106 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND 
     
    
   
   
    
     Colonial Building, where a numerous and brilliant party had 
     
     assembled. Toasts were drank and responded to in heart- 
     
     stirring speeches, but the toast of the evening was that of 
     
     “ the Hero of Kars;” to this the veteran oflicer replied in a 
     
     graceful manner. After a few pleasant hours, this distinguished 
     
     guest, His Excellency the Governor and lady retired. After 
     
     their departure quite a number remained, being mindful that 
     
     the heathen gods should not descend and swallow in copious 
     
     draughts of the sweet nectar, with which the tables were laden, 
     
     enjoying themselves for a while longer, when all departed from 
     
     the joyous scene. 
     
    
   
   
    
     During the summer the Artillery became considerably aug- 
     
     merited; two additional oflicers being gazetted, namely, E. B. 
     
     Love, gent, and Simon Davies, gent. The corps establishment 
     
     now numbered one Captain, three Lieutenants and sixty rank 
     
     and file. The first target practice with guns, which of late 
     
     years has compared so favourably with the artillery of the 
     
     Dominion, took place in September, and was honored with 
     
     the presence of the Commander-in-chief, who eulogised the 
     
     corps on the good shooting they had made, the guns being 
     
     loaded and laid with precision. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Having sketched the first enrollment and early progress, we 
     
     arrive at an epoch when the response to the call for a greater 
     
     defensive force became general throughout the land. A thou- 
     
     sand stand of Enfield rifles, equipments, and an immense 
     
     supply of ammunition having arrived from England during 
     
     October, steps were taken to organize a corps of riflemen in 
     
     various sections of the country. Here, in the city, under the 
     
     leadership of Captain Neil Rankin, Lieutenants John Lea 
     
     and W. E. Dawson, some sixty young men were enrolled, 
     
     which corps was subsequently known as the “ Prince of Wales 
     
     Rifles.” A company of Rifles was next organized at South- 
     
     port by Henry Beer, Esq., Captain, Frances Stanley and 
     
     George Stanley, Lieutenants, known as “Dundas Volunteers,” 
     
     and was speedily followed by other enrollments. In Summer- 
     
     side Captain J. C. Pope organized an Artillery and Rifle 
     
     Corps, and in Charlottetown a second Rifle Company was 
     
     added to its former enrollment under the command of Captain 
     
     John Murphy, Lieutenants Richard Reddin and Owen Winters, 
     
     unfurling its banner under the proud appellation of “The Irish 
     
     Volunteers.”