MILITARY AND CIVIL. 93

provided by William Douse, Esq., agent of the estate on which the Lighthouse was built, the party returned to Charlottetown. During the ensuing summer His Excellency visited various sections of the Island, and was well received everywhere.

Owing to the failure of the crops, great distress and destitu- tion existed in the western part of the Island. To such an extent was the failure that many people were actually suffering for the want of food. On the fact being made known to the Lieutenant Governor, he at once, with praiseworthy. humanity, promptly caused circulars to be addressed to the proprietors and agents, soliciting aid for their tenants. These circulars had the desired effect and a list was opened, headed by the Cunard Estate with a subscription of £40, others gave £20 and some £10. A subscription list, headed by His Excellency with a handsome donation of £20, was also put in circulation, which was cheerfully responded to by all classes of the com- munity. Several hundred pounds were collected and forwarded

to commissioners appointed to distribute the money where it was most needed.

The anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Victoria’s birthday and that of her coronation was again this year marked with loyalty and respect. On the 6th of June, the troops of the Garrison were relieved by the arrival of a detachment of the 97th Regiment, 100 rank and file, and 8 gunners of the Artillery under command of Capt. Pattinson. The census returns taken this year gave the population as 62,634.

The Steamer Merlin arrived from Halifax on the 30th June, 1849, with a company of the 38th Regiment and some Artillery

commanded by Capt. Lecky, to relieve the troops on garrison duty here.

In this year the First Division of the Sons of Temperance was organized in Charlottetown, of which Order there are now many branches established throughout the Island.

The discovery of rich gold mines in California, during this year, caused a considerable excitement and a great many persons became desirous of emigrating to that country in the hopes of bettering their fortunes. California was but little known except by name, and the chief route was 1122: Cape Horn to San Francisco. Although this was a long and dangerous sea voyage, yet the gold excitement had got to