42 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

Being anxious that the Island should not be undefended, the Secretary of State gave instructions to raise an independent corps, this corps, however, was never completed, owing it was said, to the smallness of the population which had been considerably reduced by recruiting officers who had previously enlisted a large number of young men for the regular service in the revolting colonies. But in 1778 four companies of .provincial troops, under Major Hierliker, arrived here from New York. An engineer officer and an architect also came to erect a barricks, and as the ordnance property to the south of the town had not been cleared of the forest, a site was chosen at the east corner of King and Queen Streets, opposite the Court House, where the barracks was built and the troops quartered; their presence was hailed with joy and would be the means of—it was hoped—greatly reducing the chance of another successful attack on the town during the continuance of the war with the Americans.

The monotony, betimes, was broken during summer by the arrival of His Majesty’s war- -ships, and occasionally American privateers which had been captured at sea, making the town lively by their presence.

In October, I779, a transport, having a regiment of Hessian troops on board, bound for Quebec, encountered heavy gales of wind 1n the Gulf of St. Lawrence and was compelled to take refuge here The troops were landed but with difficulty found accommodation during the winter.

In June, 1780, they left for their destination. Years after, on receiving their discharge, many of them returned to the Island and settled down 1n various parts, where today many of their offspring are tillers of the land.

After an absence of five years Governor Patterson returned to the Island and resumed the reins of government, relieving the Hon. Mr. DesBrisay, who had succeeded Callbeck as Administrator.

The population of the Island had not increased very rapidly, yet for its better security and preservation, it was desirable to organize a militia force from amongst the scanty inhabitants.

The General Legislature therefore, in 1783, passed a militia law by which it was enacted, “That all male inhabitants

between the ages of sixteen and sixty, being British subjects,