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     subsequent to the troops having been withdrawn it became a. 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