escaped with their lives, though the cargo and supplies were lost, occasioning great distress to the settlers in general, who depended on the safe arrival of the ship for many of their supplies during the long winter which was approaching.