CHAPTER X.

HE year 1897 was ushered in midst anticipations of the most magnificent spectacle ever witnessed within any section of the British realm ; preparations for the celebration of the sixtieth anniversary of Queen Victoria’s ascension to the throne, were being made throughout the land, embracing all latitudes and every climate. Here on this Island no pains were spared for the commemoration of the event and recognize it as heaven’s gift, in which the clergy of every denomination participated.

Thus time wore on to the month of June, when the following circular found its way to the columns of the press, which, in order to adorn and interest the pages of this work, are herein chronicled—with all due consideration. The circular issued

‘ by His L'ordship the Bishop of Charlottetown was addressed to the clergy of his diocese, which certainly rank as an item profoundly interesting, and doubtless universally appreciated. It reads as follows :

“REV. DEAR FATHER.—As is already known to you, the Diamond Jubilee of He: Gracious Majesty will be universally celebrated throughout the length and breadth of the British Empire on the 22nd inst. We are all aware that the sixty years"public life of our Sovereign the Queen, has been ' marked by many notable changes towards enhancing the prosperity of the subjects of her vast realm. Our own Canadian people have shared to no small extent in the blessings of her prosperous reign, so that under the fostering hand of her government great progress has been madein' this fair Dominion of Canada. Instead of being a few stinted colonies, which at the commencement of her reign were administered in a most arbitrary and not