MILITARY AND CIVIL. 99

headquarters at Halifax. Thus a strong and sufficient force was constantly in charge of the station who not only enlivened the town by their presence but was a safeguard in time of need. Now however, war having been declared against Russia a large portion of the troops stationed at Halifax were called home to the mother country. Consequently the troops in the garrison here which consisted of a company of the 76th Regiment commanded by Captain Senhouse, and a small detachment of artillery—in all about 110 men—sailed for Halifax on the 22nd of September while the stores and

fortifications were left in charge of two gunners of the Royal Artillery.

During the following year St. George’s Battery, Fort Edward and the Block House Fort, with one exception, were dismantled and the IS-pr. and 24-pr. ordnance, together with four guns of the field battery, equipments, stores and ammunition and hundreds of stands of muskets, etc., were shipped to Halifax. While dismantling the Block House Fort, an 18-pr. gun slipped its slings and fell to the shore where it remained for many years as no man’s property, but which forming as it does an item of city history, will be alluded to at a later date. Then the Garrison of Charlottetown ceased to exist, an event which caused great dissatisfaction throughout the Province.

Shortly after the withdrawal of the troops, a number of young men tendered their service to the Commander—in-chief with the intention of forming a volunteer corps within the town, and H15 Excellency approving of their action forwarded a requisi- tron to England, and received in reply thereto 100 stand each of rifles, muskets, swords, bayonets, accoutrements and a supply

of ammunition. Yet a considerable time elapsed before any organlzation took place.

.The Charlottetown Gas Works being completed, pipes were laid down and the streets, stores and many private residences were lighted by gas. The Worrell Estate, consisting of 81,303 acres, was purchased by the Government during this year for the sum of £24,100, of which amount £18,000 were paid down ; the balance being allowed to remain on interest.

The Legislature met in 1855, somewhat on the quiet, there belng no military parade or thundering salute to greet their assembling as of old. During the session Parliament voted