54 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

function appertaining to his office, particularly as Judge of the Court of Chancery. Notwithstanding the deep snow on the ground the meetings were largely attended, and Captain John Stewart, of Mount Stewart, a prominent politician, was chosen to convey the petition to England to lay before the King.

That Governors ought to be well spoken of is admitted to be true, but then that can only be in cases where they deserve to be kindly noticed. To do public mischief without being told of it is the prerogative and felicity of them who govern where chains of slavery prevail, but a free people will show that they are so by freedom of speech and discussion.

Thus, for the information of the people, the resolutions together with the names of the committee who were chosen to manage the complaints against the Governor, were published in the Prime Edward Island Regzlrter, a paper edited by Mr. J. D. Haszard, which started into existence on the 26th of July of this year. Enraged beyond measure, His Excellency commenced proceedings in the Court of Chancery against the said editor Mr. Haszard and the Committee, of which Captain Stewart was chairman, who by the aid of some friend escaped with the petitions, and in due time safely arrived in England.

Meantime the Court of Chancery, presided over by His Excellency, opened on the 14th of October, when Mr. Haszard, the first to appear, was charged with being guilty of con- temptuous libel against the court and its officers, but on giving the names of the authors of the obnoxious articles complained of, he was discharged with rather a severe rebuke from the bench. The displeasure of the Governor had now changed from the shoulders of the editor to those of the members of the committee who were there in custody. However, on the third day of the trial they were liberated on their own recognizance, subject to be called up at any future time to receive judgment of the court.

In reference to the publication of the Regz'rler by Mr. Haszard, we find that other newspapers were previously issued as follows: Island of St. john Gazette, by J. T. Rynd, in 1792 ; 272:: Royal IIera/d, by James Bagnall, in 1805, the name of which was changed in 1817 to that of Prince Edward Island Gazette.

. We have now to notice the demise of Charlottetown’s first