I30 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

had been fired. The march—past, wheeling and marching. accompanied with music had been admired. Now, however all military pomp or display on these old familiar grounds are at an end,~—and forever.

By an Act of the General Assembly passed during the session of 1863, the Imperial Government granted to the Island sole use and possession of the ordnance property, situated to the south of the city, comprising George’s Battery and Barrack, Ground ; this property was divided into twenty-one building lots, and sold by public auction in June, 1864, realizing the sum of, £5,479 currency.

Ninety-nine years had passed away since the site of the garrison and that of the town had been designed by Captain Holland. While the fortress was erected, the guns mounted, and the barracks built during the latter part of the last century, subsequent to the troops having been withdrawn it became a. parade ground for the volunteers, and a favorite resort for the citizens, for as yet the pleasures and benefits of a Park was forbidden them. Although its military utility has terminated, yet its aspect has changed from a state of dilapidation to that of an ornamented and fashionable locality, now an esplanade and carriage way passes along from Water Street around the sea face to Sydney Street; on the interior side of this, substan— tial and spacious edifices have been erected, and beautifully adorned with trees and plants. The change has been a benefit as well as a large source of revenue to the city. Handsome residences have likewise been erected in various localities in and about the city, some of brick, but the great majority of wood, while the style of architecture would be Creditable to a more pretentious place.

Of eight churches then erected in the city, only one of these was of brick, viz: the Methodist Chapel, on Prince Street; whilst St. Paul’s and Zion Churches; St. Dunstan’s Cathedral; the Baptist Chapel; St. James’ Church; the Free Church of Scotland, and that of the Bible Christians, were all of wood. Since then a change in building material has taken place, as now all the principal buildings are of brick.

A Lunatic Asylum intended for the care of insane persons had been erected near Brighton shore, in virtue of an Act of Parliament passed during the session of 1840. In 1858, the commodious building of the Convent of the Congregation of