CHAPTER VI.

.N the 8th of March, 1851, Sir Alexander Bannerman

having been appointed Lieutenant Governor of the Island arrived, crossing the Straits from Cape Tormentine in the ice- boat. The oath of office was administered at the Colonial Building, where His Excellency was received by a guard of honor under Captain Lecky, and the firing off of a salute of 17 guns. His Excellency convened the Legislature shortly after having been sworn in, and in his address made the important announcement that he was empowered to introduce responsible government, on condition that compensation be allowed to retiring officers. This condition beinngeadily complied with,

the Government, known as the old Tory party, tendered their resignation.

On the 23rd of April the first responsible government of the Island was formed under the Leadership of the Hon. George Coles, as President of the Council, with the Hon. Charles Young, Attorney General, Hon. James Warburton, Colonial Secretary, Hon. Joseph Pope, Colonial Treasurer, Hon. Edward Whelan, Queen’s Printer, and Allan Fraser, Esq., Collector of Customs. Among the useful measures passed during this session was an Act fixing the rate of

postage on letters to any of the Provinces at 3d. and to any part of the Island at 2d.

The official reports of the state of education showed that the

number of schools had increased to I35, and the number of scholars to 5,366.