MILITARY AND CIVIL. 45

Charlottetown, to expatiate on the mysteries of the craft. A volume of the Sacred Law was unfolded, being perfect by numbers, Book of Constitution, and authority empowering them to act,——a Lodge was therefore organized under a Warrant granted by the Grand Lodge of Nova Scotia, dated 9th October, I797. It was styled St. John’s Lodge of the Ancient and Honorable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons, of which Brother Ebenezer E. Nicholson was the first to conduct its opening and closing ceremonies as Worshipful Master.

The science of Freemasonry during this long period has been fully demonstrated by acts of benevolence, deeds of charity, love and sympathy, intelligible to the Fraternity, but mysterious to the uninitiated.

The Ordnance Ground—as laid off by Captain Holland— was situated to the south of the foot of Sydney Street, thence to the bank of the Hillsborough, here the barracks were built, consisting of two buildings, about three hundred feet in length, distant from each other about five hundred feet, and facing directly opposite to each other, the interval being the parade ground for the soldiers. These buildings were adorned with colonades extending the entire length on the front, and the roofs were supported from right to left by round pillars—something of the doric order——placed about eighteen feet apart. On the completion of these works in 1799, they became without delay occupied by such troops as then formed the garrison of Charlottetown.

The principal fortification called George’s Battery, was erected to the south of this ground, on an eminence on the bank of the river, directly opposite to the harbor’s mouth. It comprised paraphets made of earth, a deep ditch, and had embrazures sufficient for mounting twelve or fourteen battery guns ,- its powder magazine was built of stone and was pro- tected from an enemy’s fire by earth works. There were also a number of Military Stores built of wood. To the right of George’s Battery, facing the harbor’s mouth, also was a second fortress, which is now included in Victoria Park and known as Fort Edward—it being the only one now in existence. On the south side of the harbor and opposite these batteries a third battery was erected. On the western side of the entrance to the harbor, another fort and block-house were built as a further protection, the latter being constructed of heavy timber,