44 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

In the seventeenth year of his administration, Governor Patterson was unexpectedly informed of his recall from the colony; and that Colonel Edmond Fanning ——who arrived here on the 4th of November, 1786,—was to be his successor. But His Excellency declining for the present to deliver up the reins of government, a most bitter correspondence took place between the two rivals during the winter,- however, in the early summer Governor Patterson left for Canada, when the new Governor, Colonel Fanning, was sworn into office upon his arrival from Nova Scotia, of which Province he had held the Gubernatorial Chair for a term of four years. Being a native of North Carolina and a loyalist, he upon the outbreak of the civil war in the United States raised a corps of provincial volun- teers in support of the British Crown, whom he gallantly Ied against the insurgents of that country.

The Mother Country, at rest from the din of war, was enjoy- ing great prosperity, when a fresh source of trouble arose, bringing days of agony and bloodshed, the cause of which was selfish ambition. The year 1789 is marked in history by the heart stirring conflict of the great French Revolution, and the mighty strife that followed. In 1793, the French Republican Government declared war against Great Britain, which after twenty-one years terminated in a final victory to the British arms in front of a small village in Brussels, named Waterloo. In the meantime the Home Government being desirous of placing the colonies in a better state of defence, His Royal Highness Edward Duke of Kent —father of Her Gracious Majesty——being Commander in Chief of His Majesty’s forces in North America, gave directions for the construction of barracks, together with batteries and other works, for the defence of Charlottetown and harbor; these orders were immediately carried out, and the results were most satisfactory.

Campbell, in his history. says two provincial companies were raised this year, 1794, for the protection of the Island, besides a light infantry company and three troops of volunteer horse, who were clothed and mounted at their own expense, while their arms and ammunition were supplied at the expense of the Government.

During this period an assembly of settlers, who were also

Brothers and Fellows of the Order of Free and Accepted Masons—just, perfect, and regular—met together in a Hall at